Mobile Terminal Close-Range Communication Friend Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of social networking services face difficulties in efficiently registering friends who are physically nearby, as existing methods require time-consuming searches using GPS location, which can be erroneous or slow, especially in crowded areas.
Innovation Solution
A mobile information processing terminal equipped with a close-range communication unit for communicating with other terminals, a reception unit to receive user identifiers, a determination unit to match social networking service applications, and a transmission unit to register friends via a server, allowing for direct friend registration when a match is determined.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If GPS location is used to search for friends, then friend registration can be performed based on location, but the location may be erroneous or the search may take time in crowded areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the friend registration process into two parts: (1) close-range communication for direct terminal-to-terminal identification exchange, and (2) server-based registration for final friend relationship establishment. This segmentation allows the system to bypass GPS location issues by using direct communication for identification exchange while maintaining the server's role for authoritative friend relationship management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the mobile terminal as an intermediary device that facilitates friend registration through close-range communication. Instead of relying on GPS location data, the terminal directly exchanges identification information with another terminal in close proximity, using the terminal itself as the mediator for accurate and immediate identification transfer without location errors.
2Productivity
If GPS search is used to find nearby friends, then location-based friend finding is enabled, but it may take time to search for desired users in places with many people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing close-range communication capability and identification exchange mechanism before the actual friend registration is needed. The terminals are pre-configured with close-range communication functions and identification information, so when users are physically near each other, the identification exchange can occur immediately without time-consuming GPS searches or server-based location queries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical GPS-based location search system with an electromagnetic field-based close-range communication system. Instead of using GPS satellites and location algorithms that require time to calculate positions among many users, the system uses direct terminal-to-terminal electromagnetic communication to exchange identification information instantly when terminals are in close proximity.
3Reliability
If traditional friend request process is used, then server-based friend management is maintained, but users must perform time-consuming searching operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both close-range communication (speed and convenience) and server-based management (reliability and accuracy). The identification exchange occurs locally through close-range communication for speed, while the final friend relationship registration is performed through the server to maintain data consistency and reliability. This combination eliminates time-consuming searches while preserving accurate friend management.
Data Source
AI summary
At a mobile information processing terminal, a close-range communication unit performs close-range communications with another mobile information processing terminal, a reception unit receives through the close-range communication unit a user identifier for uniquely identifying a user of an application for a social networking service (SNS) on the other mobile information processing terminal, a determination unit is configured to determine whether there is a match between the social networking service on the other mobile information processing terminal and an SNS used on the mobile information processing terminal, and when the determination unit determines that there is a match, the transmission unit transmits the received user identifier to a server of the SNS so as to register a user identified by the user identifier as a friend.