Communicating location tracking information based on a plurality of locating category options

• US 10,064,002 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2018
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jio, Inc. (Life360 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Jio, Inc. (Life360 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Renaldi, John A., Ady, Roger W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US15/967,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20180249286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 120 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method includes obtaining a change indicator associated with location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device, where the location tracking communication is based on a variety of locating category options of a plurality of locating categories including location modality, locating function, and communication medium. The method further includes selecting, in response to the change indicator, a different first locating category option and determining whether the different first locating category option affects a selection of other locating category options. When the different first locating category option does not affect the selection of the other locating category options, the method further includes facilitating the location tracking communication from the first communication device to the second communication device based on the different first locating category option, a second locating category option, and a third locating category option.

Claims

1. A method comprises:

obtaining a change indicator associated with location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device, wherein the location tracking communication is based on a first locating category option of a first plurality of locating category options for a first locating category of a plurality of locating categories, a second locating category option of a second plurality of locating category options for a second locating category of the plurality of locating categories, and a third locating category option of a third plurality of locating category options for a third locating category of the plurality of locating categories and wherein the plurality of locating categories includes a location modality category, a locating function category, and a communication medium category;

selecting, in response to the change indicator, a different first locating category option from the first plurality of locating category options;

determining whether the different first locating category option affects a selection of the second locating category option and a selection of the third locating category option; and

when the different first locating category option does not affect the selection of the second category option and the selection of the third locating category option, facilitating the location tracking communication from the first communication device to the second communication device regarding the location information of the first communication device based on the different first locating category option, the second locating category option, and the third locating category option.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

the plurality of locating category options of the location modality category includes global positioning system (GPS), wireless local area network (WLAN) triangulation, cellular triangulation, cellular coverage area, Wi-Fi coverage area, Bluetooth (BT), and radio frequency identification (RFID);

the plurality of locating category options of the locating function category includes proximity locating, route tracking, proximal geographical locating, accurate geographical locating, and tracking rate; and

the plurality of locating category options of the communication medium category includes personal area networks, BT, cellular, WLAN, and cellular phone peer network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the change indicator comprises one or more of:

an indication from one of the first and second communication devices prioritizing at least one of the first locating category and the different first locating category option;

an indication based on established rules regarding locating the first communication device that prioritizes the first locating category and the different first locating category option;

an indication that a status associated with the first communication device has changed including one or more of a safety status level, schedule adherence, a location zone, battery power level, abnormal behavior compared to a past behavior pattern, and a sensor output;

an indication that an adaption timeframe has expired; and

an indication that an additional locating category option is available for at least one of the plurality of locating categories.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

selecting accurate geographical locating as the different first locating category option from the locating function category based on the change indicator being a request for accurate geographical location of the first communication device;

determining that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option when the second locating category option includes cellular coverage area from the location modality category; and

selecting one or more of GPS, cellular triangulation, and wireless local area network (WLAN) triangulation as a different second locating category option from the location modality category based on the selection of the accurate geographical location as the different first locating category option.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

selecting proximal geographical locating as the different first locating category option from the locating function category based on the change indicator being a request for proximal geographic location of the first communication device;

determining that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option when the second locating category option includes GPS from the location modality category; and

selecting one or more of Bluetooth (BT), cellular coverage area, Wi-Fi coverage area, and wireless local area network (WLAN) as a different second locating category option from the location modality category based on the selection of the proximal geographical location as the different first locating category option.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

selecting cellular phone peer network as the different first locating category option from the communication medium category based on the change indicator being a notification that the first communication device has cellular phone peer network connectivity;

determining that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the third locating category option when the third locating category option includes GPS from the location modality category; and

selecting one or more of cellular triangulation and cellular coverage area as a different third locating category option from the location modality category based on the selection of the cellular phone peer network as the different first locating category option.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

selecting BT as the different first locating category option from the location modality category based on the change indicator being a notification that Bluetooth (BT) tracking is available in a present location;

determining that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option when the second locating category option includes cellular from the communication medium category; and

selecting one or more of WLAN, personal area networks, and BT as a different second locating category option from the communication medium category based on the selection of the BT as the different first locating category option.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option and a selection of the third locating category option further comprises one or more of:

indicating to select a different second locating category option when the different first locating category option pairs unfavorably with at least one of the change indicator and the different first locating category option;

indicating to select the different second locating category option and a different third locating category option when the different first locating category option pairs unfavorably with at least one of the change indicator, the different first locating category option, the second locating category option, and the third locating category option;

indicating to select the different second locating category option when the different second locating category option has improved favorability over the second locating category option when the different second locating category option is paired with at least one of the change indicator and the different first locating category option; and

indicating to select the different second locating category option and the different third locating category option when the different second locating category option utilized with the different third locating category option has improved favorability over utilization of the second locating category option and the third locating category option when the different second locating category option and the different third locating category option are both paired with at least one of the change indicator, the different first locating category option, the second locating category option, and the third locating category option.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

the first communication device is associated with a person or object for which monitoring location is desired; and

the second communication device is affiliated with a person desiring to monitor the person or object for which monitoring location is desired.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

facilitating the location tracking communication from the first communication device to the second communication device regarding the location information of the first communication device based on the different first locating category option and a different second locating category option from the second plurality of locating category options, where the different second locating category option is associated with favorable compatibility with the different first locating category option.

