Cloud Management System for Proximity-Based Virtual Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices are inefficient and lack effective methods for enabling interactions among users in proximity, particularly in mobile situations.
Innovation Solution
The development of a Cloud Management system that allows users with communication-capable devices to create and participate in location-based virtual groups, or 'clouds,' which enable interactions based on geographic proximity, with features such as passcodes, administrator controls, and rules for user interactions, and can be temporary or mobile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If location-based information and functionality are provided to mobile users, then users can obtain relevant information and interact with others near their geographic location, but existing techniques suffer from inefficiency and lack of effective interaction methods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically creates and manages virtual groups based on real-time geographic proximity of users. As users move physically, their group memberships dynamically change, enabling adaptive interactions that reflect current location-based relationships rather than static pre-defined groups
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments users into multiple virtual groups based on different geographic locations and proximity criteria. Each virtual group represents a specific geographic context, allowing users to be part of different groups simultaneously based on their physical location, thereby improving targeted information delivery
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual groups are created for users in proximity, then user interactions are enabled, but the system complexity increases with administrator controls, passcodes, and interaction rules
Solution Approach 1:
Users automatically join and leave virtual groups based on their geographic proximity to group locations, without requiring manual administrator intervention for each join/leave event. The system self-manages group membership dynamics based on location data, reducing administrative overhead while maintaining flexible interaction capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
Administrators pre-configure virtual groups with interaction rules, passcodes, and member permissions before users arrive. This preliminary setup allows the system to automatically enforce complex interaction policies without real-time administrative input, reducing operational complexity while maintaining versatility
3Productivity
If location-based interactions are enabled in real-time, then communication efficiency is improved, but noise from location errors affects interaction accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies spatial hysteresis by defining minimum distance thresholds that must be exceeded before users are automatically removed from virtual groups. This cushioning effect prevents premature group exit due to minor location errors, maintaining reliable group membership even when location data has slight inaccuracies
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically evaluates user location relative to virtual group boundaries rather than continuously reacting to every location update. This periodic checking with temporal hysteresis filters out noise from frequent minor location fluctuations while still detecting genuine exit events, balancing real-time responsiveness with error tolerance
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices in various ways. In at least some situations, the techniques include enabling multiple people in a common geographic area to interact in various ways, such as via devices capable of communications (e.g., cellular telephones, computing devices with wired and/or wireless communications capabilities, etc.). In addition, the techniques include enabling the creation and maintenance of location-based virtual groups of users (also referred to as “clouds”), such as for users of mobile and/or fixed-location devices. Such clouds may enable various types of interactions between group members, and may be temporary and/or mobile.