Apparatus And Systems For Providing Location-Based Services Within A Wireless Network

• US 20090286513A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Brian, Bhuyan, Krishna, Feinstein, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

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.

Claims

1. A method for communicating via a communication system, the method comprising:

sending a request via the communication system; and

responsive to the request, receiving one of;

an indication that an intended recipient of the request does not accept the request;

or

an indication of a location of the intended recipient of the request.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the location is a geographical location.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the location of the intended recipient is indicated on a map.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the intended recipient further comprises a message.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the intended recipient is a friend on a friends list.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request is sent in response to adding the intended recipient to a friends list.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request comprises a request for the intended recipient to be added to a friends list.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein receiving the indication that the intended recipient does not accept the request is a result of the intended recipient invoking privacy control.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving directions to the location of the intended recipient.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising communicating with the intended recipient via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.

11. A method for locating a friend via a communications device, the method comprising:

adding the friend to a friends list on the communications device; and

in response to adding the friend to the friends list and in accordance with a privacy setting of the friend, receiving, via the communications device, one of;

when the privacy setting is a first setting, an indication of a location of the friend;

or

when the privacy setting is a second setting, no indication of a location of the friend.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the location is a geographical location.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the location of the friend is indicated on a map.

14. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the indication of the location of the friend further comprises a message.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising receiving directions to the location of the friend.

16. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising, communicating with the friend via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.

17. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.

18. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising removing the friend from the friends list.

19. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

adding a second friend to the friends list on the communications device; and

in response to adding the second friend to the friends list, and in accordance with a privacy setting of the second friend, receiving, via the communications device, one of;

when the privacy setting of the second friend is a first setting, an indication of a location of the second friend;

or

when the privacy setting of the second friend is a second setting, no indication of a location of the second friend.

20. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising searching, via the communications device, for a place near the location of the friend.

21. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising receiving, via the communications device, directions to a place near the location of the friend.

22. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the location is determined in accordance with at least one of:

geo-coding;

reverse geo-coding;

proximity searching;

routing;

map generation;

a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site in which the friend is located;

or

GPS.

23. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

removing the friend from the friends list on the communications device responsive to the friend removing permission to be on the friends list.

24. A method for sharing a location via a communications device, the method comprising:

receiving, via the communications device, a request to at least one of;

be a friend;

or

share a location; and

responsive to receiving the request and in accordance with a privacy setting, providing, via the communications device, one of;

when the privacy setting is a first privacy setting, an indication of a current location of the communications device;

or

when the privacy setting is a second privacy setting, no indication of a current location of the communications device.

25. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

the request is representative of a request from a specific requester; and

the privacy setting is associated with the specific requester.

26. The method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising:

receiving, via the communications device, a second request from a specific requester to at least one of;

be a friend of the specific requester;

or

share a location with the specific requester; and

responsive to receiving the second request and in accordance with a privacy setting associated with the specific requester, providing one of;

when the privacy setting associated with the specific requester is a first privacy setting, an indication of a current location of the communications device;

or

when the privacy setting associated with the specific requester is a second privacy setting, no indication of a current location of the communications device.

27. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the current location represents a geographical location.

28. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the current location is provided in a format allowing the current location to be indicated on a map.

29. The method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising providing a message.

30. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.

31. The method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising, communicating with a device from which the request was sent via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.

32. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

an indication of the current location of the communications device is provided; and

the current location is utilized to determine directions to the current location.

33. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

an indication of the current location of the communications device is provided; and

the current location is utilized to determine directions to the a place near the current location.

34. The method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the request to be a friend, adding a requester of the request to a friends list on the communications device.

35. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the current location is determined in accordance with at least one of:

geo-coding;

reverse geo-coding;

proximity searching;

routing;

map generation;

a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site within which the communications device is located;

or

GPS.

36. A communications device configured to share a location of an individual, the device comprising:

a transceiver configured to;

send a request; and

receive an indication of a location of the individual; and

a display configured to display the indication of the location of the individual when the indication of the location of the individual is received.

37. The device in accordance with claim 36, wherein the display is configured to display a geographical location of the individual.

38. The device in accordance with claim 36, wherein the display is configured to display the location of the individual on a map.

39. The device in accordance with claim 36, wherein:

the transceiver is configured to receive a message; and

the display is configured to display the message with the location of the individual.

40. The device in accordance with claim 36, wherein:

the transceiver is configured to receive directions to the location of the individual; and

the display is configured to display the directions to the location of the individual.

41. The device in accordance with claim 36, wherein the device comprises a wireless communications device.

42. The device in accordance with claim 36, further configure to communicating with the individual via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.

43. The device in accordance with claim 36, further configured to:

add the individual to a friends list on the device; and

remove the individual from a friends list on the device.

44. The device in accordance with claim 36, further configured to display a location of a place near the location of the individual.

45. The device in accordance with claim 36, further configured to display directions to a place near the location of the individual.

46. The device in accordance with claim 36, wherein the location is determined in accordance with at least one of:

geo-coding;

reverse geo-coding;

proximity searching;

routing;

map generation;

a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site in which the individual is located;

or

GPS.

47. A communications device configured to share a location of the communications device, the device comprising:

a transceiver configured to;

receive a request; and

responsive to receiving the request, provide an indication of a current location of the communications device; and

a display configured to;

display an indication of the request; and

display an indication of a location from which the request was sent.

48. The device in accordance with claim 47, wherein:

the current location is representative of a geographical location; and

the display is configured to display the location from which the location was sent as a geographical location.

49. The device in accordance with claim 47, wherein:

the transceiver is configured to provide the current location of the communications device in a format allowing the current location to be displayed on a map; and

the display is configured to display the location from which the location was sent on a map.

50. The device in accordance with claim 47, wherein:

the transceiver is configured to receive a message; and

the display is configured to display the message with the location from which the location was sent.

51. The device in accordance with claim 47, wherein:

the transceiver is configured to receive directions to the location from which the location was sent; and

the display is configured to display the directions to the location from which the location was sent.

52. The device in accordance with claim 47, wherein the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.

53. The device in accordance with claim 47, further configured to communicate with a device from which the request was sent via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.

54. The device in accordance with claim 47, further configured to:

add a requester of the request to a friends list on the device; and

remove the requester from a friends list on the device.

55. The device in accordance with claim 47, further configured to display a location of a place near the location of a device from which the request was sent.

56. The device in accordance with claim 47, further configured to display directions to a place near the location of a device from which the request was sent.

57. The device in accordance with claim 47, wherein the location is determined in accordance with at least one of:

geo-coding;

reverse geo-coding;

proximity searching;

routing;

map generation;

a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site from which the request was sent;

or

GPS.