Microsoft will increase the frequency of serendipitous meetings with friends

These days smartphones know our location all the time. They also have information about our friends. Further, they know about our daily plans (from calendar). Microsoft has combined these three data sets to come up with a unique recommendation system.

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Based on user and friend activities, the system can estimate that user and friend will approach an intersecting location within a window of time.

Further, based on the calendars, the system determines that the user and friend are available to meet in that window.

PatentYogi_Microsoft-will-increase-the-frequency-of-serendipitous-meetings-with-friends

Therefore, the system automatically gives a recommendation of a service (such as a coffee shop) offered within a distance of the intersecting location.

So, technology does not always make us anti-social!.

PatentYogi_Smartphones-have-replaced-Newspapers

Patent Information
Publication number: US 20160189032
Patent Title: Server Computing Device For Recommending Meeting A Friend At A Service Location Based On Current Location, Travel Direction, And Calendar Activity
Publication date: Jun 30, 2016
Filing date: Mar 3, 2016
Inventors: Eric Horvitz; Stelios Paparizos; Roger Barga; Doug Burger; Vinay Gupta;
Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

US20160189032