SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATING CURRENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITY INFORMATION AMONG MOBILE INTERNET USERS AND METHODS THEREFOR

• US 20130191483A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jhanji, Neeraj
• Granted Patent: US 9,246,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A computer-implemented method implemented via the Internet for coordinating a current or future event between a user of a mobile Internet device and other users communicating through the Internet. The method includes receiving the current or future activity information pertaining to the future event from the user via the mobile Internet device. The current activity pertains to an activity occurring at a current time relative to a time the future activity information is received. The future activity pertains to an activity occurring at a future time relative to a time the future activity information is received. The method further includes transmitting the current or future activity information to a backend database coupled to the Internet, the backend database being remote from the mobile Internet device. The method further includes rendering the current or future activity information accessible to at least one recipient via the Internet. The recipient represents a subset of the users coupled to the Internet and having access privilege to information pertaining to the current or future event involving the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for sharing current location information among users by using relationship information stored in a database, the method comprising:

a) receiving data sent from a sender'"'"'s communication device, the data containing self-declared location information indicating a physical location of the sender at the time the sender sent the data determined without the aid of automatic location determination technology;

b) determining from the data the sender'"'"'s identity and based on the sender'"'"'s identity and the relationship information stored in the database, determining a plurality of users associated with the sender and who have agreed to receive messages about the sender, each of the plurality of users having a communication device;

c) wherein the data sent from the sender'"'"'s communication device does not contain an indication of contact information of said plurality of users; and

sending a notification message to the communication devices of, among the users, only the determined users, the notification message containing the sender'"'"'s self-declared location information.