Apple's iGroups Patent: Social Networking to the iPhone?
3/19/2010 10:27:00 AM - 0 comments
Apple Inc. is known to be pioneers in making revolutionary patent requests. Supported by a highly knowledgeable and qualified team of professionals, the latest news to rock the world of mobile technology is a patent request that suggests that Apple may soon join the social networking bandwagon. Reports indicate that Apple may be working on a mobile social networking application that apparently allows iPhone users form impromptu groups based on their geographical locations.This new patent request from Apple Inc. suggests that this new application for the iPhone will be called iGroups. As a location-based social networking site made for the iPhone, iGroups will enable groups of people to share data, and those without a GPS enabled phone, will be able to locate their position using the positions of others with a GPS enabled phone.
Apple reveals that the patent is focused on the cryptographic key system that protects the data. As of now, the name iGroups is most likely just a placeholder for the time being.
What’s the new Apple Patent all about?
Appropriately connoted "Group Formation Using Anonymous Broadcast Information", Apple has placed this request for mobile social networking application patent with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. This can be depicted as a location-aware mobile application delivered via token-based system that would enable mobile devices in close proximity to discover each other, form a group and ultimately congregate for events like concerts, conferences, business meeting, tradeshow and even weddings.
Apple has intended offering users with user interfaces, filters and search engines so as to enable you (users) to search and manage groups. You can use the groups you create, to provide additional content and services to the users with various applications like, calendars, address books, e-mail, instant messaging, etc.
The unique feature of this application is that you can keep track and send location-based services (LBS) and content to any particular group, if the geographic location of the group at the contact time is known. This can be particularly helpful taking into accounts Apple’s perception that you can continue to be in touch with individuals you had brief contacts during private or public events, for post event interactions.
How is that possible?
Taking into account the token-based system, the Tokens once received, will be stored locally on the users' iPhone or mobile device with corresponding timestamps, which would enable a service to go with or associate the tokens with other tokens of users in the same geographic location. Thereafter, the service would perform an analysis on the tokens and timestamps to converge in on the locations of other iPhone/mobile device users.
Further briefing on its patent, Apple reveals that a group can be created based on results of the analysis; this will also help you to identify user as members of the group and invite them to join the group. Here, modern wireless devices can operate in an ad hoc mode, with the help of which wireless devices within range of each other can discover and communicate in peer-to-peer fashion without involving central access points.
Do you think this patent once approved can make iPhone experience indomitable?
Posted: Seuli.B
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