Mobile device service systems and methods using device orientation information
This disclosure relates to, among other things, systems and methods for managing the communication of messages between devices using a service system operating as a trusted intermediary. Information indicative of device location and/or orientation may be communicated to the service system, which may use the information to determine whether a transmitting device is oriented and/or otherwise pointed in the direction of an intended receiving device. The trusted service may enforce policy articulated by the receiving device in connection with the communication of a message from the transmitting device to the intended receiving device.
1. A method for managing trusted communications between devices performed by a service system comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the service system to perform the method, the method comprising:
receiving, by the service system from a first device, first information for communication from the first device, first location information associated with a location of the first device, first orientation information associated with an orientation of the first device, and a trusted credential;
receiving, by the service system from a second device, second location information associated with a location of the second device;
receiving, by the service system from a third device, third location information associated with a location of the third device;
determining, by the service system, that the second device is an intended recipient device, wherein determining that the second device is an intended recipient device comprises:
determining, based on the first location information, the first orientation information, the second location information, and the third location information, that the first device is oriented in a direction pointing towards the second device and the third device, and
determining based on the first location information, the second location information, and the third location information that the second device is located closer to the first device than the third device;
determining, by the service system, using the trusted credential, that at least one requirement relating to communication of information to the second device articulated in policy information has been satisfied; and
transmitting, from the service system, in response to determining that the at least one requirement has been satisfied, the first information to the second device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location information comprises a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude associated with the location of the first device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location information comprises a location in an x-y-z coordinate space associated with the location of the first device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second location information comprises a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude associated with the location of the second device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second location information comprises a location in an x-y-z coordinate space associated with the location of the second device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third location information comprises a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude associated with the location of the third device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third location information comprises a location in an x-y-z coordinate space associated with the location of the third device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location information comprises information generated by a global positioning system associated with the first device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second location information comprises information generated by a global positioning system associated with the second device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third location information comprises information generated by a global positioning system associated with the third device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first orientation information comprises information generated by at least one of an accelerometer system, a gyroscope system, and a digital compass.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, from the second device, second orientation information associated with an orientation of the second device, and wherein determining that the first device is oriented in a direction pointing towards the second device is further based on the second orientation information.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trusted credential comprises at least one of a digital signature, a cryptographic key, and a digital certificate.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trusted credential comprises a credential uniquely identifying a user of the first device.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the trusted credential comprises a credential uniquely identifying the first device.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trusted credential comprises a credential identifying a characteristic of the first information.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trusted credential comprises a credential identifying a hardware characteristic of the first device.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trusted credential comprises a credential identifying a software characteristic of the first device.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one requirement comprises at least one requirement relating to an identity of a user of the first device.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one requirement comprises at least one requirement relating to a characteristic of the first device.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one requirement comprises at least one requirement relating to the contents of the first information.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one requirement comprises at least one requirement that the first information be securely associated with the trusted credential.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one requirement comprises at least one requirement that the first information be analyzed to determine that the first information does not contain harmful executable code.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises analyzing the first information to determine that the first information does not contain harmful executable code.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises receiving the policy information from the second device.