Anonymous Community Gathering System Using Location Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for technologies that facilitate human connection beyond individual-centric social interaction systems, particularly for communities of interest, as people often lack knowledge of where to find others with shared interests, leading to isolation and mental health issues like depression.

Innovation Solution

A location-based social network system using geo-location technology on devices to create and join anonymous community gatherings, providing public recognition and rewards, with features like community-centered mapping, historical gathering data, and optional in-person gaming, allowing users to connect with others sharing similar interests without requiring personally identifiable information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If individual-centric social interaction systems are used, then personal connection tracking is improved, but community-wide connection and anonymity are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunity gathering informationVSAvoidsystem design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional individual-centric social networking approach by making the community the central unit. Instead of tracking individual profiles and connections, the system anonymously tracks community members' locations and gatherings, allowing users to connect through community affiliation rather than personal identity. This resolves the contradiction by prioritizing community-wide connection information while simplifying the system design through anonymity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces community as an intermediary layer between individuals and the social networking system. Users interact through community affiliations rather than direct personal connections, with the system mediating interactions through community-based location data and gathering information. This mediator approach enables community-wide connection while maintaining individual anonymity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If anonymous community gatherings are implemented, then human connection and community engagement are improved, but user identification and accountability are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesocial interaction effectivenessVSAvoiduser verification
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts personally identifiable information from the social networking system, removing the need for user identification while maintaining functional connectivity. By taking out the identification element and retaining only anonymous location and community data, the system enables effective social interaction without compromising user privacy or requiring verification mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Speed

If real-time location tracking is used, then community gathering detection is improved, but privacy concerns and data security are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegathering detection speedVSAvoidprivacy risk
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copied or aggregated location data rather than individual real-time tracking. Instead of monitoring specific user positions continuously, the system processes anonymous community member location information to detect gatherings, thereby achieving real-time detection capability while minimizing privacy risks through data aggregation and anonymization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9357350B2System for creating anonymous social gatherings
Publication Date: 2016.05.31 SCUBA JEFFREY
  • US9357350B2 patent drawing
  • US9357350B2 patent drawing
  • US9357350B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for creating an anonymous social gathering of 3 or more persons. The system has a server digital device and a client digital device both operatively connected to a distributed network and thus to each other. The client device is configured to display an electronic mapping received from the server digital device through the distributed network and the electronic mapping displays at least one selectable geolocation indicator. Each geolocation indicator represents an indicated location of a gathering of at least two anonymous portable digital devices. The electronic mapping is configured to display indicator identification information on the user device for the momentarily selected indicator.