Location Sharing

• US 20130137462A1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Van Os, Marcel MWA, Herz, Scott, Matas, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• 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 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Geographic location data is sent from a first device to a second device with a modified message to signal the presence of geographic location data associated with the message. The message can include (or attach) the geographic location data or file, or the message can include a link to a network-based resource which the second device can use to obtain the geographic location data. In some implementations, when a user of the first device views a location on a map display of the first device, a graphical user interface is presented to allow the user to select an option to share the geographic location with the second device. The second device receives geographic location data or a link from the first device which can trigger a map display on the second device showing the location of the first device and, optionally, the location of the second device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a message and geographic location data from a device;

processing the message to determine if the message is associated with geographic location data; and

presenting the message in a graphical object having a graphical element indicating that the message is associated with the geographic location data, if the message is associated with the geographic location data;

obtaining input to the graphical element; and

presenting a map display with the geographic location of the device identified, in response to the input to the graphical element.

2. A method comprising:

receiving a message and geographic location data from a device;

processing the message to determine if the message is associated with geographic location data; and

presenting the message in a graphical object having a graphical element indicating that the message is associated with the geographic location data, if the message is associated with the geographic location data;

obtaining input to the graphical element; and

presenting a map display with the geographic location of the device identified with a graphical placemark, in response to the input to the graphical element.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining input to the graphical placemark; and

presenting a graphical object displaying location information associated with the geographic location.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the device is a first device, the message is received by a second device, and further comprising:

presenting a map display with the geographic location of the first device identified with a first graphical placemark and a current geographic location of the second device identified with a second graphical placemark.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a text message at a mobile device, the text message including contact information;

decoding the text message including the contact information, responsive to receiving the text message; and

adding the contact information to fields of a contact in an address book.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the text message is a short message service message.

7. A system comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

presenting a graphical placemark on a map display, the graphical placemark corresponding to geographic location;

obtaining a selection of the graphical placemark;

presenting a graphical object that includes information associated with the geographic location, in response to the selection of the graphical placemark;

receiving a selection of the graphical object;

presenting a user interface for specifying two or more mechanisms for sharing the geographic location, in response to the selection of the graphical object;

obtaining input to the user interface specifying a text messaging for sharing geographic location data for the geographic location with a device; and

sending the geographic location data with a text message to the device, wherein the text message is modified to signal the presence of the geographic location data associated with the text message.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a virtual keyboard for typing the text message.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the geographic location data includes map data associated with the geographic location.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the geographic location data includes a link to a network-based map service for providing map data associated with the geographic location data.

11. A system comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a message and geographic location data from a device;

processing the message to determine if the message is associated with geographic location data; and

presenting the message in a graphical object having a graphical element indicating that the message is associated with the geographic location data, if the message is associated with the geographic location data;

obtaining input to the graphical element; and

presenting a map display with the geographic location of the device identified with a graphical placemark, in response to the input to the graphical element.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

obtaining input to the graphical placemark; and

presenting a graphical object displaying location information associated with the geographic location.