Temporary Social Network for Real-Time Location Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional social networking systems provide outdated information about businesses, as user reviews and ratings become stale over time, leading to an inaccurate view for users considering interactions with those businesses.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of temporary social networks that allow users to provide real-time, location-based information through user devices connected to a physical location via short-range communication technologies, ensuring that information is current and relevant, with users disconnecting upon leaving the location or after a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional social networking systems store and provide user reviews and ratings over long periods, then information availability is improved, but information freshness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the social network temporary rather than permanent. The network automatically forms when users are physically present at a location and automatically dissolves after a predetermined time period or when users leave. This dynamic temporal structure ensures information is collected and shared only during the active period, guaranteeing freshness while maintaining availability throughout that period. The system balances both requirements by making the network's duration match the information's relevance window.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the time parameter of information collection and sharing. Instead of continuous long-term collection, the system collects information within a specific time window defined by the temporary network's lifespan. This parameter change ensures that all information in the network is inherently fresh (collected recently) while still being available to all participants during the network's active period. The predetermined time period acts as a freshness guarantee mechanism.
2Quantity of substance
If temporary social networks collect information from all users at a location, then information completeness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the social networking function into location-specific temporary networks rather than one large permanent network. Each temporary network is confined to a specific physical location and time period, automatically limiting the number of users and information volume. This segmentation reduces complexity by creating multiple small, isolated information collection zones instead of one large complex system, while still achieving completeness within each local context.
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary social network system operates autonomously by automatically forming when users enter a location and automatically dissolving after the predetermined time period or when users leave. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual network creation and management, reducing system complexity. The system self-regulates information collection scope based on physical presence and time, naturally limiting complexity while maximizing information completeness from present users.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing location-based information via a temporary social network includes detecting each of a plurality of first user devices within a predetermined proximity of a physical location and, in response, connecting each of the plurality of first user devices to a social network that is associated with the physical location using a communications network. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of first user devices will be connected to the social network for a predetermined amount of time or for as long as they are in the predetermined proximity. While in the social network, location-based information about the physical location is received over the communications network from each of the plurality of first user devices connected to the social network. At least some of that location-based information about the physical location may then be over the communications network to a second user device.