Discovering and interacting with proximate automobiles

1. A method executed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

identifying, by a first automobile analysis system, a proximate automobile analysis system, wherein the first automobile analysis system is resident in a first automobile, and the proximate automobile analysis system is resident in a proximate automobile;

determining, by the first automobile analysis system, a unique vehicle identification associated with the proximate automobile;

receiving, from an affinity group database stored on a data server, information including an affinity group preferences dataset corresponding to an affinity group associated with the first automobile, wherein the affinity group preferences dataset is based on at least owner-provided information with respect to social media ratings, journey preferences, and meeting location preferences;

determining a trust score corresponding to the proximate automobile, based at least in part, on (i) the unique vehicle identification, (ii) information in the affinity group preferences dataset, and (iii) a vehicle safety associated with the proximate automobile;

conducting an affinity group qualification process responsive to the trust score exceeding a selected threshold value;

sending, to the proximate automobile analysis system, an invitation into the affinity group responsive to the proximate automobile passing the affinity group qualification process;

receiving, from the proximate automobile analysis system, an affirmative response to the invitation; and

responsive to receiving the affirmative response: (i) accepting the proximate automobile into the affinity group, and (ii) sending, to the affinity group database, information corresponding to the proximate automobile.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining offers from an external entity for members of the affinity group.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the external entity is a business.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximate automobile is selected from the group consisting of a mobile automobile, and a stationary automobile.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the trust score is calculated based on (i) the vehicle safety score, and (ii) a factor selected from the group consisting of: a number of times the proximate automobile has been identified, a result of a previous trust calculation, data received from an external agency, and data shared between other proximate automobiles,

wherein the vehicle safety score is based on the unique vehicle identification, and further based on information retrieved from an external source associated with the proximate automobile, where the information includes factors selected from the group consisting of: accident history, a maintenance record, a traffic violation, a parking violation, a rating from another automobile, and a rating from an external agency.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein conducting the affinity group qualification process comprises performing an action selected from the group consisting of: comparing trust scores with other proximate automobiles, and voting by members of the affinity group.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected threshold value is a minimum value at which the proximate automobile is accepted into a proximity group or the affinity group.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein an affinity group leader is determined by members of the affinity group.

9. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising instructions executable by a computer to perform:

identifying, by a first automobile analysis system, a proximate automobile analysis system, wherein the first automobile analysis system is resident in a first automobile, and the proximate automobile analysis system is resident in a proximate automobile;

determining, by the first automobile analysis system, a unique vehicle identification associated with the proximate automobile;

receiving, from an affinity group database stored on a data server, information including an affinity group preferences dataset corresponding to an affinity group associated with the first automobile, wherein the affinity group preferences dataset is based on at least owner-provided information with respect to social media ratings, journey preferences, and meeting location preferences;

determining a trust score corresponding to the proximate automobile, based at least in part, on (i) the unique vehicle identification, (ii) information in the affinity group preferences dataset, and (iii) a vehicle safety score associated with the proximate automobile;

conducting an affinity group qualification process responsive to the trust score exceeding a selected threshold value;

sending, to the proximate automobile analysis system, an invitation into the affinity group responsive to the proximate automobile passing the affinity group qualification process;

receiving, from the proximate automobile analysis system, an affirmative response to the invitation; and

responsive to receiving the affirmative response: (i) accepting the proximate automobile into the affinity group, and (ii) sending, to the affinity group database, information corresponding to the proximate automobile.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the program instruction include instructions for obtaining offers from an external entity for members of the affinity group.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the external entity is a business.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the proximate automobile is selected from the group consisting of a mobile automobile, and a stationary automobile.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein:

the trust score is calculated based on (i) the vehicle safety score, and (ii) a factor selected from the group consisting of: a number of times the proximate automobile has been identified, a result of a previous trust calculation, data received from an external agency, and data shared between other proximate automobiles;

wherein the vehicle safety score is based on the unique vehicle identification, and further based on information retrieved from an external source associated with the proximate automobile, where the information includes factors selected from the group consisting of: accident history, a maintenance record, a traffic violation, a parking violation, a rating from another automobile, and a rating from an external agency.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions for conducting the affinity group qualification process comprise instructions for performing an action selected from the group consisting of: comparing trust scores with other proximate automobiles, and voting by members of the affinity group.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the selected threshold value is a minimum value at which the proximate automobile is accepted into a proximity group or the affinity group.

16. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein an affinity group leader is determined by members of the affinity group.

17. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the computer processors, the program instructions comprising instructions to perform:

identifying, by a first automobile analysis system, a proximate automobile analysis system, wherein the first automobile analysis system is resident in a first automobile, and the proximate automobile analysis system is resident in a proximate automobile;

determining, by the first automobile analysis system, a unique vehicle identification associated with the proximate automobile;

receiving, from an affinity group database stored on a data server, information including an affinity group preferences dataset corresponding to an affinity group associated with the first automobile, wherein the affinity group preferences dataset is based on at least owner-provided information with respect to social media ratings, journey preferences, and meeting location preferences;

determining a trust score corresponding to the proximate automobile, based at least in part, on (i) the unique vehicle identification, (ii) information in the affinity group preferences dataset, and (iii) a vehicle safety score associated with the proximate automobile;

conducting an affinity group qualification process responsive to the trust score exceeding a selected threshold value;

sending, to the proximate automobile analysis system, an invitation into the affinity group responsive to the proximate automobile passing the affinity group qualification process;

receiving, from the proximate automobile analysis system, an affirmative response to the invitation; and

responsive to receiving the affirmative response: (i) accepting the proximate automobile into the affinity group, and (ii) sending, to the affinity group database, information corresponding to the proximate automobile.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the program instruction include instructions for obtaining offers from an external entity for members of the affinity group.

19. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein:

the trust score is calculated based on (i) the vehicle safety score, and (ii) a factor selected from the group consisting of: a number of times the proximate automobile has been identified, a result of a previous trust calculation, data received from an external agency, and data shared between other proximate automobiles;

wherein the vehicle safety score is based on the unique vehicle identification, and further based on information retrieved from an external source associated with the proximate automobile, where the information includes factors selected from the group consisting of: accident history, a maintenance record, a traffic violation, a parking violation, a rating from another automobile, and a rating from an external agency.

20. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions for conducting the affinity group qualification process comprise instructions for performing an action selected from the group consisting of: comparing trust scores with other proximate automobiles, and voting by members of the affinity group.