Methods and Systems for Annotating Target Locations

• US 20130130715A1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X One Inc.
• Original Assignee: X One Inc.
• Inventors: Haney, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 : Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 : in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 : Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 : Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 : Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 : with dynamic range variability
• 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 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 : User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 : Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 : Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 : Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 : for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. Target locations can be identified and annotated with text, voice or photo notes, photos, and the locations of buddies.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a GPS-enabled wireless device with a user;

associating the user with a list of people;

obtaining location information identifying a location of the GPS-enabled wireless device;

storing first input from the user identifying a target at the location;

storing second input from the user annotating the target with a text message;

storing third input from the user identifying a photograph;

associating the photograph with the target; and

storing fourth input from the user identifying a subset of the people associated with the user as located with the user at the target.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising depicting positions of the subset of the people on a map.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising sharing the positions with a second subset of the people.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second subset of the people includes the first-mentioned subset of the people.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying at least one icon representing the subset of the people on a map.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising representing the subset as a group icon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the group icon includes an outline encompassing the positions of the subset of the people.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising selecting a number of the icons represented on the map based on how far apart the positions are spread.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the mapping includes receiving second location information associated with at least one of the subset of the people.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the subset of the people is associated with a second GPS-enabled wireless device, the method further comprising issuing a location update request to the second GPS-enabled wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the user to take the photograph.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising prompting the user to identify the photograph in a file.

13. The method of claim 1 carried out on a server executing non-transitory computer-readable instructions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS-enabled wireless device executes non-transitory computer-readable instructions to carry out the method.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising publishing the target, the text message, the photograph, and the subset of the people.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising publishing the target, the text message, the photograph, and the first-mentioned subset of the people to a second subset of the people.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the publishing depicts the first-mentioned subset of the people on a map.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of people identifies some of the people as friends of the user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of people includes friends of the user, the method further comprising depicting positions of the friends on a map.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising sharing the positions only with the friends.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a distance between the user and at least one of the subset of the people.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a timestamp associated with a position of at least one of the subset of the people relative to the location.

23. A method comprising:

determining a location of a GPS-enabled wireless device associated with a user, wherein the user is associated with a list of people;

storing first input from the user identifying a target at the location, the first input allowing the user to annotate the target;

annotating the target using second input from the user, the second input from the user specifying a text message, a photograph, and a subset of the list of people associated with the user; and

publishing the target with the text message and photograph to the subset of the list of people.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein publishing the target comprising showing locations of the subset of the list of people on a map.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein showing the locations of the subset of the list of people on the map comprises displaying the map with at least one icon representing the locations of the subset of the people on the map.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising representing the subset as a group icon.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the group icon includes an outline encompassing the group.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising selecting a number of the icons represented on the map based on how far apart the locations are spread.

29. A server for communicating information about a target at a location, the server comprising:

server-side storage storing lists of people, the lists including a list of people associated with a user of a GPS-enabled wireless device; and

a network interface to communicate with the wireless device, the network interface receiving GPS position data identifying a location of wireless device, first input from the user identifying a target at the location, and second input from the user specifying a text message, a photograph, and a subset of the list of people associated with the user;

wherein the server annotates the target using second input from the user and publishes the target with the text message and photograph to the subset of the list of people.

30. The server of claim 29, wherein the server publishes the target with the text message and photograph to the subset of the list of people via the network interface.

31. The server of claim 30, wherein publishing the target comprising sending a map and locations of the subset of the list of people on a map.

32. The server of claim 31, further comprising representing the subset as a group icon.

33. The server of claim 31, further comprising representing the subset as a group icon with an outline encompassing the group.

34. The server of claim 31, further comprising selecting a number of icons represented on the map based on how far apart the locations are spread.

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

determining a location of a GPS-enabled wireless device associated with a user, wherein the user is associated with a list of people;

storing first input from the user identifying a target at the location, the first input allowing the user to annotate the target;

annotating the target using second input from the user, the second input from the user specifying a text message, a photograph, and a subset of the list of people associated with the user; and

publishing the target with the text message and photograph to the subset of the list of people.

36. The product of claim 35, wherein publishing the target comprising showing locations of the subset of the list of people on a map.

37. The product of claim 36, wherein showing the locations of the subset of the list of people on the map comprises displaying the map with at least one icon representing the locations of the subset of the people on the map.

38. The product of claim 37, further comprising representing the subset as a group icon.

39. The product of claim 38, wherein the group icon includes an outline encompassing the group.

40. The product of claim 37, further comprising selecting a number of the icons represented on the map based on how far apart the locations are spread.