Sending location information from within a communication application

• US 8,315,800 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Sanchez, Thomas, Tysowski, Piotr Konrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US13/330,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/438, 701/487, 701/500, 701516-517, 340/988, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/516
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/34 Aerial triangulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method in a wireless communications device for transmitting current location information representing a current location of the wireless communications device. The method entails, from within a communication application executing on a processor of the wireless communications device, causing the wireless communications device to obtain the current location information representing the current location of the wireless communications device, including the current location information in a communication generated from within the communication application, and transmitting the communication that includes the current location information. The method optionally entails a further step of performing a reverse look-up of GPS coordinates representing the current location to determine address information for including in the communication. Location information, such as maps or URLs to maps can be sent directly from an e-mail application or instant messenger without having to separately launch a mapping application.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communications device for transmitting current location information representing a current location of the wireless communications device, the method comprising:

displaying a message interface for a communication application executing on the wireless communications device;

in response to receiving input via a user interface of the wireless communications device while the message interface is being displayed, including the current location information in a message generated using the message interface; and

transmitting the message with the current location information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

in response to receiving the input via the user interface of the wireless communications device, displaying a menu of message-related options, including an option to include the current location information.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 comprising:

in response to selecting the option to include the current location information, embedding the current location information into a message body of the message.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 comprising:

in response to selecting the option to include the current location information, attaching the current location information as an attachment to the message.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

performing a reverse look-up of GPS coordinates representing the current location to determine address information for including in the message.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting one or more of;

a set of position coordinates;

a street address;

a name associated with the street address;

a map; and

a URL to a map.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein including the current location information in a message comprises causing a GPS receiver in the wireless communications device to obtain a new position fix.

8. A computer readable medium comprising code which, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device, is adapted to perform acts of:

displaying a message interface for a communication application executing on the wireless communications device;

in response to receiving input via a user interface of the wireless communications device while the message interface is being displayed, including the current location information in a message generated using the message interface; and

transmitting the message with the current location information.

9. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 8 further comprising code configured to cause the device to, in response to receiving the input via the user interface of the wireless communications device, display a menu of message-related options, including an option to include the current location information.

10. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 9 comprising code that causes the device to, in response to selecting the option to include the current location information, embed the current location information into a message body of the message.

11. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 9 comprising code that causes the device to, in response to selecting the option to include the current location information, attach the current location information as an attachment to the message.

12. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 8 further comprising code that causes the device to perform a reverse look-up of GPS coordinates representing the current location to determine address information for including in the message.

13. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 8 further comprising code that causes the device to transmit one or more of:

a set of position coordinates;

a street address;

a name associated with the street address;

a map; and

a URL to a map.

14. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 8 wherein the code for including the current location information in a message comprises code for causing a GPS receiver in the wireless communications device to obtain a new position fix.

15. A wireless communications device for sending current location information representing a current location of the device, the device comprising:

a position-determining subsystem for determining current location information representing the current location of the device;

a memory operatively connected to a processor for executing a communication application configured to display a message interface for generating a message, to receive input via a user interface of the wireless communications device while the message interface is being displayed, and to include the current location information in the message; and

a radiofrequency transmitter for transmitting the message with the current location information.

16. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to, in response to receiving the input via the user interface of the wireless communications device, display a menu of message-related options, including an option to include the current location information.

17. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the processor is configured to, in response to selecting the option to include the current location information, embed the current location information into a message body of the message.

18. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the processor is configured to, in response to selecting the option to include the current location information, attach the current location information as an attachment to the message.

19. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to perform a reverse look-up of GPS coordinates representing the current location to determine address information for including in the message.

20. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the position-determining subsystem is a GPS receiver and wherein the processor causes to GPS receiver to obtain a new position fix in response to the input.

21. A method in a wireless communications device for transmitting current location information representing a current location of the wireless communications device, the method comprising:

receiving input on a user interface of the wireless communications device from within a communication application executing on the wireless communications device;

obtaining the current location information representing the current location of the wireless communications device;

including the current location information in a communication being generated from within the communication application; and

transmitting the communication that includes the current location information.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising:

in response to the receiving of the input, displaying a menu of communication options for the communication application, wherein one of the communication options in the menu is a command to include the location information.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the communication application is an instant messaging application.