Amorphous ad-hoc groups based on swarming behavior

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer-readable storage device;
• and
• a computer-readable program code stored in the computer-readable storage device, the computer readable program code containing instructions executable by a processor of a computer system to implement a method for forming groups, the method comprising:
• forming a group using a series of invitation, acceptance and confirmation messages;
• calculating a location center for said group, said location center being an average location for members of said group as calculated by the computer from data included in at least one message of said messages;
• calculating a perimeter for said group, said perimeter circumscribing said members of said group as calculated by the computer from said data included in at least one of said messages;
• calculating a time decay parameter for said group, said time decay parameter being a length of a message response time to maintain membership in said group as calculated by the computer from said data included in at least one of said messages;
• calculating a group profile for said group, wherein said group profile comprises at least said location center, said perimeter and said time decay parameter;
• and
• adding a new member to the group, by any member triggering an invitation that invites said new member to join said group;
• receipt of an acceptance of said invitation by said new member;
• recalculating said group profile upon receipt of said acceptance by said new member;
• and
• transmitting said recalculated group profile to all members including a confirmation message to the new member.

A computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to said processor;
• and
• a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device containing instructions executable by the processor via the memory to implement a method for forming groups using swarming behavior, the method comprising the steps of:
• forming a group using a series of invitation, acceptance and confirmation messages;
• calculating a location center for said group, said location center being an average location for members of said group as calculated by the computer from data included in at least one message of said messages;
• calculating a radius for said group, said radius defining a perimeter circumscribing said members of said group as calculated by the computer from said data included in at least one of said messages;
• calculating a time decay parameter for said group, said time decay parameter being a length of a message response time to maintain membership in said group as calculated by the computer from said data included in at least one of said messages;
• calculating a group profile for said group, wherein said group profile comprises at least said location center, said radius and said time decay parameter;
• and
• adding a new member to the group, by any member triggering an invitation that invites said new member to join said group;
• receipt of an acceptance of said invitation by said new member;
• recalculating said group profile upon receipt of said acceptance by said new member;
• and
• transmitting said recalculated group profile to all members including a confirmation message to the new member.