Method and system for using relationship information from a social network to enable mobile device communications in a privacy enhanced network

摘要

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of operating a mobile communications device (MCD) associated with a user utilizing social relationships defined on a social network. In one embodiment, the MCD detects other MCDs that are in proximity with the MCD. A determination may then be made that indicates which of the users associated with the other MCDs have a defined affinity with the user of the MCD on the social network. As a result of the determination, the MCD may then communicate over wireless local area networking links with the other MCDs.

主权项

1. A first mobile communications device, comprising:
at least one communication interface device operable to provide an interface for communications with the first mobile communications device; and a controller operably associated with the at least one communication interface device and configured to:
detect a second mobile communications device that is in proximity with the first mobile communications device; andcommunicate over a wireless local area networking link with the second mobile communications device using information access security data provided to secure communications with the second mobile communications device and as a result of a determination that a first user associated with the first mobile communications device has a defined affinity on a social network with a second user associated with the second mobile communications device, the affinity determination based on searching one or more affinity records stored on the first mobile communications device, the affinity records determined based on social network relationships expressed in the social network, wherein the controller is configured to use the information access security data by:
encrypting data using the information access security data; andtransmitting the data encrypted using the information access security data to the second mobile communications device over the wireless local area networking link.