Determining and presenting communication device proximity information

• US 8,117,341 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matz, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US12/820,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/217
• 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 connection of a call between the first communication device and a second communications device, receiving a request, from the second communications device, for the proximity information associated with the first communications device;

in response to the request;

determining a first location of the first communications device,

generating a map of an area surrounding the first location of the first communications device, the map comprising the first location of the first communications device, a second location of the second communications device, and driving directions to the first communications device, and

after determining the first location of the first communications device and generating the map, providing a response to the second communications device, the response comprising the map;

receiving a request, from the second communications device, for a third location of a third communications device located nearest the second communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device;

providing the third location of the third communications device to the second communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device;

determining information identifying a user associated with the third communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device; and

providing the information to the second communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving directions comprise a highlighted route on the map between the second location of the second communications device and the first location of the first communications device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting an updated first location of the first communications device; and

based on the first location and updated first location of the first communications device, determining a direction the first communications device is moving and a speed at which the first communications device is moving.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing an updated map showing the first communications device as the first communications device moves from the first location to the updated first location.

5. A system for providing proximity information, the system comprising:

memory for storing a program containing code for providing the proximity information; and

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

generate a map of an area surrounding the first location of the second communications device located nearest the first communications device, the map comprising the first location of the second communications device, a second location of the second communications device, and driving directions to the first communications device,

after determining the first location of the second communications device and generating the map, provide a response to the first communications device, the response comprising the map,

receive a request from a first communications device for the proximity information associated with a second communications device located nearest the first communications device, and

in response to the request;

determine a first location of the second communications device located nearest the first communications device and information identifying a user associated with the second communications device without any form of communication between the first communications device and the second communications device, and

provide the first location of the second communications device located nearest the first communications device and the information identifying the user associated with the second communications device to the first communications device without any form of communication between the first communications device and the second communications device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the driving directions comprise a highlighted route on the map between the second location of the first communications device and the first location of the second communications device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured at least to:

request an updated first location of the second communications device; and

based on the first location and updated first location of the second communications device, determine a direction the second communications device is moving and a speed at which the second communications device is moving.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer at least to:

during connection of a call between a first communication device and a second communications device, receive a request, from the second communications device, for the proximity information associated with the first communications device;

in response to the request;

determine a first location of the first communications device,

generate a first map of an area surrounding the first location of the first communications device, the first map comprising the first location of the first communications device, a second location of the second communications device, and driving directions to the first communications device, and

after determining the first location of the first communications device and generating the map, provide a response to the second communications device, the response comprising the first map;

receive a request, from the second communications device, for a third location of a third communications device located nearest the second communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device;

provide the third location of the third communications device to the second communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device;

determine information identifying a user associated with the third communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device; and

provide the information to the second communications device without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the driving directions comprise a highlighted route on the first map between the second location of the second communications device and the first location of the first communications device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer at least to:

request an updated first location of the first communications device; and

based on the first location and updated first location of the first communications device, determine a direction the first communications device is moving and a speed at which the first communications device is moving.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer at least to provide an updated first map showing the first communications device as the first communications device moves from the first location to the updated first location.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first map is provided to the second communications device during a first period of time, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer at least to:

provide the third location of the third communications device on a second map during a second period of time without any form of communication between the second communications device and the third communications device.