11. A computer readable memory comprises:

a first memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing module causes the processing module to;

obtain a change indicator associated with location tracking communication from a first communication device to a second communication device regarding location information of the first communication device, wherein the location tracking communication is based on a first locating category option of a first plurality of locating category options for a first locating category of a plurality of locating categories, a second locating category option of a second plurality of locating category options for a second locating category of the plurality of locating categories, and a third locating category option of a third plurality of locating category options for a third locating category of the plurality of locating categories and wherein the plurality of locating categories includes a location modality category, a locating function category, and a communication medium category;

a second memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing module causes the processing module to;

select, in response to the change indicator, a different first locating category option from the first plurality of locating category options; and

determine whether the different first locating category option affects a selection of the second locating category option and a selection of the third locating category option; and

a third memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing module causes the processing module to;

when the different first locating category option does not affect the selection of the second category option and the selection of the third locating category option, facilitate the location tracking communication from the first communication device to the second communication device regarding the location information of the first communication device based on the different first locating category option, the second locating category option, and the third locating category option.

12. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the plurality of locating category options of the location modality category includes global positioning system (GPS), wireless local area network (WLAN) triangulation, cellular triangulation, cellular coverage area, Wi-Fi coverage area, Bluetooth (BT), and radio frequency identification (RFID);

the plurality of locating category options of the locating function category includes proximity locating, route tracking, proximal geographical locating, accurate geographical locating, and tracking rate; and

the plurality of locating category options of the communication medium category includes personal area networks, BT, cellular, WLAN, and cellular phone peer network.

13. The computer readable memory of claim 11, wherein the change indicator comprises one or more of:

an indication from one of the first and second communication devices prioritizing at least one of the first locating category and the different first locating category option;

an indication based on established rules regarding locating the first communication device that prioritizes the first locating category and the different first locating category option;

an indication that a status associated with the first communication device has changed including one or more of a safety status level, schedule adherence, a location zone, battery power level, abnormal behavior compared to a past behavior pattern, and a sensor output;

an indication that an adaption timeframe has expired; and

an indication that an additional locating category option is available for at least one of the plurality of locating categories.

14. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the second memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to;

select accurate geographical locating as the different first locating category option from the locating function category based on the change indicator being a request for accurate geographical location of the first communication device;

determine that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option when the second locating category option includes cellular coverage area from the location modality category; and

select one or more of GPS, cellular triangulation, and wireless local area network (WLAN) triangulation as a different second locating category option from the location modality category based on the selection of the accurate geographical location as the different first locating category option.

15. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the second memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to;

select proximal geographical locating as the different first locating category option from the locating function category based on the change indicator being a request for proximal geographic location of the first communication device;

determine that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option when the second locating category option includes GPS from the location modality category; and

select one or more of Bluetooth (BT), cellular coverage area, Wi-Fi coverage area, and wireless local area network (WLAN) as a different second locating category option from the location modality category based on the selection of the proximal geographical location as the different first locating category option.

16. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the second memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to;

select cellular phone peer network as the different first locating category option from the communication medium category based on the change indicator being a notification that the first communication device has cellular phone peer network connectivity;

determine that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the third locating category option when the third locating category option includes GPS from the location modality category; and

select one or more of cellular triangulation and cellular coverage area as a different third locating category option from the location modality category based on the selection of the cellular phone peer network as the different first locating category option.

17. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the second memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to;

select BT as the different first locating category option from the location modality category based on the change indicator being a notification that Bluetooth (BT) tracking is available in a present location;

determine that the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option when the second locating category option includes cellular from the communication medium category; and

select one or more of WLAN, personal area networks, and BT as a different second locating category option from the communication medium category based on the selection of the BT as the different first locating category option.

18. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the second memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to determine whether the different first locating category option affects the selection of the second locating category option and the selection of the third locating category option by one or more of;

indicating to select a different second locating category option when the different first locating category option pairs unfavorably with at least one of the change indicator and the different first locating category option;

indicating to select the different second locating category option and a different third locating category option when the different first locating category option pairs unfavorably with at least one of the change indicator, the different first locating category option, the second locating category option, and the third locating category option;

indicating to select the different second locating category option when the different second locating category option has improved favorability over the second locating category option when the different second locating category option is paired with at least one of the change indicator and the different first locating category option; and

indicating to select the different second locating category option and the different third locating category option when the different second locating category option utilized with the different third locating category option has improved favorability over utilization of the second locating category option and the third locating category option when the different second locating category option and the different third locating category option are both paired with at least one of the change indicator, the different first locating category option, the second locating category option, and the third locating category option.

19. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the first communication device is associated with a person or object for which monitoring location is desired; and

the second communication device is affiliated with a person desiring to monitor the person or object for which monitoring location is desired.

20. The computer readable memory of claim 11 further comprises:

the third memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the processing module to;

facilitate the location tracking communication from the first communication device to the second communication device regarding the location information of the first communication device based on the different first locating category option and a different second locating category option from the second plurality of locating category options, where the different second locating category option is associated with favorable compatibility with the different first locating category option.