METHODS, APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR SHARING LOCATION INFORMATION

• US 20170019768A1
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LY Corp. (A Holdings Corp.), Z Intermediate Global Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: LINE Corporation (A Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: YOON, Seok Jang, LEE, Eun Sil
• Granted Patent: US 10,034,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A method of sharing, with one or more external devices, a location of a first device, includes transmitting a first location information signal to at least one external device; receiving a second location information signal from the at least one external device in response to the first location information signal; generating a location share window, the location share window including visual display of location information of the first device and the at least one external device, based on the first and second location information signals; measuring a desired time lapse period from a reference time point; and deleting the location share window when the measured time lapse period is greater than or equal to a first period, wherein the reference time point is a point in time when the location share window is created.

Claims

1. A method of sharing, with one or more external devices, a location of a first device, which performs electronic communication with the one or more external devices, the method comprising:

transmitting, using at least one processor, a first location information signal to at least one external device;

receiving, using the at least one processor, a second location information signal from the at least one external device in response to the first location information signal;

generating, using the at least one processor, a location share window, the location share window including visual display of location information of the first device and the at least one external device, based on the first and second location information signals;

measuring, using the at least one processor, a desired time lapse period from a reference time point; and

deleting, using the at least one processor, the location share window when the measured time lapse period is greater than or equal to a first period,

wherein the reference time point is a point in time when the location share window is created.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an initialization request signal for initializing the measured lapse period from at least one of the first device and the at least one external device; and

changing, using the at least one processor, the reference time point based on the initialization request signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an adjustment request signal for adjusting a length of the first period from at least one of the first device and the at least one external device; and

adjusting, using the at least one processor, the length of the first period based on the adjustment request signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

deleting, using the at least one processor, the location share window when a current time is a first time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, a delete notification signal from a server configured to store information about the location share window, the delete notification signal indicating a deletion of the location share window;

interrupting, using the at least one processor, the transmitting and receiving of the location information signal between the first device and the at least one external device; and

deleting, using the at least one processor, the location share window.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting, using the at least one processor, a delete request signal to the server before the receiving of the delete notification signal, the delete request signal including a request to delete the location share window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deleting comprises:

interrupting the transmitting of the location information signal of the first device to the at least one external device; and

exiting from the location share window.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, using the at least one processor, a distance information signal including distance information related to a distance between a first location and the at least one external device; and

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of the distance information visually in the location share window based on the distance information signal,

wherein the first location is the location of the first device or at least one location set by at least one of the first device and the at least one external device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, using the at least one processor, a battery remaining capacity information signal including battery remaining capacity information related to a remaining battery capacity of the at least one external device; and

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of the battery remaining capacity information visually in the location share window based on the battery remaining capacity information signal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, using the at least one processor, a moving speed information signal including moving speed information related to a moving speed of each of the at least one external devices; and

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of the moving speed information visually in the location share window based on the moving speed information signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the controlling of the displaying of the moving speed information comprises:

estimating, using the at least one processor, a transportation type information, by which the at least one external device moves, based on the moving speed of the at least one external device; and

controlling, using the at least one processor, displaying of transportation type information visually in the location share window.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting, using the at least one processor, a first area on a map displayed on the location share window; and

outputting, using the at least one processor, a notification when a location the at least one external device changes from being inside the first area to being outside the first area or changes from being outside the first area to being inside the first area.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interrupting, using the at least one processor, the transmitting of the location information signal of the device to the one or more external devices.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the interrupting of the transmitting the location information signal further comprises:

resuming, using the at least one processor, the transmitting of the location information signal of the device to the at least one external device.

15. A method of providing location information of each of a plurality of devices to at least one of the plurality of devices, the method comprising:

receiving, using at least one processor, a first location information signal of each of the plurality of devices from the at least one of the plurality of devices;

transmitting, using the at least one processor, a second location information signal to the at least one of the plurality of devices;

measuring, using the at least one processor, a time lapse period from a reference time point; and

interrupting, using the at least one processor, the transmitting of the second location information signal to the at least one of the plurality of devices when the measured time lapse period is greater than or equal to a first period,

wherein an initial value of the reference time point is a point in time when the second location information signal is transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the measuring comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an initialization request signal for initializing the measured lapse period from at least one of the plurality of devices; and

changing, using the at least one processor, the reference time point based on the initialization request signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the interrupting comprises:

receiving, using the at least one processor, an adjustment request signal for adjusting a length of the first period from at least one of the plurality of devices; and

adjusting, using the at least one processor, the length of the first period based on the adjustment request signal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, using the at least one processor, a specific information signal including at least one of distance information related to distances between the plurality of devices, battery remaining information related to each of the plurality of devices, and moving speed information related to each of the plurality of devices; and

transmitting, using the at least one processor, the received specific information signal to the at least one of the plurality of devices.

19. A system for providing location information to a plurality of devices, the system comprising:

a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon; and

at least one processor configured to execute the computer readable instructions to,

periodically determine current location information using at least one location sensor,

periodically transmit a first location information message to at least one external device, the location information message including the determined current location information,

periodically receive a second location information message from the at least one external device, the second location information message including current location information of the at least one external device,

periodically generate a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including a map including the determined current location information, the current location information of the at least one external device, and a distance between the determined current location information and the current location information of the at least one external device, and

display the GUI on a display panel.

20. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to:

receive user input related to a desired time to discontinue the periodic transmission of the first location information message;

determine whether the desired time has been reached; and

transmit a delete GUI message to the at least one external device, the delete GUI message including instructions causing the at least one external device to delete a GUI generated on the at least one external device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to:

receive user input related to point of interest information related to a point of interest to be shared;

transmit the point of interest information to the at least one external device; and

wherein the map includes the point of interest information, a distance between the determined current location information and the point of interest information, and a distance between the current location information of the at least one external device and the point of interest information.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer readable instructions to:

receive user input related to boundary information of a desired area;

transmit the boundary information to the at least one external device; and

wherein the map includes the boundary information of the desired area, information related to whether the determined current information is located inside or outside of the desired area, and information related to whether the current location of the at least one external device is located inside or outside of the desired area.