METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING INSTANT LOCATION SERVICE

• US 20080182589A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: BUCCIERI, Vittorio
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• 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 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

An approach is disclosed for providing an instant location service. At a wireless device of a first user, mapping information of a second user is received over a wireless network. The mapping information specifies position of the second user within a prescribed proximity of the wireless device. The first user is notified of the location of the second user based on the received mapping information. A communication session is selectively initiated by the wireless device, over the wireless network to the second user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless device of a first user, mapping information of a second user over a wireless network, wherein the mapping information specifies position of the second user;

notifying the first user of location of the second user based on the received mapping information; and

initiating, by the wireless device, a communication session over the wireless network to the second user.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mapping information specifies the position of the second user within a prescribed proximity of the wireless device.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on the wireless device, a map including the location of the second user based on the mapping information.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the second user is represented by an icon, and distance to the second user is displayed along with an identifier of the second user.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the first user with a choice of communication options for establishing the communication session, wherein the communication options include audio communication and text messaging.

6. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining position information of the wireless device based on a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals; and

transmitting the position information to a mapping module configured to generate the mapping information in response to the position information.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless device includes a cellular phone.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second user is a member of a contact list specified by the first user, the method further comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) to the first user for modifying the contact list.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the first user of location of a third user based on the received mapping information; and

initiating, by the wireless device, another communication session over the wireless network to the third user.

10. A mobile apparatus operated by a first user, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive mapping information of a second user over a wireless network, wherein the mapping information specifies position of the second user; and

a display configured to present location of the second user based on the received mapping information,

wherein a communication session is initiated over the wireless network to the second user.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the mapping information specifies the position of the second user within a prescribed proximity of the wireless device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to display, on the wireless device, a map including the location of the second user based on the mapping information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second user is represented by an icon, and distance to the second user is displayed along with an identifier of the second user.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to present a choice of communication options for establishing the communication session, wherein the communication options include audio communication and text messaging.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) module coupled to the processor and configured to determine position information of the wireless device based on a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals,

wherein the position information is transmitted to a mapping module configured to generate the mapping information in response to the position information.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second user is a member of a pre-defined contact list, and the display is further configured to present a graphical second user interface (GUI) for modifying the contact list.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to present location of another second user based on the received mapping information, and another communication session is initiated over the wireless network to the other second user.

18. A method comprising:

receiving location information from a first wireless device over a wireless network;

receiving location information from a second wireless device over the wireless network;

generating mapping information for the first wireless device, wherein the mapping information specifies position of the second wireless device within a prescribed proximity of the wireless device; and

transmitting the mapping information to the first wireless device over the wireless network, wherein the first wireless device initiates a communication session over the wireless network to the second wireless device.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the first wireless device is configured to display a map including the location of the second wireless device based on the mapping information, the second wireless device being represented by an icon, and distance to the second wireless device is displayed along with an identifier of a user of the second wireless device.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the first wireless device is further configured to prompt a user with a choice of communication options for establishing the communication session, wherein the communication options include audio communication and text messaging.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein each of the wireless devices is configured to determine position information based on a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals.

22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

permitting modification of a contact list of the first wireless device via the first wireless device over the wireless network or a computing device over a wired data network.

23. A system comprising:

a mapping module configured to receive location information from a first wireless device over a wireless network, and location information from a second wireless device over the wireless network,

wherein the mapping module is further configured to generate mapping information for the first wireless device, the mapping information specifying position of the second wireless device within a prescribed proximity of the first wireless device,

wherein the mapping information is transmitted to the first wireless device, the first wireless device initiating a communication session over the wireless network to the second wireless device.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the first wireless device is configured to display a map including the location of the second wireless device based on the mapping information, the second wireless device being represented by an icon, and distance to the second wireless device is displayed along with an identifier of a user of the second wireless device.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the first wireless device is further configured to prompt a user with a choice of communication options for establishing the communication session, wherein the communication options include audio communication and text messaging.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein the wireless devices are each is configured to determine position information based on a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals.

27. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a user profile database configured to store a contact list of the first wireless device, wherein the contact list of the first wireless device is modified via the first wireless device over the wireless network or a computing device over a wired data network.