Location Sharing And Tracking Using Mobile Phones Or Other Wireless Devices

• US 20140148135A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 05/29/2014
• 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 8,798,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a server;

a database representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated buddy list that identifies multiple users; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to obtain a last known position for multiple users identified by the buddy list, and to plot the last known location of at least two of the multiple users on the map, and to transmit the map with plotted locations to the first individual;

where the software is to request and store position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users and where the software is to permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map and to transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with plotted position of at least one of the multiple users, each in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a database that stores last known location for each of the multiple users.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software formats the map with plotted locations to be rendered by a JAVA enabled portable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, where the software provides a distance from the first individual to each of the at least two of the multiple users.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software is to permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map by zooming geographic resolution from a first geography to a second geography.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software to obtain the map is to obtain the map from a server of a third party map provider.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software to obtain the map is to obtain the map in a manner having a default geographic resolution.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, where the default resolution is specified by the first individual.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, where a specific one of the multiple users is associated with a time limit for location sharing, and where the software is to transmit the map representing changed geography in a manner that excludes the specific one.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, where a specific one of the multiple users is associated with a time limit for location sharing, and where the software is to disable transmission of a map representing plotted position of the specific one after the time limit has expired.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software is to, in response to a refresh rate specified by the first individual, transmit a map to the first individual with updated plotted positions.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software is to, in response to a change in last known position for one of the multiple users, transmit an alert to the first individual, the alert responsive to at least one of a change in the last known position for one of the multiple users that is at least one of (a) a change in position toward a specific location, or (b) a change in position away from the specific location.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, where the alert is responsive to a change in position to within a specific proximity of the specific location.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, where the alert is responsive to a change in position to outside of a specific proximity of the specific location.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software is to superimpose the name of a specific one of the multiple users at a location on the map corresponding to the plotted position of the specific one.

16. A method of determining positions of multiple users, the method employing a server, the method comprising:

maintaining an account for a first individual, the account identifying a buddy list including the multiple users, the account accessible to the server;

storing a last known position for each of the multiple users;

in response to a first request from the first individual,

retrieving at the server a map representing a first geography, the map selected in dependence on position of at least one of the first individual or one of the multiple users,

based on correspondence if any between the last known position for each of the multiple users and the geography represented by the map, plotting positions on the map of each of the multiple users with the last known positions, and

transmitting the map with plotted positions to the first individual for display; and

permitting the first individual to change the first geography to a second geography by zooming the map, and transmitting a map representing the second geography with plotted position of at least one of the multiple users to the first individual for display;

where the storing of the last known position for each of the multiple users and the transmitting of the map are each performed in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending to the first individual respective names of each of the multiple users for display in association with the plotted positions.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending to the first individual respective distances of each of the multiple users from a location of the first individual for display in association with the plotted positions.

19. An apparatus for determining positions of multiple users, comprising:

means for maintaining an account for a first individual, the account identifying a buddy list including the multiple users;

means for storing a last known position for each of the multiple users in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications;

means for, in response to a first request from the first individual,

retrieving at the server a map representing a first geography, the map selected in dependence on position of at least one of the first individual or one of the multiple users,

based on correspondence if any between the last known position for each of the multiple users and the geography represented by the map, plotting positions on the map of each of the multiple users with the last known positions, and

transmitting the map with plotted positions to the first individual for display in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications; and

permitting the first individual to change the first geography to a second geography by zooming the map, and transmitting a map representing the second geography with plotted position of at least one of the multiple users to the first individual for display.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a server;

a database representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated buddy list that identifies multiple users;

software to request and store position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users by receiving information from cell phones associated with the respective multiple users in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to obtain a last known position for multiple users identified by the buddy list, to plot the last known location of at least two of the multiple users on the map, to transmit the map with plotted locations to the first individual, and to permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map by zooming the map and to responsively transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with plotted position of at least one of the multiple users, each in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, where the software is to send to the first individual respective names of each of the multiple users for display in association with the positions of the at least two of the multiple users.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, where the software is to send to the first individual respective distances of the at least two of the multiple users from a location of the first individual for display in association with the positions of the at least two of the multiple users.