User devices with directional networking for discoverability

1 . A system for identifying locations of peer computing-devices in a physical environment, the system comprising:

a first user-device comprising:

a first directional-network module;

a first display screen;

at least one first processor and first memory; and

a second user-device comprising:

a second directional-network module;

a second display screen;

at least one second processor and second memory;

wherein the first user-device is configured to:

execute a social-connection application;

determine that the second user-device is also executing the social-connection application;

determine, using the first directional-network module, a distance to the second user-device and a first direction to the second user-device relative to the first user-device using a direct-communication link between the first directional-network module and the second directional-network module;

responsive to determining the distance and the direction, display a first GUI of the social-connection application on the first display screen, the first GUI comprising a first map display showing a second icon for a second user associated with the second user-device at a second position based on the distance and the second direction;

receive, through the first display screen, a first user input from a first user to request a connection to the second user;

responsive to receiving the first user input, send, to the second user-device using the first directional-network module, a connection-request message;

receive, through the first directional-network module, a connection-acceptance message; and

display, through a first graphic user interface (GUI) on the first display screen, an indication that the second user has accepted the request for the connection; and

wherein the second user-device is configured to:

execute the social-connection application;

receive, through the second directional-network module, the connection-request message;

determine, using the second directional-network module, the distance to the first user-device and a second direction to the first user-device relative to the second user-device using the direct-communication link between the first directional-network module and the second directional-network module;

display a second GUI of the social-connection application on the second display screen, the GUI comprising a second map display showing a first icon for the first user associated with the first user-device at a first position based on the distance and the first direction;

receive a second user input to accept the connection to the first user; and

responsive to receiving the second user input, send, to the first user-device using the second directional-network module, the connection-acceptance message;

wherein the second user input comprises a detection by the second user-device that the second user has moved a threshold distance relative to the first user.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first icon comprises a first image of the first user and at least one first metadata display of the first user, and wherein the second icon comprises a second image of the second user and at least one second metadata display of the second user.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the direct-communication link is a Bluetooth 5.1 connection free of intermediary routers.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the connection-request message and the connection-acceptance message are not stored in a third-party server.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the social-connection application is configured to operate in an enabled mode and to operate in a disabled mode that is not discoverable.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first user-device is further configured to:

determine that a third user-device is also executing the social-connection application;

determine, using the first directional-network module, a third distance to the third user-device and a third direction to the third user-device relative to the first user-device using a third direct-communication link between the first directional-network module and the third directional-network module;

responsive to determining that the third distance and the third direction, display the first GUI of the social-connection application on the first display screen, the first GUI comprising a first map display further showing a third icon for a third user associated with the third user-device at a third position based on the third distance and the third direction.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first user-device and a fourth user-device running the social-connection application form a user-group for discovery and connections as a group of users.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the second user has accepted the request for the connection comprises an interactive chat GUI for electronic communication between the first user and the second user.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the second user has accepted the request for the connection comprises an indication that the second user has invited the first user to approach the second user in the physical environment.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second user input comprises a tap on the second display screen.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second user input comprises a detection by the second user-device that the second user has reached less than a threshold distance to the first user.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first user has associated a first profile specifying that the first user speaks a particular language;

the second user has associated a second profile specifying that the second user also speaks the particular language; and

the connection-request includes data specifying that both the first user and the second user speak the particular language.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first user has associated a first profile specifying that the first user speaks a first language;

the second user has associated a second profile specifying that the second user a second language; and

the connection-request includes data usable to translating between the first language and the second language.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the social-connection application records data indicating if a user has passed a third-party verification operation.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a fifth user-device comprising:

a directionless-network module capable of communicating with the first directional-network module and of communicating with the second directional-network module but unable to determine directions in the physical environment;

a fifth display screen;

at least one fifth processor and fifth memory;

wherein the fifth user-device is configured to:

determine other distances and other directions based on distance based on data received through directionless-network using a directionless direct-communication links with the first directional-network module; and

responsive to determining the other distances and the other directions, displaying a fifth GUI of the social-connection application on the fifth display screen, the fifth GUI comprising a fifth map display showing the first icon and the second icon based on the other distances and the other directions.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first directional-network module creates only a single data link with the second directional-network module.

