Sharing location information during a communication session

• US 10,185,458 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bridge, Henry, Luu, Francis, Borror, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane
• Application Number:
  US14/954,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20160085386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving user input on a graphical user interface of a first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to a second computing device. The current location of the first computing device is accessed, and the current location is sent to one or more second computing devices, the current location being displayed in a graphical user interface of the second computing devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a first computing device, receiving user input on a graphical user interface of the first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to one or more second computing devices;

by the first computing device, accessing a current location of the first computing device; and

by the first computing device, sending the current location of the first computing device to the one or more second computing devices to be displayed within a graphical user interface of each second computing device;

by the first computing device, periodically updating the location of the first computing device and periodically communicating the location of the first computing device to the one or more second computing devices to be displayed on the graphical user interface of each second computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ending communication of the current location of the first computing device to the one or more second computing devices within a specified time limit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is one of a plurality of devices associated with a first user and the graphical user interface of each of the second computing devices displays the current location of the first computing device and a communication from another of the plurality of devices associated with the first user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the current location of the first computing device is displayed on the graphical user interface of each of the second computing devices concurrently with one or more messages between the first computing device and the second computing devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the current location of the first computing device to a third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device is displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device at the same time as the current location of the first computing device is displayed on the graphical user interface of the second computing devices.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the current location of the first computing device to a third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device and locations of one or more second computing devices are displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface of each second computing device indicates a direction of travel of the first computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface of the first computing device is associated with a messaging application of the first computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is further based on one or more preferences indicated by a user of the first computing device for sharing location information of the first computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the preferences comprise an indication to automatically share the current location of the first computing device to one or more second computing devices when a communications session is established with the one or more second computing devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the preferences comprise one or more frequencies for sharing the current location of the first computing device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the preferences comprise an identification of one or more particular second users that are permitted to receive the current location of the first computing device.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to;

receive user input on a graphical user interface of the first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to one or more second computing devices;

access a current location of the first computing device; and

send the current location of the first computing device to the one or more second computing devices to be displayed within a graphical user interface of each second computing device;

periodically update the location of the first computing device and periodically communicate the location of the first computing device to the one or more second computing devices to be displayed on the graphical user interface of each second computing device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processors are further operable to end communication of the current location of the first computing device to the second computing devices within a specified time limit.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical user interface of each second computing device is operable to display the current location of the first computing device concurrently with one or more messages between the first computing device and the second computing device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein processors are further operable to communicate the current location of the first computing device to a third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device is displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device at the same time as the current location of the first computing device is displayed on the graphical user interface of the second computing devices.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processors are further operable to communicate the current location of the first computing device to a third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device and locations of one or more second computing devices are displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device.

18. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

receive user input on a graphical user interface of the first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to one or more second computing devices;

access a current location of the first computing device; and

send the current location of the first computing device to the one or more second computing devices to be displayed within a graphical user interface of each second computing device;

periodically update the location of the first computing device and periodically communicate the location of the first computing device to the one or more second computing devices to be displayed on the graphical user interface of each second computing device.