Location-Based Conversation Engine for Social Networking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing social networking systems require end-users to enable location sharing or actively execute native applications to determine their location, which can be inconvenient and may not work when location-based services are disabled.
Innovation Solution
A messaging system that allows end-user devices to interact with social network entities by periodically scanning for nearby wireless access points, using their unique identifiers to estimate location and initiate conversations, even when location services are not enabled, through a location-based conversation engine that generates messages based on the device's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the social networking system uses traditional location determination methods (GPS, IP address, location services), then location accuracy is improved, but user convenience deteriorates because users must enable location sharing or keep the application actively executed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/location-service-based location determination methods with a signal-based approach. Instead of relying on GPS hardware, location services permissions, or active application execution, the system uses wireless access point signal scanning and triangulation to determine device location. This substitution allows location tracking without requiring users to enable location sharing or keep the app running in the foreground.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless access points as intermediary elements for location determination. Rather than directly using GPS coordinates or IP addresses, the system uses Wi-Fi access point signals as mediators to infer device location. The access points broadcast signals that the mobile device scans, and these signals serve as intermediaries to establish location without requiring direct user permission for location services.
2Reliability
If the system requires active application execution to determine location, then location data reliability is improved, but device energy consumption increases and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic scanning of wireless access point signals instead of continuous location tracking. The mobile device scans for access point signals at intervals determined by the operating system's power management, rather than continuously executing location services. This periodic action maintains location data reliability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to active application execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the mobile device's existing Wi-Fi scanning capabilities, which operate automatically as part of the device's normal network functionality. Instead of requiring the application to actively request and process location data, the system uses the device's self-service Wi-Fi signal scanning to gather location information passively, reducing the energy burden on the application and device.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system disables location services to improve user privacy control, then user privacy protection is improved, but location-based functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional location services mechanism with an alternative signal-based location determination system. By substituting GPS and location services with Wi-Fi access point scanning, the system maintains location-based functionality while giving users greater control over their privacy, as Wi-Fi scanning does not require enabling location services.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses wireless access point scanning, which is a universal function already present in most mobile devices for network connectivity purposes. This multi-functional approach allows the same Wi-Fi scanning capability to serve both network connectivity and location determination purposes, maintaining location-based functionality without requiring dedicated location services.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include a conversation engine for facilitating a conversation between member accounts (e.g., personal accounts) and social network entities (e.g., corporate accounts) in a social networking system. The conversation engine can enable interactions between a member account and a social network entity via a messaging application when an end-user device associated with the member account is in proximity to a physical establishment associated with the social network entity. The end-user device can scan for available access points and determine its location based on the wireless source identifier(s) of the available access points. The end-user device and/or the social networking system can compare the wireless source identifier(s) to a set of known wireless source identifiers to determine the end-user device's location. Messages can be generated by the conversation engine that include content that is generated based at least in part on the location of the end-user device.