LOCATION SOURCE DETERMINATION

• US 20110264615A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rajan, Rajeev D., Mittal, Vineet, Gum, Arnold Jason
• Application Number:
  US12/765,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20110264615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods, etc. for location source determination. For example implementations, a method is described in which a request for a location of a user that is associated with a logical identifier is obtained. A determination may be made as to which type(s) of information (e.g., geographical information, calendar information, online information, etc.) is (are) to be used to obtain a location of the user based at least in part on one or more rules that are associated with the user. Other example implementations are described herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a request for a location of a user that is associated with a logical identifier;

determining whether to obtain a location of said user with geographical information or calendar information based at least in part on one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

initiating transmission of said location of said user to an electronic communications network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining said location of said user with said geographical information or said calendar information responsive to said determining.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining said location of said user with said geographical information by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a physical location of said user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining said location of said user with said calendar information by accessing said calendar information and retrieving a scheduled location corresponding to a current schedule entry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining whether to obtain a location comprises:

applying at least one parameter to said one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

selecting said geographical information or said calendar information for determining said location of said user based at least in part on said at least one parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one parameter comprises an identity of an entity submitting said request for said location of said user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one parameter comprises one or more parameters selected from a group comprising:

time of day, identity of location requester, location of location requester, current user location, or logical identifier corresponding to said request for said location of said user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining which schedule entry from at least two schedule entries, which have an overlapping date-time range, is to be used to obtain said location of said user based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting from at least two schedule entries of said calendar information based at least in part on one or more tags or on actual location.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a feasibility check by comparing multiple locations corresponding to two or more entries of said calendar information that are temporally proximate to each other to verify that it is possible for said user to be present at said multiple locations during scheduled times of said corresponding two or more entries.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a bookmarked location by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a current physical location of said user; and

including said bookmarked location in a schedule entry of calendar information associated with said user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating transmission further comprises:

initiating transmission of an indication that said location of said user is based on calendar information when said location is determined to be obtained with said calendar information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining further comprises:

determining whether to obtain said location of said user with said geographical information, said calendar information, or online information based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user based on a current presence indication, said virtual location corresponding to an electronic site or service.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said virtual location further corresponds to an internal position of said electronic site or service.

17. A device comprising:

at least one memory configured to store instructions; and

one or more processors to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to;

obtain a request for a location of a user that is associated with a logical identifier;

determine whether to obtain a location of said user with geographical information or calendar information based at least in part on one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

initiate transmission of said location of said user to an electronic communications network.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

obtain said location of said user with said geographical information or said calendar information responsive to said determining.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

obtain said location of said user with said geographical information by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a physical location of said user.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

obtain said location of said user with said calendar information by accessing said calendar information and retrieving a scheduled location corresponding to a current schedule entry.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein to determine whether to obtain a location said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

apply at least one parameter to said one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

select said geographical information or said calendar information for determining said location of said user based at least in part on said at least one parameter.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said at least one parameter comprises an identity of an entity submitting said request for said location of said user.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said at least one parameter comprises one or more parameters selected from a group comprising:

time of day, identity of location requester, location of location requester, current user location, or logical identifier corresponding to said request for said location of said user.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

determine which schedule entry from at least two schedule entries, which have an overlapping date-time range, is to be used to obtain said location of said user based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

select from at least two schedule entries of said calendar information based at least in part on one or more tags or on actual location.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

perform a feasibility check by comparing multiple locations corresponding to two or more entries of said calendar information that are temporally proximate to each other to verify that it is possible for said user to be present at said multiple locations during scheduled times of said corresponding two or more entries.

27. The device of claim 17, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

store a bookmarked location by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a current physical location of said user; and

include said bookmarked location in a schedule entry of calendar information associated with said user.

28. The device of claim 17, wherein to initiate transmission said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

initiate transmission of an indication that said location of said user is based on calendar information when said location is determined to be obtained with said calendar information.

29. The device of claim 17, wherein to determine whether to obtain a location said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

determine whether to obtain said location of said user with said geographical information, said calendar information, or online information based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

obtain said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and render the device a special purpose computing device to:

obtain said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user based on a current presence indication, said virtual location corresponding to an electronic site or service.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein said virtual location further corresponds to an internal position of said electronic site or service.

33. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a request for a location of a user that is associated with a logical identifier;

means for determining whether to obtain a location of said user with geographical information or calendar information based at least in part on one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

means for initiating transmission of said location of said user to an electronic communications network.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for obtaining said location of said user with said geographical information or said calendar information responsive to said determining.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for obtaining said location of said user with said geographical information by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a physical location of said user.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for obtaining said location of said user with said calendar information by accessing said calendar information and retrieving a scheduled location corresponding to a current schedule entry.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for determining whether to obtain a location comprises:

means for applying at least one parameter to said one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

means for selecting said geographical information or said calendar information for determining said location of said user based at least in part on said at least one parameter.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said at least one parameter comprises an identity of an entity submitting said request for said location of said user.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said at least one parameter comprises one or more parameters selected from a group comprising:

time of day, identity of location requester, location of location requester, current user location, or logical identifier corresponding to said request for said location of said user.

40. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for determining which schedule entry from at least two schedule entries, which have an overlapping date-time range, is to be used to obtain said location of said user based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

41. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for selecting from at least two schedule entries of said calendar information based at least in part on one or more tags or on actual location.

42. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for performing a feasibility check by comparing multiple locations corresponding to two or more entries of said calendar information that are temporally proximate to each other to verify that it is possible for said user to be present at said multiple locations during scheduled times of said corresponding two or more entries.

43. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for storing a bookmarked location by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a current physical location of said user; and

means for including said bookmarked location in a schedule entry of calendar information associated with said user.

44. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for initiating transmission further comprises:

means for initiating transmission of an indication that said location of said user is based on calendar information when said location is determined to be obtained with said calendar information.

45. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for determining further comprises:

means for determining whether to obtain said location of said user with said geographical information, said calendar information, or online information based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

means for obtaining said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

means for obtaining said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user based on a current presence indication, said virtual location corresponding to an electronic site or service.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said virtual location further corresponds to an internal position of said electronic site or service.

49. An article comprising:

at least one storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to;

obtain a request for a location of a user that is associated with a logical identifier;

determine whether to obtain a location of said user with geographical information or calendar information based at least in part on one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

initiate transmission of said location of said user to an electronic communications network.

50. The article of claim 49, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

obtain said location of said user with said geographical information or said calendar information responsive to said determining.

51. The article of claim 49, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

obtain said location of said user with said geographical information by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a physical location of said user.

52. The article of claim 49, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

obtain said location of said user with said calendar information by accessing said calendar information and retrieving a scheduled location corresponding to a current schedule entry.

53. The article of claim 49, wherein to determine whether to obtain a location said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

apply at least one parameter to said one or more rules that are associated with said user; and

select said geographical information or said calendar information for determining said location of said user based at least in part on said at least one parameter.

54. The article of claim 53, wherein said at least one parameter comprises an identity of an entity submitting said request for said location of said user.

55. The article of claim 53, wherein said at least one parameter comprises one or more parameters selected from a group comprising:

time of day, identity of location requester, location of location requester, current user location, or logical identifier corresponding to said request for said location of said user.

56. The article of claim 49, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

determine which schedule entry from at least two schedule entries, which have an overlapping date-time range, is to be used to obtain said location of said user based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

57. The article of claim 49, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

select from at least two schedule entries of said calendar information based at least in part on one or more tags or on actual location.

58. The article of claim 49, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

perform a feasibility check by comparing multiple locations corresponding to two or more entries of said calendar information that are temporally proximate to each other to verify that it is possible for said user to be present at said multiple locations during scheduled times of said corresponding two or more entries.

59. The article of claim 49, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

store a bookmarked location by activating satellite positioning system (SPS) functionality to ascertain a current physical location of said user; and

include said bookmarked location in a schedule entry of calendar information associated with said user.

60. The article of claim 49, wherein to initiate transmission said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

initiate transmission of an indication that said location of said user is based on calendar information when said location is determined to be obtained with said calendar information.

61. The article of claim 49, wherein to determine whether to obtain a location said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

determine whether to obtain said location of said user with said geographical information, said calendar information, or online information based at least in part on said one or more rules that are associated with said user.

62. The article of claim 61, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

obtain said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user.

63. The article of claim 61, wherein said at least one storage medium has stored thereon further instructions executable by one or more processors to:

obtain said location of said user with said online information by accessing said online information and retrieving a virtual location of said user based on a current presence indication, said virtual location corresponding to an electronic site or service.

64. The article of claim 63, wherein said virtual location further corresponds to an internal position of said electronic site or service.