Patent attributes
The online co-location connection service is provided by a messaging system configured to selectively pair user profiles associated with respective client devices equipped with sensors that communicate with each other within the predetermined physical proximity range. The pairing is effectuated without requiring that the two client devices, at the time of pairing, are within a communication range permitted by their respective short range communication sensors and without requiring a communication between the first client device and the second client device via a short-range wireless communication technology. Subsequent to the pairing, the messaging system monitors physical proximity of the client devices based on the sensor data obtained by the co-location connection service from the respective messaging clients executing at the respective client devices. In response to detecting that the client devices are within a predetermined physical proximity range the messaging system generates a co-location experience.