Determining and presenting communication device proximity information

• US 7,769,894 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matz, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US11/549,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/245
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• 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 location and mapping application takes device information and produces location information for display on a communication-enabled computing device (e.g., a personal digital assistant or wireless phone). A current location of a wireless device may be provided with an announcement of an incoming call or message and may be in the form of a street address or a map. Location information for a wired (or fixed-location) device may be provided in the form of a map. Location information for nearby wireless and wired devices may also be provided. Location information may be updated for wireless devices that are moving.

Claims

1. A method for providing proximity information associated with a first communications device, the method comprising:

during routing of a call from the first communications device to a second communications device, receiving a request from the second communications device for the proximity information associated with the first communications device; and

in response to the request;

determining a location of the first communications device,

determining a location of a third communications device located nearest the first communications device, and

providing the location of the first communications device, the location of the third communications device, and information identifying a user associated with the third communications device to the second communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communications device comprises a communication-enabled computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the location of the first communications device comprises providing an audible announcement of an address associated with the first communications device to the communication-enabled computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the first communications device comprises determining geographic coordinates associated with the location of the first communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the first communications device comprises determining an address associated with the location of the first communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a graphical map of an area near the location of the first communications device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the graphical map to the second communications device for visual display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a phone number of the third communications device to the second communications device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing driving directions from a location of the second communications device to the location of the first communications device.

10. A system for providing proximity information associated with a first communications device, comprising:

memory for storing a program containing code for providing proximity information associated with a first communications device; and

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and configured to;

receive a request from a second communications device for the proximity information associated with the first communications device during routing of a call from the first communications device to the second communications device, and

in response to the request;

determine a location of the first communications device,

determine a location of a third communications device located nearest the first communications device, and

provide the location of the first communications device, the location of the third communications device, and information identifying a user associated with the third communications device to the second communications device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the process is further configured to determine an address associated with the first communications device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to query a customer database to determine an address associated with the first communications device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a graphical map of the location of the first communications device.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to receive caller ID information from the first communications device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a map of a geography surrounding the first communications device; and

add the location of the third communications device to the map of the geography surrounding the first communications device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to provide driving directions between the location of the first communications device and a location of the second communications device.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising:

receiving a device identifier and a location identifier associated with a first wireless communications device upon initiation of a communication between the first wireless communications device and a second communications device;

determining a location identifier of a third communications device associated with the first communications device, wherein the third communications device is located nearest to the first communications device;

determining proximity information associated with the location identifier of the first communications device, wherein the proximity information comprises;

the location identifier of the third communications device associated with the first communications device, and

a map of a geographic area encompassing a geographic location associated with the location identifier of the first communications device;

preparing a displayable version of the proximity information for output on a display of the second communications device; and

sending the displayable version of the proximity information to the second communications device.