Identifying mobile devices
View Patent ↗A method of identifying mobile devices ( 1,1′ ) capable of communicating (C) with each other comprises the steps of deriving, for each mobile device, movement information from movements (M) made by the mobile device within a respective time period, and communicating the movement information. The method comprises the further steps of comparing the movement information of the mobile device ( 1 ) with the movement information of at least one other mobile device (T), and identifying mobile devices having matching movement information. The step of deriving movement information is carried out using sensors mounted in the mobile device, such as acceleration sensors and/or optical sensors. The step of comparing the movement information may be carried in a mobile device ( 1 ) or in a central unit.
1. A method of identifying mobile devices capable of communicating with each other, the method comprising the steps of:
deriving, for each mobile device, movement information from movements made by the mobile device within a respective time period, and
communicating the movement information,
comparing the movement information of the mobile device with the movement information of at least one other mobile device, and
identifying mobile devices having matching movement information.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing includes searching for movement information associated with substantially identical movements.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing includes searching for movement information associated with movements which substantially are each other's mirror images.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least two mobile devices are held together during their movement.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one movement is a random movement.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the respective time periods are identical.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the respective time periods have no overlap.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of deriving movement information is carried out using sensors mounted in the mobile device, such as acceleration sensors and/or optical sensors.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating the movement information involves transmitting the movement information to another mobile device and carrying out the step of comparing the movement information in the other mobile device.
10. A computer program product for carrying out the method according to claim 1 .
11. A mobile device capable of communicating with other mobile devices, the mobile device comprising:
movement sensors for deriving movement information from movements made by the mobile device within a respective time period, and
a communication unit for communicating the movement information,
a comparison unit for comparing the movement information of the mobile device with the movement information of at least one other mobile device, and
an identification unit for identifying mobile devices having matching movement information.
12. The device according to claim 11 , further comprising a buffer unit for temporarily storing movement information.
13. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the movement sensors are selected from the group consisting of acceleration sensors and optical sensors.
14. A system for mobile communication, the system comprising a mobile device according to claim 11 .
15. An identification server for use in the method according to claim 1 .
16. An identification server for use in the system according to claim 14 .