17 . A first user-device for identifying locations of peer computing-devices in a physical environment, the first user-device comprising:

a first directional-network module;

a first display screen;

at least one first processor and first memory; and

wherein the first user-device is configured to:

execute a social-connection application;

determine that a second user device is also executing the social-connection application, the second user device comprising:

a second directional-network module;

a second display screen;

at least one second processor and second memory;

determine, using the first directional-network module, a distance to the second user-device and a first direction to the second user-device relative to the first user-device using a direct-communication link between the first directional-network module and the second directional-network module;

responsive to determining the distance and the direction, display a first GUI of the social-connection application on the first display screen, the first GUI comprising a first map display showing a second icon for a second user associated with the second user-device at a second position based on the distance and the second direction;

receive, through the first display screen, a first user input from a first user to request a connection to the second user;

responsive to receiving the first user input, send, to the second user-device using the first directional-network module, a connection-request message;

receive, through the first directional-network module, a connection-acceptance message; and

display, through a first graphic user interface (GUI) on the first display screen, an indication that the second user has accepted the request for the connection; and

wherein the second user-device is configured to:

execute the social-connection application;

receive, through the second directional-network module, the connection-request message;

determine, using the second directional-network module, the distance to the first user-device and a second direction to the first user-device relative to the second user-device using the direct-communication link between the first directional-network module and the second directional-network module;

display a second GUI of the social-connection application on the second display screen, the GUI comprising a second map display showing a first icon for the first user associated with the first user-device at a first position based on the distance and the first direction;

receive a second user input to accept the connection to the first user; and

responsive to receiving the second user input, send, to the first user-device using the second directional-network module, the connection-acceptance message;

wherein the second user input comprises a detection by the second user-device that the second user has reached less than a threshold distance to the first user.

18 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the first icon comprises a first image of the first user and at least one first metadata display of the first user, and wherein the second icon comprises a second image of the second user and at least one second metadata display of the second user.

19 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the direct-communication link is a Bluetooth 5.1 connection free of intermediary routers.

20 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the connection-request message and the connection-acceptance message are not stored in a third-party server.

21 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the social-connection application is configured to operate in an enabled mode and to operate in a disabled mode that is not discoverable.

22 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the first user-device is further configured to:

determine that a third user-device is also executing the social-connection application;

determine, using the first directional-network module, a third distance to the third user-device and a third direction to the third user-device relative to the first user-device using a third direct-communication link between the first directional-network module and the third directional-network module;

responsive to determining that the third distance and the third direction, display the first GUI of the social-connection application on the first display screen, the first GUI comprising a first map display further showing a third icon for a third user associated with the third user-device at a third position based on the third distance and the third direction.

23 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the first user-device and a fourth user-device running the social-connection application form a user-group for discovery and connections as a group of users.

24 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the indication that the second user has accepted the request for the connection comprises an interactive chat GUI for electronic communication between the first user and the second user.

25 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the indication that the second user has accepted the request for the connection comprises an indication that the second user has invited the first user to approach the second user in the physical environment.

26 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the second user input comprises a tap on the second display screen.

27 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the second user input comprises a detection by the second user-device that the second user has moved a threshold distance relative to the first user.

28 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein:

the first user has associated a first profile specifying that the first user speaks a particular language;

the second user has associated a second profile specifying that the second user also speaks the particular language; and

the connection-request includes data specifying that both the first user and the second user speak the particular language.

29 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein:

the first user has associated a first profile specifying that the first user speaks a first language;

the second user has associated a second profile specifying that the second user a second language; and

the connection-request includes data usable to translating between the first language and the second language.

30 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the social-connection application records data indicating if a user has passed a third-party verification operation.

31 . The first user-device of claim 17 , wherein the first directional-network module creates only a single data link with the second directional-network module.