Route Sharing and Location

• US 20090005018A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Christie, Gregory N., Forstall, Scott, Tiene, Kevin, Borchers, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US12/019,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

A first mobile device can transmit data related to a route. A second mobile device can receive the route data from the first mobile device. The route data can be a route map displayed on a multi-touch-sensitive display of the second mobile device. A route engine can determine whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the route data and location data of the second mobile device. The route engine can provide an indication at the first mobile device for a route location of the second mobile device based on the determination. The provided indication can be a route map with the route location of the second mobile device. The route map can include the route location of the second mobile device, directions to the route location, and an estimated travel time to the route location.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting data related to a route from a first mobile device to a second mobile device;

receiving at the first mobile device location data related to the second mobile device;

determining at the first mobile device whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the location data; and

indicating at the first mobile device a route location of the second mobile device based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting data related to the route from the first mobile device to the second mobile device further comprises:

presenting a route map to a multi-touch-sensitive display of the second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at the first mobile device location data related to the second mobile device comprises:

receiving location data from a global positioning satellite receiver connected to the second mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the route locus defines one or more locations coterminous with the route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the route locus defines one or more locations within a predefined proximity of the route.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined proximity of the route comprises:

a proximity radius.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating at the first mobile device the route location of the second mobile device comprises:

sounding an audible alert at the first mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating at the first mobile device the route location of the second mobile device comprises:

displaying a route map with the route location of the second mobile device on a multi-touch-sensitive display of the first mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating at the first mobile device the route location of the second mobile device comprises:

displaying directions to the route location of the second mobile device on a multi-touch-sensitive display of the first mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating at the first mobile device the route location of the second mobile device comprises:

displaying an estimated travel time to the route location of the second mobile device on a multi-touch-sensitive display of the first mobile device.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving data related to a route at a second mobile device from a first mobile device;

determining at the second mobile device whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the route data; and

transmitting route location data related to the second mobile device to the first mobile device based on the determination.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving data related to the route at the second mobile device from the first mobile device further comprises:

receiving a route map at the second mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining at the second mobile device whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the route data comprises:

comparing location data from a global positioning satellite receiver connected to the second mobile device to the route data received from the first mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the route locus defines one or more locations coterminous with the route.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the route locus defines one or more locations within a predefined proximity of the route.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predefined proximity of the route comprises:

a proximity radius.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting route location data related to the second mobile device to the first mobile device based on the determination comprises:

transmitting a route map with the route location of the second mobile device to the first mobile device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting route location data related to the second mobile device to the first mobile device based on the determination comprises:

transmitting directions to the route location of the second mobile device to the first mobile device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting route location data related to the second mobile device to the first mobile device based on the determination comprises:

transmitting an estimated travel time to the route location of the second mobile device to a multi-touch-sensitive display of the first mobile device.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving data related to the route at the second mobile device from the first mobile device comprises:

receiving a route invitation request at the second mobile device; and

in response to the second mobile device accepting the route invitation request, determining at the second mobile device whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the route data.

21. A system, comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices configured to transmit and receive data related to a route; and

a route engine configured to;

determine whether a first mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices is at a location defined by a route locus based on route data transmitted from a second mobile device of the plurality of mobile devices and location data of the first mobile device; and

provide an indication at the second mobile device for a route location of the first mobile device based on the determination.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of mobile devices comprise the route engine.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of mobile devices comprise a global positioning satellite receiver.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the route data transmitted from the second mobile device comprises:

a route map displayed on a multi-touch-sensitive display of the first mobile device.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the indication is provided to a multi-touch-sensitive display of the second mobile device.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device comprise an alarm device configured to provide an audible alert to the second mobile device in response to an indication provided by the route engine.

27. A system, comprising:

means for transmitting data related to a route from a first mobile device to a second mobile device;

means for receiving at the first mobile device location data related to the second mobile device;

means for determining at the first mobile device whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the location data; and

means for indicating at the first mobile device a route location of the second mobile device based on the determination.

28. A computer program product, encoded on a computer readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving data related to a route at a second mobile device from a first mobile device;

determining at the second mobile device whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the route data; and

transmitting route location data related to the second mobile device to the first mobile device based on the determination.

29. A method, comprising:

receiving data related to a route from a first mobile device;

receiving location data from a second mobile device;

determining whether the second mobile device is at a location defined by a route locus based on the location data; and

providing to the first mobile device a route location of the second mobile device based on the determination.