Systems and Methods for Real-World Networking Using Augmented Reality Interface

Abstract

Systems and methods for creating a social network are described that utilize augmented reality elements displayed on a user device. Each augmented reality element preferably presents information about the person associated with the element, and can be a link to additional information about the person. The augmented reality elements can be presented on the user device based on information received from a server, which can analyze a location of the user device relative to other users and compare information about the users to determine a likelihood that each pair of users may be a match. The analysis can be based on characteristics of the users as well as user input such as preferences and so forth. The potential matches can be presented to the user via the user device as augmented reality elements, which may be varied depending on a type of connection preferred or the determined likelihood of a match.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for facilitating networking of users using an augmented reality interface, comprising:
 a server associated with a social network, wherein the server comprises a processor and a memory that stores information about a plurality of user of the social network;   wherein the server is configured to receive information about an environment where a user device is located, wherein the information comprises at least a location of the user device;   wherein the server is configured to (i) analyze the information to generate a first set of persons located with a predetermined distance of the location of the user device, (ii) compare information about the first set of persons to information about the user to generate a second set of persons that is a subset of the first set, (iii) assign a match probability to each of the persons of the second set, and (iv) generate a third set of persons that is a subset of the second set, wherein each person of the third set has the match probability that exceeds a predefined threshold; and   the server causing a set of augmented reality (AR) elements to be generated and overlaid on a display of the user device, wherein each of the augmented reality elements is associated with one of the persons of the third set.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the AR elements comprises information corresponding to associated person, and wherein each of the AR elements when actuated causes an AR window to be overlaid on the display of the user device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the information comprises data gathered from a social media platform about one or more of the persons of the third set. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the information comprises a picture and first name of the associated person with a border surrounding the AR element. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a color of the border is based on the match probability of the person associated with the AR element. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display of the user device is configured to present a real-time view of the environment where the user device is located by capturing an image or video of the environment using the user device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the AR elements are overlaid on the real-time view of the environment presented on the display of the user device, wherein each of the AR elements corresponds to a person shown in the real-time view and one of the persons of the third set. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the AR elements comprises a ring or other visible indicator, and wherein each of the rings or other visible indicators visually indicates the match probability associated with one of the persons of the third set. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the visible indicator comprises a level of brightness of a border surrounding the augmented reality element of that person. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the visible indicator comprises a color of a border surrounding the augmented reality element of that person. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to cause the user device to produce a set of vibrations having a preset length and number of vibrations if the match probability of one of the persons in the third set is greater than the predefined threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to cause the user device to modify a number of vibrations or a length of each vibration of the set of vibrations based on a movement of the user toward the person of the third set. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises a smart phone. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises glasses configured to present the AR elements. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to receive updated information about the environment where the user device is located, wherein the updated information comprises an updated location of the user device; and
 wherein the server is configured to (i) analyze the updated information to generate a fourth set of persons located with the predetermined distance of the updated location of the user device, (ii) compare information about the fourth set of persons to information about the user to generate a fifth set of persons that is a subset of the fourth set, (iii) assign a match probability to each of the persons of the fifth set, and (iv) generate a sixth set of persons that is a subset of the fifth set, wherein each person of the sixth set has the match probability that exceeds the predefined threshold; and   the server causing a second set of AR elements to be generated and overlaid on the display of the user device, wherein each of the AR elements is associated with one of the persons of the sixth set