Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for sharing location information

• US 10,034,140 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LY Corp. (A Holdings Corp.), Z Intermediate Global Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: LINE Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoon, Seok Jang, Lee, Eun Sil
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahsan, Umair
• Application Number:
  US15/203,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A method of sharing, with one or more external devices, a location of a first device, includes transmitting a first location information signal to at least one external device; receiving a second location information signal from the at least one external device in response to the first location information signal; generating a location share window, the location share window including visual display of location information of the first device and the at least one external device, based on the first and second location information signals; measuring a desired time lapse period from a reference time point; and deleting the location share window when the measured time lapse period is greater than or equal to a first period, wherein the reference time point is a point in time when the location share window is created.

Claims

1. A method of sharing, with one or more external mobile devices, a location of a first mobile device, which performs electronic communication with the one or more external mobile devices, the method comprising:

transmitting, using at least one processor of the first mobile device, a first location information signal to at least one external mobile device;

receiving, using the at least one processor, a second location information signal from the at least one external mobile device in response to the first location information signal;

generating, using the at least one processor, a location share window, the location share window including visual display of location information of the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device, based on the first and second location information signals;

measuring, using the at least one processor, a desired time lapse period from a reference time point;

deleting, using the at least one processor, the location share window when the measured time lapse period is greater than or equal to a first period, wherein the reference time point is a point in time when the location share window is created;

receiving, using the at least one processor, a specific information signal including distance information related to distances between the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device and moving speed information related to each of the external mobile devices;

determining, using the at least one processor, moving speed information related to the first mobile device;

estimating, using the at least one processor, transportation type information corresponding to each external mobile device based on the moving speed information related to each of the external mobile devices and the first mobile device;

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of transportation type information visually in the location share window; and

transmitting, using the at least one processor, the received specific information signal including the moving speed information related to each of the external mobile devices and the moving speed information related to the first mobile device, to each of the at least one external mobile devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an initialization request signal for initializing the measured time lapse period from at least one of the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device; and

changing, using the at least one processor, the reference time point based on the initialization request signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an adjustment request signal for adjusting a length of the first period from at least one of the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device; and

adjusting, using the at least one processor, the length of the first period based on the adjustment request signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

deleting, using the at least one processor, the location share window when a current time is a first time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, a delete notification signal from a server configured to store information about the location share window, the delete notification signal indicating a deletion of the location share window;

interrupting, using the at least one processor, the transmitting and receiving of the location information signals between the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device; and

deleting, using the at least one processor, the location share window.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting, using the at least one processor, a delete request signal to the server before the receiving of the delete notification signal, the delete request signal including a request to delete the location share window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

interrupting the transmitting of the first location information signal of the first mobile device to the at least one external mobile device; and

exiting from the location share window.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of the distance information visually in the location share window based on the specific information signal,

wherein a first location of the distance information is the location of the first mobile device or at least one location set by at least one of the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of the battery remaining information visually in the location share window based on the specific information signal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of the moving speed information visually in the location share window based on the specific information signal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting, using the at least one processor, a first area on a map displayed on the location share window; and

outputting, using the at least one processor, a notification when a location the at least one external mobile device changes from being inside the first area to being outside the first area or changes from being outside the first area to being inside the first area.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interrupting, using the at least one processor, the transmitting of the first location information signal of the first mobile device to the one or more external mobile devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the interrupting of the transmitting the first location information signal further comprises:

resuming, using the at least one processor, the transmitting of the first location information signal of the first mobile device to the at least one external mobile device.

14. A method of providing location information of each of a plurality of mobile devices to at least one of the plurality of mobile devices, the method comprising:

receiving, using at least one processor of a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, a first location information signal of each of the plurality of mobile devices from the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices;

transmitting, using the at least one processor, a second location information signal to the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices;

measuring, using the at least one processor, a time lapse period from a reference time point; and

interrupting, using the at least one processor, the transmitting of the second location information signal to the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices when the measured time lapse period is greater than or equal to a first period,

wherein an initial value of the reference time point is a point in time when the second location information signal is transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices;

receiving, using the at least one processor, a specific information signal including distance information related to distances between the first mobile device and each of the plurality of mobile devices and moving speed information related to each of the plurality of mobile devices;

determining, using the at least one processor, moving speed information related to the first mobile device;

estimating, using the at least one processor, transportation type information corresponding to each of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices based on the moving speed information related to each of the at least one of the plurality of mobile devices and the first mobile device;

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of transportation type information visually in a location share window; and

transmitting, using the at least one processor, the received specific information signal including the moving speed information related to each of the plurality of mobile devices and the moving speed information related to the first mobile device to each of the plurality of mobile devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the measuring comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an initialization request signal for initializing the measured time lapse period from at least one of the plurality of mobile devices; and

changing, using the at least one processor, the reference time point based on the initialization request signal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the interrupting comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an adjustment request signal for adjusting a length of the first period from at least one of the plurality of mobile devices; and

adjusting, using the at least one processor, the length of the first period based on the adjustment request signal.

17. A system for providing location information to a plurality of mobile devices using a first mobile device, the system comprising:

a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon; and

at least one processor configured to execute the computer readable instructions to,

periodically determine current location information related to the first mobile device using at least one location sensor,

periodically transmit a first location information message to at least one external mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices, the first location information message including the determined current location information,

periodically receive a second location information message from the at least one external mobile device, the second location information message including current location information of the at least one external mobile device,

periodically receive a specific information signal including distance information related to distances between the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device and moving speed information related to each of the at least one external mobile device,

determine moving speed information related to the first mobile device,

estimate a transportation type information corresponding to each of the at least one external mobile device based on the moving speed information related to each of the at least one external mobile device and the first mobile device,

periodically transmit the received specific information signal including the moving speed information related to each of the external mobile devices, and the moving speed information related to the first mobile device corresponding to each of the at least one external mobile devices,

periodically generate a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including a map including the determined current location information, the current location information of the at least one external mobile device, the distance information related to distances between the first mobile device and the at least one external mobile device, moving speed information related to the at least one external mobile device and the first mobile device, and transportation type information corresponding to each of the at least one external mobile devices and

display the GUI on a display panel of the first mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to:

receive user input related to a desired time to discontinue the periodic transmission of the first location information message;

determine whether the desired time has been reached; and

transmit a delete GUI message to the at least one external mobile device, the delete GUI message including instructions causing the at least one external mobile device to delete a GUI generated on the at least one external mobile device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to:

receive user input related to point of interest information related to a point of interest to be shared;

transmit the point of interest information to the at least one external mobile device; and

wherein the map includes the point of interest information, a distance between the determined current location information and the point of interest information related to the first mobile device, and a distance between the current location information of the at least one external mobile device and the point of interest information.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to:

receive user input related to boundary information of a desired area;

transmit the boundary information to the at least one external mobile device; and

wherein the map includes the boundary information of the desired area, information related to whether the determined current information related to the first mobile device is located inside or outside of the desired area, and information related to whether the current location of the at least one external mobile device is located inside or outside of the desired area.