PROXIMATE DEVICE LOCATOR

摘要

A user interested in a networked station, such as a mobile station of a particular type, can obtain information to enable the user to locate and/or contact another person with a station of the particular type, e.g. at a location within a set distance from or in proximity to the current location of the user's station. Alternatively, the user of the requesting networked station may provide identities of members of a social media network; and the system can then identify the members who are users of the particular networked station. In either case, the user of the requesting networked station can use the received information to obtain a first-hand review of the particular networked station or to contact another user to request a meeting to view of operate the particular station.

主权项

1. A method, comprising steps of:
receiving an inquiry for information about networked stations of a particular type, from a requesting networked station; identifying a first location of the requesting networked station; based on second locations of other networked stations, identifying networked stations of the particular type within a set distance of the identified first location; for each respective one of the identified networked stations of the particular type, identifying contact information associated with the respective networked stations of the particular type; and responsive to the inquiry received from the requesting networked station, transmitting through a communications network to the requesting networked station, information comprising the contact information associated with the networked stations of the particular type.