Sharing Location Information Among Devices

• US 20140213280A1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Guy, Roman, Sandel, Eran, Harush, Elad
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products that include, on a first device executing a first instance of a location application, receiving an indication to begin sharing data describing a path traveled by the first device, receiving location data describing the path traveled by the first device, the location data received from a location system of the first device, and the location data including a plurality of locations of the first device, and transmitting the location data in a form usable to enable a user interface of a second instance of a location application executing on a second device to indicate the path traveled by the first device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

on a first device executing a first instance of a location application, receiving an indication to begin sharing data describing a path traveled by the first device;

receiving location data describing the path traveled by the first device, the location data received from a location system of the first device, and the location data including a plurality of locations of the first device; and

transmitting the location data in a form usable to enable a user interface of a second instance of a location application executing on a second device to indicate the path traveled by the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a request for the second device to receive the data describing the path traveled by the first device, and receiving, at the first device, an authorization to transmit the location data to the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying on the first device a visual representation of the path traveled by the first device in the first instance of the location application, and wherein the transmitted location data is usable by the second device to display, in the second instance of a location application, a substantially identical visual representation of the path traveled by the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising providing, on the user interface of the first instance of the location application, an indication that the second device has requested to receive the data describing the path traveled by the first device.

5. A method comprising:

on a first device executing a first instance of a location application, receiving an indication to receive shared data describing a path traveled by a second device;

receiving location data describing the path traveled by the second device, the location data including a plurality of locations of the second device; and

based on the received location data, indicating the path traveled by the second device in a user interface of the first instance of a location application executing on the first device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the path traveled by the second device is indicated before at least some locations of the second device are received, and wherein the path traveled by the second device is subsequently updated in response to receiving at least some locations of the second device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein indicating the path traveled by the second device comprises displaying, on the first device, a visual representation of the path traveled by the second device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein indicating the path traveled by the second device comprises displaying, on the first device, a visual representation of directions for a user of the first device to follow the path.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein indicating the path traveled by the second device comprises providing, by the first device, a spoken word description of directions for a user of the first device to follow the path.

10. The method of claim 5, comprising indicating, on the first device, a spoken message generated based on a message provided by a user of the second device.

11. A computer readable storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause a computer system to carry out operations comprising:

on a first device executing a first instance of a location application, receiving an indication to begin sharing data describing a path traveled by the first device;

receiving location data describing the path traveled by the first device, the location data received from a location system of the first device, and the location data including a plurality of locations of the first device; and

transmitting the location data in a form usable to enable a user interface of a second instance of a location application executing on a second device to indicate the path traveled by the first device.

12. The computer readable storage device of claim 11, the operations comprising receiving a request for the second device to receive the data describing the path traveled by the first device, and receiving, at the first device, an authorization to transmit the location data to the second device.

13. The computer readable storage device of claim 11, the operations comprising displaying on the first device a visual representation of the path traveled by the first device in the first instance of the location application, and wherein the transmitted location data is usable by the second device to display, in the second instance of a location application, a substantially identical visual representation of the path traveled by the first device.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 11, the operations comprising providing, on the user interface of the first instance of the location application, an indication that the second device has requested to receive the data describing the path traveled by the first device.

15. A computer readable storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause a computer system to carry out operations comprising:

on a first device executing a first instance of a location application, receiving an indication to receive shared data describing a path traveled by a second device;

receiving location data describing the path traveled by the second device, the location data including a plurality of locations of the second device; and

based on the received location data, indicating the path traveled by the second device in a user interface of the first instance of a location application executing on the first device.

16. The computer readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the path traveled by the second device is indicated before at least some locations of the second device are received, and wherein the path traveled by the second device is subsequently updated in response to receiving at least some locations of the second device.

17. The computer readable storage device of claim 15, wherein indicating the path traveled by the second device comprises displaying, on the first device, a visual representation of the path traveled by the second device.

18. The computer readable storage device of claim 15, wherein indicating the path traveled by the second device comprises displaying, on the first device, a visual representation of directions for a user of the first device to follow the path.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 15, wherein indicating the path traveled by the second device comprises providing, by the first device, a spoken word description of directions for a user of the first device to follow the path.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 15, the operations comprising indicating, on the first device, a spoken message generated based on a message provided by a user of the second device.