Method and apparatus for location based networking sessions

摘要

In accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention a method comprises at least partially controlling the functionalities of a session area wherein said session area can be either in an active status or in a passive status according to at least one predetermined time window, said session area defining the boundaries for a location based group session event for members of one or more predetermined groups belonging to one or more social networks.

主权项

1. A method for facilitating networking among members of a social network, comprising:
causing, at least in part, visual indicia of a session area that is anchored to a fixed point, wherein said session area is, at least during a time window, in an active status and, while in said active status, said session area is joined by said members of said social network by means of mobile equipment associated with said members, when said mobile equipment is determined to be positioned within boundaries associated with said session area via at least one positioning related technology selected from the group consisting of: satellite positioning technology, geo-fencing technology, radio horizon measurements technology, triangulation technology, cell ID reporting technology, WLAN cell ID identification technology, Bluetooth cell ID identification technology, RF-ID cell identification technology, RF-ID tagging technology, inertial positioning technology, time of arrival measurements technology, received signal strength measurements technology, angle of arrival measurements technology, choke points technology, location indexing technology, presence reporting technology and combinations thereof; regulating, at least in part, the joining of said session area by members of at least a first group in said social network, wherein said first group is characterized by at least a first set of attributes; regulating, at least in part, the joining of said session area by members of at least a second group in said social network, wherein said second group is characterized by at least a second set of attributes and pairing of said first set of attributes with said second set of attributes to form a predetermined complementary set of attributes that is associated to said session area; attaining, at least in part, a predetermined mix of members of said first group and members of said second group joining said session area during said active status by selectively providing visual indicia associated with said session area to said members of said social network selected from the group consisting of: said members of said first group, said members of said second group, and combinations thereof; and providing, at least in part, a networking related functionality to at least some of said members of at least said first group that have joined said session area during said active status and to at least some of said members of said at least second group that have joined said session area during said active status.