System and method for sharing location data in a wireless communication network

• US 8,103,250 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc, Pratt, James, Belz, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US12/328,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/411, 455/412, 455/447, 455/557, 707/748, 340/573.1, 701/201, 701/208, 701/213, 342/357.25
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method for sharing location data amongst wireless communication devices uses a token system to grant permission to share location data. The tokens may be created automatically as the result of user activation of a different function. Location data may be exchanged when two wireless communication devices, authorized to exchange location data, are within a predetermined distance from each other. Location data may also be automatically exchanged upon the occurrence of a scheduled calendar event within a wireless communication device. Location data may be exchanged a single time or can be exchanged on a continuous or periodic basis so long as the token still exists. The token may be destroyed manually by some user activity or may be terminated automatically.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium, for coordinating exchange of location data between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device using token permissions, comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:

receiving a first token permission from the first wireless communication device;

receiving a second token permission from the second wireless communication device;

obtaining first location data corresponding to a location of the first wireless communication device;

obtaining second location data corresponding to a location of the second wireless communication device; and

transmitting, in response to receiving the first token permission and receiving the second token permission, the first location data to the second wireless communication device and the second location data to the first wireless communication device.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the medium is for coordinating exchange of location data between the first wireless communication device, the second wireless communication device, and a third wireless communication device;

the first token permission indicates permission to share location information, corresponding to the first wireless communication device, with the second wireless communication device and third wireless communication device;

the second token permission indicates permission to share location information, corresponding to the second wireless communication device, with the first wireless communication device and third wireless communication device; and

the instructions further cause the processor to perform acts comprising;

receiving a third token permission, from the third wireless communication device, indicating permission to share location information, corresponding to the third wireless communication device, with the first wireless communication device and second wireless communication device;

obtaining third location data corresponding to a location of the third wireless communication device;

transmitting, in response to receiving the first token permission and receiving the third token permission, the first location data to the third wireless communication device and the third location data to the first wireless communication device; and

transmitting, in response to receiving the second token permission and receiving the third token permission, the second location data to the third wireless communication device and the third location data to the second wireless communication device.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform the transmitting act in response to:

(i) receiving the first token permission;

(ii) receiving the second token permission; and

(iii) determining, based on the first location information and the second location information, that the first wireless communication device is located within a pre-determined threshold distance of the second wireless communication device.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

repeat each of;

obtaining the first location data, including any updated first location data representing a new location of the first wireless communication device;

obtaining the second location data, including any updated second location data representing a new location of the second wireless communication device; and

transmitting the first location data to the second wireless communication device and the second location data to the first wireless communication device; and

terminate the transmitting in response to determining that a trigger condition exists.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the trigger condition is selected from a group of conditions consisting of:

an actual separation distance, separating the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, exceeding a pre-determined threshold distance;

the processor receiving a termination message from the first wireless communication device;

the processor determining that a pre-set threshold time period has expired; and

the processor determining that a certain event has occurred.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

in obtaining the first location data, receive the first location data from a first source selected from a group of first sources consisting of;

the first wireless communication device; and

a component of a wireless communication network; and

in obtaining the second location data, receive the second location data from a second source selected from a group of second sources consisting of;

the second wireless communication device; and

the component of the wireless communication network.

7. A computer-readable medium, for use at a first wireless communication device to coordinate exchange of location data, between the first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device, using token permissions, comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of the first wireless communication device, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:

determining that a pre-determined condition exists, wherein the pre-determined condition is associated with the exchange of location data between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device;

transmitting, in response to determining that the pre-determined condition exists, a first token permission to a remote server;

transmitting first location data, corresponding to a location of the first wireless communication device, to the remote server; and

receiving second location data, corresponding to a location of the second wireless communication device, sent by the remote server in response to the remote server receiving a second token permission from the second wireless communication device.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the pre-determined condition relates to an operating characteristic of an application of the first wireless communication device.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the application includes a calendaring application; and

the instructions are configured to cause the processor to;

transmit a calendar invitation to the second wireless communication device; and

determine that the pre-determined condition exists in response to the processor receiving an acceptance message sent by the second wireless communication device in reply to the calendar invitation.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the application includes a calendaring application; and

the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine that the predetermined condition exists in response to the processor determining that a scheduled time associated with a calendar appointment has arrived.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to terminate an effectiveness of the first token permission in response to determining that the scheduled time has passed.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

the application includes an address-book application; and

the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine that the predetermined condition exists in response to the processor determining that the second wireless communication device is associated with an address-book contact associated with the address-book application.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to transmit a terminate message to the remote server in response to receiving a termination input.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to, in receiving the termination input, receive the terminate input from a user of the first wireless communication device.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to, in receiving the termination input, determine that a call between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device has ended.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the pre-determined condition includes the first wireless communication device receiving a token permission request from the second wireless communication device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to transmit a token permission request to the second wireless communication device.

18. A computer-implemented method, performed by a tangible computer device, for coordinating exchange of location data between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device using token permissions, comprising:

receiving a first token permission from the first wireless communication device;

receiving a second token permission from the second wireless communication device;

obtaining first location data corresponding to a location of the first wireless communication device;

obtaining second location data corresponding to a location of the second wireless communication device; and

transmitting, in response to receiving the first token permission and receiving the second token permission, the first location data to the second wireless communication device and the second location data to the first wireless communication device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein:

(i) receiving the first token permission from the first wireless communication device and (ii) receiving the second token permission from the second wireless communication device are performed while the first wireless communication device is connected in a call with the second wireless communication device; and

the transmitting, of the first location data to the second wireless communication device and the second location data to the first wireless communication device, is performed following termination of the call.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein:

(i) receiving the first token permission from the first wireless communication device and (ii) receiving the second token permission from the second wireless communication device are performed while the first wireless communication device is connected in a call with the second wireless communication device; and

the transmitting, of the first location data to the second wireless communication device and the second location data to the first wireless communication device, is performed during the call between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device.