OPTIMIZING SELECTION OF METHOD OF DETERMINING LOCATION IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM USING MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
First Claim
1. In a social networking system which operates at least in part based upon determining geographic location of members of the social networking system, a method of selecting among a plurality of choices of location determining systems which are operable to determine location of mobile communications devices, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mobile communications device having at least two modes of location determination, wherein available modes of location determination include a first mode based on selecting one of Global Positioning System (GPS) capability and assisted Global Positioning System (aGPS) capability, and a second mode based on cellular telephone triangulation capability;
establishing a hierarchy of desirability of the modes of location determination;
determining operability of the most desirable mode of location determination;
establishing location data of the mobile communications device from the most desirable mode of location determination if the most desirable mode of location determination is operable;
determining operability of the next most desirable mode of location determination, if the most desirable mode of location determination is not deemed operable;
establishing location data of the mobile communications device from the next most desirable mode of location determination; and
conducting at least one operation of the social networking system based on location of the mobile communication device as determined using that mode of location determination which was utilized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of selecting an optimal mode of determining location in a social networking system which uses mobile communications devices such as cellular telephones. The system may select GPS, aGPS if the communications device is so enabled, or cellular telephone triangulation, depending upon equipment and operability. A hybrid employing both GPS and also aGPS may be utilized. Once determined, location may be displayed graphically using a map. Those functions of the social networking dependent upon member location may then be implemented. The internet may be employed as a communications link.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a social networking system which operates at least in part based upon determining geographic location of members of the social networking system, a method of selecting among a plurality of choices of location determining systems which are operable to determine location of mobile communications devices, comprising the steps of:
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providing a mobile communications device having at least two modes of location determination, wherein available modes of location determination include a first mode based on selecting one of Global Positioning System (GPS) capability and assisted Global Positioning System (aGPS) capability, and a second mode based on cellular telephone triangulation capability; establishing a hierarchy of desirability of the modes of location determination; determining operability of the most desirable mode of location determination; establishing location data of the mobile communications device from the most desirable mode of location determination if the most desirable mode of location determination is operable; determining operability of the next most desirable mode of location determination, if the most desirable mode of location determination is not deemed operable; establishing location data of the mobile communications device from the next most desirable mode of location determination; and conducting at least one operation of the social networking system based on location of the mobile communication device as determined using that mode of location determination which was utilized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification