Networking by matching profile information over a data-packet-network and a local area network

Abstract

A system for anonymously initiating communication between system-connected communications devices is provided wherein the initiation of communication results from comparison and priority matching of profile information shared between the devices. The system in one aspect comprises at least two communications devices connected to the system, the communications devices having at least a microprocessor, a data-input mechanism, a display screen, a wireless local-area-network protocol application enhanced with short-wave radio communication capability installed per instance to each of the devices, and a profile comparison and matching application installed per instance to each of the devices. When any two of the devices come into short-wave radio range of each other, the devices activated, a wireless local-area-network is established and the in-range devices swap profiles, which are compared to profiles held locally on each device such that a profile match registering on at least one device enables the device matching the profile to signal the sending device of the matched profile in order to request communication between the devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for initiating communication between at least two users of two or more users operating communications devices on a communications network, the communication advanced according to priority profile exchange and matching between the users comprising the steps of: 
 (a) activating the communications devices to exchange profile information with each other;    (b) receiving profiles, each communications device receiving profiles from other participating communications devices;    (c) comparing the received profiles to local profiles stored on each of the participating communications devices, the matching performed according to priority criteria;    (d) registering at least one match of profiles on at least one of the communications devices;    (e) identifying the sending device of the highest priority profile matched; and    (f) initiating communication between the communications devices involved in the profile match, the communication initiated from the device registering the profile match.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications network comprises a local-area-network.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the local-area-network is a wireless network using short-wave radio technology.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein in step (a), activation of the communications devices and detection of other devices within range constitutes the local-area-network.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein in step (a), the communications devices have a microprocessor, a display, an input control mechanism, and a wireless local-area-network protocol embedded in the microprocessor.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein in step (a), the wireless local-area-network protocol is a firmware installable to the device.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communications network comprises a local-area-network connected to a cellular telephone network accessible from the Internet network and wherein at least one of the communications devices is a Web-enabled cellular telephone.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein a server having a database connected thereto is provided on the Internet and adapted for performing steps (b) through (f) on behalf of the at least one Web-enabled cellular phone.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the communications network further comprises a wireless data-packet-network connected to the local-area-network and accessible from the Internet network and wherein at least one of the communications devices is a Web-enabled hand-held computer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the Web-enabled hand-held computer is adapted to perform steps (c) through (f) on behalf of other communications devices.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein in step (b), the received profiles are real profiles.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein in step (c), the local profiles are request profiles.  
     
     
         13 . A system for anonymously initiating communication between system-connected communications devices, the initiation of communication resulting from comparison and priority matching of profile information shared between the devices comprising: 
 at least two communications devices connected to the system, the communications devices having at least a microprocessor, a data-input mechanism, a display screen;    a wireless local-area-network protocol application enhanced with short-wave radio communication capability installed per instance to each of the devices; and    a profile comparison and matching application installed per instance to each of the devices, characterized in that when any two of the devices come into short-wave radio range of each other, the devices activated, a wireless local-area-network is established and the in-range devices swap profiles, which are compared to profiles held locally on each device such that a profile match registering on at least one device enables the device matching the profile to signal the sending device of the matched profile in order to request communication between the devices.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the system is defined by the activity states of the in-range communications devices.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the communications devices further include a voice communication capability using the short-wave radio technology.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the communications devices include Web-enabled cellular telephones.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the communications devices further include Web-enabled hand-held computers.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a computerized host node connected to the system, the host node adapted for profile comparison and matching on behalf of the communications devices.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a communications server maintained on the Internet and connected to the host node, the communications server for storing profile information and for enabling system extension to remote Internet users accessing the server.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the file server is accessible from the Web-enabled cellular telephones, from the Web-enabled hand-held computers, and from non-Internet capable communications devices functioning as peripherals through the computerized host node.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the host node and the file server have an instance of the wireless local-area-network application and an instance of the profile comparison and matching application installed thereon for profile synchronization, comparison, and matching purposes.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless local-area-network application and the profile comparison and matching application are integrated as one application.