System and method for locating a phone user

• US 8,406,788 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Khan, Sameer
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US13/227,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20120003996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/412.1, 455/466, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Systems and methods for locating a user of a wired or wireless communication device allow a communication device to respond to a location request with its current location or a default location. A request for the location of a target wireless communication device is sent to the network where the request is responded to by the network or forwarded to the target device. When the request is received by the target device, the device can deny the location request or respond to the location request with the actual location of the device (as determined by GPS or the network) or with a default, predetermined location. The type of response (denial, actual location, or default location) can be selected by the user of the target device on a granular, per request basis so that the user of the target device can selectively respond to location requests in an appropriate fashion.

Claims

1. A method for providing a location of a target communication device to a requesting communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a location request from the requesting communication device, the location request comprising a unique identifier of the requesting communication device;

parsing the location request to obtain the unique identifier for the requesting communication device;

determining a category for the unique identifier of the requesting communication device, wherein the determined category is associated with at least one alternate location;

determining whether to allow or deny the request; and

if it is determined to allow the location request,

receiving a selection of one of a current location of the target wireless communication device and the at least one alternate location, wherein the at least one alternate location is different from the current location of the target wireless communication device, and

sending location information comprising the selected location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location request is received from a location server on a communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the current location prior to sending the location information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the at least one alternate location prior to receiving the location request.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one alternate location comprises a plurality of alternate locations.

6. A wireless communication device comprising:

a memory comprising a contact list having a plurality of contact records, each contact record having a location field configured to store a location associated with the respective contact record; and

a location module comprising software that, when executed by at least one processor, is configured to

receive a location request from a requesting communication device,

parse the location request to obtain a unique identifier for the requesting communication device,

determine a category for the unique identifier of the requesting communication device, wherein the determined category is associated with at least one alternate location,

determine whether to allow or deny the location request based upon the unique identifier of the requesting communication device, and

if it is determined to allow the location request,

determine whether to respond to the location request with a current location of the wireless communication device or the at least one alternate location based upon the unique identifier, wherein the at least one alternate location is different from the current location of the wireless communication device, and

send location information comprising the determined location.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the location field stores the location in one of text format or graphical format.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the contact list comprises operational parameters that determine whether to allow or deny the location request.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the alternate location is set prior to the location module receiving the location request.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein determining whether to allow or deny the location request based upon the unique identifier of the requesting communication device comprises denying the location request if the unique identifier for the requesting communication device is not associated with one of the plurality of contact records.

11. A wireless communication device comprising:

a contact list comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record having a location field configured to store a location associated with the respective contact record;

a location module comprising software that, when executed by at least one processor, is configured to

construct an outgoing location request seeking real-time location information for a target wireless communication device associated with a particular contact record, wherein the outgoing location request comprises a unique identifier to identify a user of the wireless communication device,

send the outgoing location request over a wireless communication network to the target wireless communication device,

update the location field for the particular contact record upon receiving a response to the outgoing location request,

receive an incoming location request from a requesting wireless communication device requesting a real-time location of the wireless communication device, the incoming location request comprising a unique identifier to identify a user of the requesting communication device,

parsing the incoming location request to obtain the unique identifier,

determining a category for the unique identifier, wherein the determined category is associated with at least one alternate location,

prompt the user of the wireless communication device to determine whether to deny the incoming location request or to respond to the incoming request with location information based at least in part on the unique identifier of the requesting wireless communication device,

determine whether to respond to the incoming location request with a current location of the wireless communication device or the at least one alternate location based on predetermined parameters associated with the unique identifier of the requesting wireless communication device, wherein the at least one alternate location is different from the current location of the wireless communication device, and

send location information comprising the determined location.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the location field stores a location in one of text format and graphical formal.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising operational parameters stored in a memory of the wireless communication device that determine whether to deny the request or to respond to the request.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the location module is configured to prompt a user of the wireless communication device to allow or deny the request for the location information.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether to respond to the incoming location request with a current location of the wireless communication device or an alternate location comprises receiving a selection of the determined location from the current location and one or more alternate locations.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the location module is further configured to:

automatically construct and send a first outgoing location request to initially populate the location field associated with the particular contact record; and

construct and send a second outgoing location request in response to a selection by the user for more granular location information, wherein the second outgoing location request is for more granular location information than the first outgoing location request.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the location module is configured to construct the outgoing location request automatically and periodically.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the location module is configured to construct the outgoing location request automatically and periodically based on a flag associated with the particular contact record.