Geographical location information sharing among wireless devices

• US 20050288036A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Brewer, Beth Ann, Kenagy, Jason B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A system and method for sharing geographical location information among a set of wireless telecommunication devices, such as mobile telephones. A first wireless telecommunication device generates geographical location information of that wireless telecommunication device, either through a resident device such as a GPS device, or has another computer device on the network provide the geographic location information, and then shares the geographical location information through sending the location information to one or more servers for relay to a predesignated target set of wireless telecommunication devices. The server stores the identity of member devices of the target set and controls communication between the first wireless telecommunications device and the member devices of the target set. A second server can be used to modify the geographical information, such as providing a map showing the location of the first wireless telecommunication device and other member devices of the target set.

Claims

1. A system for sharing geographical information for one or more wireless telecommunication devices with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network, comprising:

a first wireless telecommunication device selectively communicating with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network, the first wireless telecommunication device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device;

a set of one or more target wireless communication devices that are designated by the first wireless communication device; and

at least one server in selective communication with one or more wireless telecommunication devices across the wireless network, the server storing the identity of the set designated by the first wireless telecommunication device and the server controlling communication between the first wireless telecommunications device and the designated set of the target wireless telecommunications devices,

wherein the first wireless telecommunication device selectively sends geographical location information to the at least one server for sharing the geographical information with the set of target wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server immediately sends the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server stores the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device and selectively relays the stored geographical information to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

4. The system of claim 3, where the server includes the time of storing with the stored geographical location information relayed to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device from a resident device providing data for the geographical location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device from requesting data from another computer device on the wireless network that can send geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the first telecommunication device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device from requesting data from another computer device on the wireless network that can send geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the at least one server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device from requesting data from another computer device on the wireless network that can send geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device to at least one of the set of target wireless communication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device further sends geographical information data to a second server on the wireless network, the second server selectively modifying the geographical location information for the first wireless telecommunication device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first wireless telecommunication device selectively requests the at least one server to send a link to the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device resident on the second server to one or more devices of the set of target wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device such that each wireless telecommunication device receiving the link can request the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device from the second server.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the link is a hyperlink to a map generated by the second server showing the location of the first wireless telecommunication device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the map generated by the second server further showing the geographical location information of one to all wireless telecommunication devices in the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein the first wireless telecommunication device includes a GPS device and the geographical information includes the map coordinates of the first wireless telecommunication device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographical information indicates the proximity of the first wireless telecommunication device to one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the first wireless telecommunication device communicates with the wireless network through a communication node, and the first wireless telecommunication device triangulates a geographical location based upon the communication node of the wireless network the first wireless device is in communication with.

16. A system for sharing geographical information between telecommunication devices on a wireless network, comprising:

a first wireless telecommunication means for selectively communicating with other wireless telecommunication means across a wireless network, the first wireless telecommunication means including a means for generating the geographical location of the first wireless telecommunication means;

a set of one or more target wireless communication means that are designated by the first wireless communication means; and

a control means for storing the identity of the set designated by the first wireless telecommunication means and the control means controlling communication between the first wireless telecommunication means and the designated set,

wherein the first wireless telecommunication means selectively sends geographical location information to the control means for sharing with the set of target wireless telecommunication means.

17. A method for sharing geographical location information for one or more wireless telecommunication devices with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network, comprising the steps of:

designating a set of one or more target wireless communication devices by a first wireless communication device, the first wireless telecommunication device selectively communicating with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network;

storing the identity of the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device at one or more servers, the one or more servers controlling communication between the first wireless telecommunications device and the wireless telecommunication devices designated set of the first wireless telecommunications device;

selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device;

selectively sending geographical location information from the first wireless telecommunication device to the one or more servers; and

sharing the geographical location information at the one or more servers with the set of target wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of sending the geographical location information is immediately sending the geographical location information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

storing the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device at the one or more servers; and

selectively relaying the stored geographical information from the one or more servers to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of including the time of storing with the stored geographical location information relayed to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless device.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device is selectively generating information about the geographical location from a device resident on the first wireless telecommunication device providing data for the geographical location of that device.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device is the first wireless device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device from requesting data from another computer device on the wireless network that can send geographical location information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the first telecommunication device.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device is selectively generating information about the geographical location of the first wireless telecommunication device through requesting data from another computer device on the wireless network that can send geographical location information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the one or more servers.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device is selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device through requesting data from another computer device on the wireless network that can send geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device to at least one of the set of target wireless communication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of sending geographical location information data to a data server on the wireless network, the data server selectively modifying the geographical location information for the first wireless telecommunication device.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

selectively requesting the one or more servers to send a link to the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device resident on the data server to one or more devices of the set of target wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device such that each wireless telecommunication device can request the geographical location information from the data server; and

selectively requesting the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device from the data server at each wireless telecommunication device of the designated set receiving the link.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the link is a hyperlink to a map generated by the data server showing the location of the first wireless telecommunication device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of generating a map by the data server further showing the geographical location information of one to all wireless telecommunication devices in the set designated by the first wireless telecommunications device.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the first wireless telecommunication device includes a GPS device and the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device is generating geographical location information including the map coordinates of the first wireless telecommunication device.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of sharing the geographical location information is sharing geographical location information further indicating the proximity of the first wireless telecommunication device to one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the set designated by the first wireless device.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the first telecommunication device communicates with the wireless network at a communication node, and the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location is generating geographical location information by the first wireless telecommunication device triangulating a geographical location based upon the communication node of the wireless network the first wireless device is in communication with.

