Method And Apparatus For Data Sharing

Abstract

A method for exchanging user data includes, in response to a user enabling an interface component of a device of the user, commencing identifying potential nearby contacts; displaying a subset of the potential nearby contacts while the interface component is enabled; continuing the identifying of the potential nearby contacts while the interface component is enabled; in response to the user disabling the interface component, stopping identifying additional potential nearby contacts; receiving a selection of a potential nearby contact of the displayed subset of the potential nearby contacts; in response to receiving the selection of the potential nearby contact, sending a request to the potential nearby contact to become connected with the potential nearby contact; and in response to the potential nearby contact accepting the request, setting the user as a contact of the potential nearby contact.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for exchanging user data, comprising:
 in response to a user enabling an interface component of a device of the user, commencing identifying potential nearby contacts;   displaying a subset of the potential nearby contacts while the interface component is enabled;   continuing the identifying of the potential nearby contacts while the interface component is enabled;   in response to the user disabling the interface component, stopping identifying additional potential nearby contacts;   receiving a selection of a potential nearby contact of the displayed subset of the potential nearby contacts;   in response to receiving the selection of the potential nearby contact, sending a request to the potential nearby contact to become connected with the potential nearby contact; and   in response to the potential nearby contact accepting the request, setting the user as a contact of the potential nearby contact.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the user, a cancellation request of the request; and   revoking the request so that the potential nearby contact cannot accept the request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first location of the potential nearby contact; and   identifying the potential nearby contact responsive to a second location of the device of the user matching the first location.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the first location is an address, and   wherein the second location is proximate the first location.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the device of the user, a map including location markers indicative of locations of at least some contacts of the user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request is sent to potential nearby contact in a text message. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises whether to share at least a subset of user data of the user with the potential nearby contact or to allow only chats from the potential nearby contact. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises allowing the potential nearby contact to only chat with the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein by accepting the request, the potential nearby contact grants the user a permission to only chat with the potential nearby contact. 
     
     
         10 . A device for exchanging user data between a first user and a second user, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
 receive a scan code corresponding to the second user; and 
 transmit, to a server, a request to connect the first user with the second user. 
   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 in response to a user input, enabling a scan code scanner that is used to read the scan code.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the scan code is received using a camera of the device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the request comprises whether to share at least a subset of user data of the first user with the second user or to allow only chats from the second user to the first user. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 display an indication of a pending request from a third user.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the pending request comprises to share at least a subset of user data of the second user with the first user. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the pending request comprises to allow the first user to only chat with the third user. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a first user device of a first user, the first user device comprising a first processor; and
 a second user device of a second user, the second user device comprising a second processor, 
 the first processor is configured to:
 display a scan code corresponding to the first user of a display of the first user; 
 display an indication of a request from the second user; and 
 receive, from the first user, a response to the request, wherein the response indicates whether to accept the request or to reject the request; and 
 
 the second processor is configured to:
 receive from a scan code reader of the second user device an image of the scan code; and 
 responsive to receiving the scan code, transmit the request to connect the second user with the first user. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the request comprises whether to share at least a subset of user data of the first user with the second user or to allow only chats from the second user to the first user. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the response comprises whether to share at least a subset of user data of the second user with the first user or to allow only chats from the first user to the second user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the scan code reader is a camera of the second user device. 
     
     
         21 . A method for exchanging user data between a first user and a second user, comprising:
 detecting, using a first user device of a first user, a proximity of a second user device of a second user;   identifying, on the first user device, the second user as a potential contact for the first user; and   responsive to an action of the first user, initiating a request to connect the first user with the second user.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the proximity of the second user device is detected using peer-to-peer signals between the first user device and the second user device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the request comprises whether to share at least a subset of user data of the first user with the second user or to allow only chats from the second user to the first user. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein to share the at least the subset of the user data of the first user with the second user comprises to allow chats from the second user to the first user.