US 10117290

Here's a concise summary of US patent 10117290:

Title: Method and system for using a situational network

Assignee: Sitnet LLC (Current Assignee); Resource Consortium Ltd (Original Assignee)

Inventors: Thomas Cona, Patrick T. Igoe, Leonid Kravets, Edward A. Ehrlacher

Filing Date: June 30, 2017

Issue Date: October 30, 2018

Abstract:
A situational network is created when an event or situation causes connections (links) to be established among a set of participants. This network allows participants to interact and exchange information about the event or situation over a computer network. The participants, who may not know each other beforehand, can include external entities (situation authorities like news or weather agencies) and individual users with personal information aggregators (PIAs). The situational network can be event-relative (dynamic, changing participants as the situation evolves or users move) or proximity-based (formed when users are geographically close due to an event, potentially without a central authority). It can employ centralized, decentralized (peer-to-peer), or combined architectures. The network can also be built on an N-Dimensional Social Network (NDSN) framework, where the situation itself can be an "event node" that propagates information to user PIAs. The patent describes how PIAs store, organize, and control personal information, with users granting authorization for access. Links in the situational network can be persistent or temporary, and may have temporally limited durations, raised affinities during events, or projected views based on specific dimensions like location. The system can provide navigation information, emergency broadcasts with tiered access for responders and affected individuals, and targeted advertisements based on a user's affiliation with the situation.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a method for managing a dynamic social network related to an event. It involves connecting a user's personal information aggregator (PIA) to an "event node" (a central point for event information, possibly hosted by a trusted provider like a weather service) within an N-Dimensional Social Network (NDSN). The method then involves sharing information about the event between the user's PIA and the event node. A key aspect is the dynamic management of this connection: the user's location is monitored, and the connection to the event node is maintained only while the user is within a certain distance of the event. If the user moves beyond this distance, the connection is terminated. This means the network membership is not static but changes based on the user's real-time relevance to the event.

• Independent Claim 13: This claim describes a system for managing a dynamic social network for an event, mirroring the method of Claim 1. The system includes a server (likely hosting the event node) and a database storing event information and user profiles. This server is configured to establish a connection between a user's device (which contains a PIA) and the event node within an NDSN framework. It enables the exchange of event-related information. Crucially, the system includes logic to monitor the user's location (e.g., via GPS) and automatically disconnect the user's device from the event node if the user moves outside a predetermined distance from the event. Conversely, it can also connect the user's device if they come within the predetermined distance. This emphasizes the automated, location-aware nature of the system for managing network participation.

Litigation Status:
The patent family has ongoing litigation. Specifically, a PTAB case (IPR2026-00100) has been filed and is pending.