Apparatus and systems for providing location-based services within a wireless network
First Claim
1. In a wireless network for providing communication and services between wireless phones and multiple wireless base stations, a system comprising:
- a database storing at least a user record associated with a user'"'"'s wireless phone and a friend record associated with a friend'"'"'s wireless phone;
a server computer, a location determining subsystem configured to determine approximate locations of the user'"'"'s and friend'"'"'s mobile phones among the multiple wireless base stations;
a location based services subsystem for translating location information into map-related data; and
a private network coupled among at least the database, the server computer, and the location based services subsystem, wherein the sever computer is configured to;
receive, via one of the multiple wireless base stations, a request from the user'"'"'s wireless phone to obtain location information associated with the friend'"'"'s wireless phone;
access, via the private network, at least the friend record from the database, based on the request, to determine if the friend has granted appropriate permissions to the user to receive location information with respect to the friend'"'"'s wireless phone;
request, from the location determining subsystem and receive via the private network, location information representing at least an approximate location of the friend'"'"'s mobile phone;
request, from the location based services subsystem and receive via the private network, map-related data representing at least an approximate street address or neighborhood of the friend'"'"'s wireless phone based on the received location information; and
provide to the user'"'"'s wireless phone, via the one wireless base station, the map-related data representing the approximate street address or neighborhood of the friend'"'"'s wireless phone.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality for location-based services, and includes both server and client/mobile device apparatuses. One apparatus includes a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device. A computer is coupled to the data store and is configured to receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device. The computer is configured to receive a change location privileges request, and to update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. Other apparatuses provide additional structures and functions.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a wireless network for providing communication and services between wireless phones and multiple wireless base stations, a system comprising:
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a database storing at least a user record associated with a user'"'"'s wireless phone and a friend record associated with a friend'"'"'s wireless phone;
a server computer, a location determining subsystem configured to determine approximate locations of the user'"'"'s and friend'"'"'s mobile phones among the multiple wireless base stations;
a location based services subsystem for translating location information into map-related data; and
a private network coupled among at least the database, the server computer, and the location based services subsystem, wherein the sever computer is configured to;
receive, via one of the multiple wireless base stations, a request from the user'"'"'s wireless phone to obtain location information associated with the friend'"'"'s wireless phone;
access, via the private network, at least the friend record from the database, based on the request, to determine if the friend has granted appropriate permissions to the user to receive location information with respect to the friend'"'"'s wireless phone;
request, from the location determining subsystem and receive via the private network, location information representing at least an approximate location of the friend'"'"'s mobile phone;
request, from the location based services subsystem and receive via the private network, map-related data representing at least an approximate street address or neighborhood of the friend'"'"'s wireless phone based on the received location information; and
provide to the user'"'"'s wireless phone, via the one wireless base station, the map-related data representing the approximate street address or neighborhood of the friend'"'"'s wireless phone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for use in a network that provides communication between a wireless device and multiple network access points, the apparatus comprising:
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a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device; and
a computer coupled to the data store, wherein the computer is configured to;
receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device;
receive a change location privileges request from the second wireless device, wherein the change request indicates that the first wireless device is to have a different access to location information with respect to the second wireless device than before the change request; and
update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. In a telecommunications network providing location-based services to multiple wireless devices, an apparatus comprising:
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at least one database server configured to access records associated with wireless devices, wherein the records provide access options to location information for at least some of the wireless devices;
at least one request server for handling location requests to or from the wireless devices; and
multiple application servers, each configured to communicate with the at least one database server and the at least one request server, wherein the multiple application servers include;
a first application server configured to coordinate meeting requests between wireless devices;
a second application server configured to provide location information and directions with respect to points of interest, and a third application server configured to provide location information to one wireless device regarding the location of another wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for use with a cellular system that provides voice and location-based services, the apparatus comprising:
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an antenna;
a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna;
a memory;
a portable power supply;
an audio subsystem for exchanging voice signals with a user, a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, the portable power supply, the audio subsystem and the memory for permitting wireless communication with the cellular system;
a housing sized to be held in a user'"'"'s hand and configured to carry the antenna, wireless transceiver, memory, portable power supply and processor; and
a user interface carried by the housing and coupled to the processor, wherein the user interface includes a button having a primary configuration to request at least one of the location-based services from the cellular system when actuated by a user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for use with a wireless communications network that provides voice and location-based services to wireless mobile devices, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving wireless signals from, and transmitting wireless signals to, the wireless communications network;
means for storing data;
means for storing power;
means for permitting wireless communication with the wireless communications network, wherein the means for permitting wireless communication is coupled to the means for storing data, the means for storing power, and the means for receiving and transmitting wireless signals;
means for carrying the means for storing data, the means for storing power, the means for receiving and transmitting wireless signals, and the means for permitting wireless communication, wherein the means for carrying is sized to be held in a user'"'"'s hand; and
means for receiving user input, wherein the means for receiving user input is carried by the means for carrying and is coupled to the means for permitting wireless communication, wherein the means for storing data includes a first table of electronic identifiers associated with wireless mobile devices that may receive a current location of the apparatus and a second table of electronic identifiers associated with wireless mobile devices whose location the apparatus may receive, and wherein the apparatus must first be granted permissions from the wireless communications network before providing location-based services. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for use with a wireless cellular system that provides voice services, wherein the cellular system communicates with multiple wireless mobile devices, the apparatus comprising:
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an antenna;
a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna;
a memory;
a portable power supply;
an audio subsystem for exchanging voice signals with a user;
a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, the portable power supply, the audio subsystem and the memory for permitting wireless communication with the cellular system, a housing sized to be held in a user'"'"'s hand and configured to carry the antenna, wireless transceiver, memory, portable power supply and processor, wherein the processor is configured to;
receive a user initiated request for location information with respect to a specified wireless mobile device;
determine a location of the specified wireless mobile device; and
provide to the user location information regarding the specified wireless mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification