Affinity Code Signaling for Crowded Social Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In social events, it is difficult for individuals to identify and recognize others sharing a common interest or affiliation, especially in crowded environments, as existing methods like wearing outfits or personal items are not effective for visual detection.
Innovation Solution
A device that uses a receiver to detect a signal transmitted by a peer device, a processor to determine the affinity of the peer device, and a signal generator to notify the user of the peer's presence and affinity through light, sound, or display, using affinity codes and proximity detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If people wear outfits or personal items to signal their affiliation, then their group identity is expressed, but it remains difficult to visually detect and recognize other members in crowded environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive visual identification (mechanical/system of wearing outfits) with active electronic signaling (transmitters and receivers emitting and detecting signals). The system uses electronic signal transmission and reception to overcome the limitations of visual detection in crowded environments, allowing users to actively seek and be found by others with matching affinity codes regardless of visual obstacles or distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of identification from visual (outfits, colors) to electromagnetic (signal transmission and reception). By using transmitters to emit signals and receivers to detect them, the system transforms the identification mechanism into one that can penetrate crowds and provide active notification, solving the problem of difficult visual detection.
2Reliability
If group members agree upon a time and place beforehand to meet, then they can identify each other, but this requires prior coordination and is not feasible for random encounters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables group members to automatically identify each other without prior coordination. Each user's device autonomously transmits their affinity code and receives signals from others, automatically determining matches and providing notifications. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for pre-arranged meetings or manual coordination while maintaining reliable identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by having users pre-program their affinity codes into their devices before events. This preliminary setup enables automatic real-time identification during random encounters without requiring coordination at the event itself, resolving the contradiction between reliable identification and coordination complexity.
3Loss of information
If no identification method is used, then individuals maintain privacy, but they cannot identify or be identified by others with shared interests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making identification information selective and targeted. Devices transmit affinity codes that reveal only group affiliation information, not personal details. The system provides identification functionality locally to those with matching interests while maintaining broader privacy, allowing users to be identified by affinity without exposing personal information to everyone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses affinity codes as intermediaries between privacy protection and identification needs. The code acts as a mediator that conveys group affiliation information without revealing personal identity, enabling interest-based identification while preserving individual privacy through an intermediate representation.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method is provided for signaling an affinity of a peer device. According to one embodiment, the device receives a wireless signal from the peer device and determines the presence of the peer device based on the received signal. The device is able to detect the peer device when the peer device is within the vicinity or a certain proximity of the device. The received signal carries an affinity code of the peer device so that the device can detect the affinity of the peer device by comparing the received affinity code with its preset affinity code. If the two affinity code match, the device notifies the user of the presence of another user and signals that the two users share the same affinity.