32. A method for sharing geographical location information for one or more wireless telecommunication devices with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network, comprising:

a step for designating a set of one or more target wireless communication devices by a first wireless communication device, the first wireless telecommunication device selectively communicating with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network;

a step for storing the identity of the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device at one or more servers, the one or more servers controlling communication between the first wireless telecommunications device and the designated set of wireless telecommunication devices for the first wireless telecommunications device;

a step for selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device;

a step for selectively sending geographical information from the first wireless telecommunication device to the one or more servers; and

a step for sharing the geographical information at the one or more servers with the set of target wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

33. A wireless telecommunication device that selectively shares geographical information with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network, the device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device, the device selectively communicating with least one server across the wireless network wherein the server stores the identity of one or more predesignated sets of target wireless telecommunication devices, and the device selectively sending geographical location information to the at least one server for sharing the geographical information with the one or more predesignated sets of target wireless telecommunication devices.

34. The wireless telecommunication device of claim 33, wherein the device selectively generating information about the geographical location of that wireless telecommunication device from a resident device providing data for the geographical location of that device.

35. The wireless telecommunication device of claim 33, wherein the device selectively generating information about the geographical location from requesting that data be sent from another computer device on the wireless network including geographical location information for the device.

36. The wireless telecommunication device of claim 33, wherein the device selectively generating information about geographical location from requesting that data from another computer device on the wireless network including geographical information for the device be sent to the at least one server.

37. The wireless telecommunication device of claim 33, wherein the device selectively generating information about the geographical location from requesting that data from another computer device on the wireless network including geographical information of the device be sent to at least one of the set of target wireless communication devices predesignated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

38. The wireless telecommunication device of claim 33, wherein the device includes a GPS device and the geographical information includes the map coordinates of the first wireless telecommunication device.

39. The wireless telecommunication device of claim 33, wherein the device communicates with the wireless network at a communication node, and the device further triangulates a geographical location based upon the communication node of the wireless network the device is in communication with.

40. A program stored in a computer readable medium, that when executed by a wireless telecommunication device, causes the device to perform the steps of:

selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device, the first wireless telecommunication device selectively communicating with other wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network; and

sharing the geographical location information with a predetermined target set of other wireless telecommunication devices through selectively sending geographical location information from the first wireless telecommunication device to one or more servers wherein the one or more servers sharing the geographical location information with the set of target wireless telecommunication devices.

41. The program of claim 40, further directing the wireless telecommunication device to perform the step of designating a set of one or more target wireless communication devices for sharing the geographical location information

42. The program of claim 40, further comprising the step of including the time of storing with the stored geographical location information sent to the one or more servers.

43. The program of claim 40, wherein the first wireless telecommunication device includes a resident locating device on the first wireless telecommunication device providing data for the geographical location of that device, and the program causes the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device to be selectively generating information about the geographical location from the resident locating device.

44. The program of claim 43, wherein the resident locating device is a GPS device, and program causes the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location of a first wireless telecommunication device to be generating geographical location information including the map coordinates of the first wireless telecommunication device.

45. The program of claim 40, wherein the device communicates with the wireless network at a communication node, and the program causes the step of selectively generating information about the geographical location to be generating geographical location information by the first wireless telecommunication device triangulating a geographical location based upon the communication node of the wireless network the first wireless device is in communication with.

46. A server in selective communication with one or more wireless telecommunication devices across the wireless network, the server storing the identity of the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by a first wireless telecommunication device and controlling communication between the first wireless telecommunications device and the designated set of wireless telecommunication devices of the first wireless telecommunications devices, the server receiving generated geographical location information from the first wireless telecommunication device of that wireless telecommunication device and sharing the geographical location information for the first wireless telecommunication devices with one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the target set.

47. The server of claim 46, wherein the server immediately sends the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

48. The server of claim 46, wherein the server stores the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device and selectively relays the stored geographical information to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

49. The server of claim 46, where the server includes the time of storing with the stored geographical location information relayed to the set of wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

50. The server of claim 46, wherein the server receives geographical location information for the first wireless device from another computer device on the wireless network that can send geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device to the server.

51. The server of claim 46, wherein the server to sends a link to the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device resident on a second server to one or more devices of the set of target wireless telecommunication devices designated by the first wireless telecommunication device such that each wireless telecommunication device receiving the link can request the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device from the second server.

52. The server of claim 46, wherein the geographical information shared by the server indicates the proximity of the first wireless telecommunication device to one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the set designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

53. A server for providing geographic location data for one or more wireless telecommunication devices to one or more devices of a set of target wireless telecommunication devices, the server selectively communicating with a wireless network and receiving from one or more data-transmitting servers on the wireless network geographical location information for one or more wireless devices and a target set of one or more target wireless telecommunication devices that are to share the geographical location data, and the server selectively sharing the geographical location information with one or more of the wireless telecommunication devices of the target set.

54. The server of claim 53, wherein the server immediately sends the geographical location information received from the data-transmitting server to one or more of the wireless telecommunication devices of the designated set.

55. The server of claim 53, wherein the server stores the geographical location information received from the data-transmitting server and selectively relays the stored geographical information to one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the designated set.

56. The server of claim 55, where the server includes the time of storing with the stored geographical location information relayed to one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the designated set.

57. The server of claim 53, wherein the server selectively modifying the geographical location information sent from the data-transmitting server.

58. The server of claim 57, wherein the server to sends a link to the geographical location information for the first wireless telecommunication device to one or more devices of the set of target wireless telecommunication devices such that each wireless telecommunication device receiving the link can request the geographical information of the first wireless telecommunication device from the second server.

59. The server of claim 58, wherein the link is a hyperlink to a map generated by the server showing the location of the first wireless telecommunication device.

60. The server of claim 59, wherein the map generated by the server further showing the geographical location information of one to all wireless telecommunication devices in the set designated by the first wireless telecommunication device.

61. The server of claim 60, wherein the geographical location information indicates the proximity of the first wireless telecommunication device to one or more wireless telecommunication devices of the designated set.