Tagging A Location By Pairing Devices

• US 20120046862A1
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: GRIFFIN, Jason Tyler, REEVE, Scott David
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/521
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A method of tagging a location using a mobile device entails obtaining position data for a current location of the mobile device, detecting a proximity of another device using a short-range wireless interface, and automatically storing the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the other device. The proximity detector may comprise a near field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth® transceiver or another short-range wireless technology that may be employed to detect the proximity of another device. This technology enables two devices to store a current location to facilitate a subsequent rendezvous back at that same location.

Claims

1. A method of tagging a location using a mobile device, the method comprising:

obtaining position data for a current location of the mobile device;

detecting a proximity of another device using a short-range wireless interface; and

automatically storing the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the other device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input to request a route for returning to a previously tagged location; and

displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising displaying a compass indicating a direction to the previously tagged location.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein obtaining the position data comprises generating the position data using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver on the device.

5. A mobile device for tagging a location, the mobile device comprising:

a short-range proximity detector;

a positioning system for generating position data for a current location of the mobile device; and

a processor operatively connected to a memory for storing the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to a detection event of the proximity detector.

6. The mobile device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the short-range proximity detector comprises a near field communication (NFC) interface.

7. The mobile device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the short-range proximity detector comprises a Bluetooth®

transceiver.

8. The mobile device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

a user input device for receiving user input requesting a route back to a previously tagged location; and

a display for displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.

9. The mobile device as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a magnetometer for determining a direction and wherein the display further comprises a compass showing the direction back to the previously tagged location.

10. The mobile device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

a user input device for receiving user input requesting a route back to a previously tagged location; and

a display for displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.

11. The mobile device as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a magnetometer for determining a direction and wherein the display further comprises a compass showing the direction back to the previously tagged location.

12. The mobile device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:

a user input device for receiving user input requesting a route back to a previously tagged location; and

a display for displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.

13. The mobile device as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a magnetometer for determining a direction and wherein the display further comprises a compass showing the direction back to the previously tagged location.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a mobile device causes the device to:

obtain position data for a current location of the mobile device;

detect a proximity of another device using a short-range wireless interface; and

automatically store the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the other device.

15. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 14 wherein the code is further configured to instruct the processor to interact with a near field communication (NFC) interface as the proximity detector.