SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DYNAMIC LOCATION INFORMATION

• US 20080194275A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Koch, Zeke, Stewart, David Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/104,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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

A system and method for providing the dynamic geographic location of a computing device to location aware applications. This system and method enables the location aware applications to enhance the user experience by taking the dynamic geographic location of a user into account in its operations. Location providers associated with the computing device provide dynamic geographic data associated with the geographic location of the user. The dynamic geographic data is converted to a common format that is recognized by the location aware applications. The location aware applications incorporate the dynamic location in presenting information to the user.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A computer-implemented method for presenting information related to text messaging to a user of a computing device comprising:

receiving geographic data associated with a remote device in a text message, wherein the geographic data includes a geographic location of the remote device;

determining geographic data associated with a user device, wherein the geographic data includes a geographic location of the user device;

determining relative geographic data, wherein the relative geographic data includes information associated with the geographic location of the remote device in relation to the geographic location of the user device;

associating the relative geographic data with a text messaging application; and

displaying at least one contact name associated with the remote device, wherein the relative geographic data is displayed in association with the at least one contact name.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein geographic data associated with the user device is determined by receiving data from at least one member of a group comprising:

a user input, a global positioning system device, and a wireless carrier.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein the relative geographic data is dynamic based on changes associated with at least one member of a group comprising:

geographic data associated with the remote device, and geographic data associated with the user device.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein displaying the relative geographic data in association with the at least one contact name includes displaying a map that includes a graphical display of the relative geographic data.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein a scale factor of the map is determined based on the relative geographic data.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein a magnitude of the scale factor of the map is determined based on an accuracy of the relative geographic data.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein displaying the relative geographic data in association with the at least one contact name includes displaying directions associated with the relative geographic data.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 40, wherein an accuracy of the relative geographic data is a factor in determining the directions.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein the relative geographic data is displayed as at least one member of a group comprising:

a calculated distance when the calculated distance is less than a diameter of a city associated with the determined geographic data of the user device, and a city when a calculated distance is greater than a diameter of a city associated with the determined geographic data of the user device.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein displaying the relative geographic data in association with the at least one contact name includes associating the relative geographic data with an internet browser application, wherein the relative geographic data is a factor in configuring a website for display.

44. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for presenting information related to text messaging to a user of a computing device comprising:

receiving geographic data associated with a remote device in a text message, wherein the geographic data includes a geographic location of the remote device;

determining geographic data associated with a user device, wherein the geographic data includes a geographic location of the user device;

determining relative geographic data, wherein the relative geographic data includes information associated with the geographic location of the remote device in relation to the geographic location of the user device;

associating the relative geographic data with a text messaging application; and

displaying at least one contact name associated with the remote device, wherein the relative geographic data is displayed in association with the at least one contact name, wherein the relative geographic data is displayed according to an accuracy value.

45. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein displaying the relative geographic data in association with the at least one contact name includes displaying a map that includes a graphical display of the relative geographic data.

46. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein a scale factor of the map is determined based on the accuracy value.

47. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein a magnitude of the scale factor of the map is determined based the accuracy value.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein displaying the relative geographic data in association with the at least one contact name includes displaying directions associated with the relative geographic data.

49. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the accuracy value is a factor in determining the directions.

50. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the relative geographic data is displayed as at least one member of a group comprising:

a calculated distance when the calculated distance is less than a diameter of a city associated with the determined geographic data of the user device, and a city when a calculated distance is greater than a diameter of a city associated with the determined geographic data of the user device.

51. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein displaying the relative geographic data in association with the at least one contact name includes associating the relative geographic data with an internet browser application, wherein the relative geographic data is a factor in configuring a website for display.

52. A system for presenting information related to text messaging to a user of a computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for;

receiving geographic data associated with a remote device in a text message, wherein the geographic data includes a geographic location of the remote device;

determining geographic data associated with a user device, wherein the geographic data includes a geographic location of the user device;

determining relative geographic data, wherein the relative geographic data includes information associated with the geographic location of the remote device in relation to the geographic location of the user device;

associating the relative geographic data with an text messaging application; and

displaying at least one contact name associated with the remote device, wherein the relative geographic data is displayed in association with the at least one contact name, wherein the relative geographic data is displayed according to an accuracy value that determines whether the relative geographic data is displayed as at least one member of a group comprising;

a distance value and a geographic name.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein displaying the relative geographic data in association with the at least one contact name includes displaying at least one member of a group comprising:

a map that includes a graphical display of the relative geographic data, and directions associated with the relative geographic data.