Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a virtual posting service

#The present invention relates generally to communications, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a virtual posting service.

#People live in their own domains, often with little, if any, mechanisms for interacting with others who may be near them and who may share their interests. In the realm of commerce, a question such as “where can I find the best piece of blueberry pie around here” might be answered by, e.g., a concierge at a hotel, or by a policeman since they would likely be familiar with what is in the immediate area. Given the bias of the individual answering such a question, however, a better answer might be obtained from a dynamic cross section of consumers who have collectively assembled an opinion of what the best—or for that matter the worst—place to eat in the area might be.

#Currently, there is no method for allowing the asynchronous posting and discovery of information as an anonymous participant within a limited area, or proximity, and for a limited duration of time. Such information has a very high value, as it is a kind of ‘informational currency’ where the very latest information is most useful.

#Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:

#FIG. 1 is block diagram of a system upon which the virtual posting services may be implemented in exemplary embodiments;

#FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating components of a communications device used in implementing the virtual posting services in exemplary embodiments;

#In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a virtual posting system is provided. The virtual posting system enables both broadcast and discovery of information that are facilitated using one or more network protocols for asynchronously allowing information sharing between individuals within a limited proximity, and with a pre-determined timeout period for information prescience in order to ensure that the information base will always be current. A virtual post refers to an information element or content item that is time sensitive and may be specific to a limited geographic region and/or grouping or community of people. A virtual post may be in any form of media (e.g., text, video, audio, images, or a combination of multi-media events). The virtual posting system provides a communications model that may accommodate multiple network protocols in order to facilitate hosting information from a maximum number of users. The virtual posting services may be implemented via a centrally-managed access node and storage facility, or stigmergically in a peer-to-peer network fashion (e.g., virtual posts communicated directly through the environment without centralized control). In a centrally managed implementation, virtual posts are transmitted and temporarily stored in a facility that may be (although not required to be) in geographic proximity of the posting entities. In a peer-to-peer implementation, virtual posts are temporarily stored on a communications device and ‘discovered’ by other communications devices located within a geographic proximity associated with the device storing the virtual posts. Content, or posts, may then be relayed from one communications device to another and may even extend beyond the geographic proximity as communications devices are transported from one location to another.

#Turning now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a network system upon which the virtual posting services may be implemented in exemplary embodiments will now be described. For illustrative purposes, the following description refers to wireless communications devices. However, as one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, the invention may also be applicable to communications with wireline devices, e.g., personal computer, laptop, or similar device with broadcast/discover functionality. The system of FIG. 1 includes access nodes, e.g., wireless access nodes (WANs) 102A-102C. WANs 102A-102C include equipment for enabling wireless communications among multiple devices within a limited geographic region. The equipment may include, e.g., a base station (including a transmitter and receiver) and a processor with memory. Examples of base stations that may be utilized by WANs 102A-102C include Flexent® Modular Cell 4.0 by Lucent Technologies of Murray Hill, N.J. and Axity 3G Node B Base Station™ by Axcera of Lawrence, Pa.

#In exemplary embodiments, WANs 102A-102C are distributed throughout a geographic region and installed in fixed locations (e.g., buildings, street lamps, etc.). The WANs 102A-102C may be distributed in a manner that affords access capabilities for communications devices present in any location within the region(s) serviced by the WANs (e.g., WAN 102A services a geographic region referred to as virtual post community 116). Each of the WANs' processors executes logic for facilitating the virtual post services as described herein. For example, the virtual post services may be implemented by a software application, referred to herein as virtual post application (VPA) executing on the processors. In alternative exemplary embodiments, WANs also communicate with one another via e.g., a virtual post consortium 118 of virtual post communities as described further herein. Processors for WANs 102A-102C may include a timer for tracking the length of time content is stored therein. Once the amount of time reaches or exceeds a specified amount, the content may be purged from the corresponding virtual post repositories 110A-110C.