Displaying the location of individuals on an interactive map display on a mobile communication device
First Claim
1. A mobile communication device comprising:
- a network interface configured to allow the mobile communication device to communicate with one or more other mobile communication devices over a network;
a geographic location circuit coupled to the network interface and configured to determine the location of the device relative to a terrestrial coordinate system;
a graphical user interface including a display area allowing output of information to a user of the device;
a map generation circuit configured to display a map encompassing an area around the location of the device on the graphical user interface, wherein the map generation circuit displays geographic location information on the display area for any of the one or more other mobile communication devices that are within a predefined range of the device and that are in communication with the device over the network wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first sub-display area displaying the map and a second sub-display area displaying identification information relating to respective users of the one or more other mobile communication devices; and
a filter circuit configured to allow a user of the mobile communication device to limit sharing of geographic location information to certain users of the one or more other mobile communication devices by preventing display of the geographic location information on the displays of the mobile communication devices of users who are not selected as able to share the geographic location information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a location-based social network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. The user can build a database of friends among the one or more other users whose location can be displayed on each respective mobile communication device. A privacy function allows a user to define who among his or her network of friends can view the location information of the user on their mobile communication devices. Messaging and alert functions using the communications capability of the mobile device can incorporate the location information resulting in interaction among users based on user identity as well as relative position to one another.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A mobile communication device comprising:
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a network interface configured to allow the mobile communication device to communicate with one or more other mobile communication devices over a network; a geographic location circuit coupled to the network interface and configured to determine the location of the device relative to a terrestrial coordinate system; a graphical user interface including a display area allowing output of information to a user of the device; a map generation circuit configured to display a map encompassing an area around the location of the device on the graphical user interface, wherein the map generation circuit displays geographic location information on the display area for any of the one or more other mobile communication devices that are within a predefined range of the device and that are in communication with the device over the network wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first sub-display area displaying the map and a second sub-display area displaying identification information relating to respective users of the one or more other mobile communication devices; and a filter circuit configured to allow a user of the mobile communication device to limit sharing of geographic location information to certain users of the one or more other mobile communication devices by preventing display of the geographic location information on the displays of the mobile communication devices of users who are not selected as able to share the geographic location information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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determining the geographic location of a first mobile communication device operated by a first user within an area; determining the geographic location of a second mobile communication device operated by a second user within an area; displaying a map representation of the area around the first user on a display of the first mobile communication device, and a map representation of the area around the second user on a display of the second mobile communication device; transmitting the geographic locations of the first and second mobile communication devices to a server computer coupled to the first and second mobile communication devices; transmitting from the server computer, the geographic location of the first mobile communication device to the second mobile communication device upon a first triggering event; transmitting from the server computer, the geographic location of the second mobile communication device to the first mobile communication device upon a second triggering event; displaying on the display of the first mobile communication device the location of the second mobile communication device comprising a first sub-display area displaying a map and a second sub-display area displaying identification information relating to the second mobile communication device; displaying on the display of the second mobile communication device the location of the first mobile communication device; and defining privacy filters in the first and second mobile communication devices that allow location information of the first or second mobile communication device to not be displayed on the other mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A system comprising:
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a first network coupling a plurality of mobile communication devices together;
a second network coupling a plurality of client computers together;
a server computer coupled to the first network and configured to communicate to the plurality of mobile communication devices through a first intermediate server, and coupled to the second network and configured to communicate to the plurality of client computers through a second intermediate server, the server computer executing a process configured to;determine a location of each mobile communication device coupled to the first network, and maintain a database for each respective user of the plurality of mobile communication devices, the database specifying the identity of other users who are allowed to share the location information of the user, wherein the location of the other users relative to the user is displayed on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device of the user in accordance with one or more preference filters stored in the database wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first sub-display area;
displaying the map and a second sub-display area displaying identification information relating to respective users of the one or more other mobile communication devices. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A mobile communication device comprising:
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a network interface configured to allow the mobile communication device to communicate with one or more other mobile communication devices over a network; a geographic location circuit coupled to the network interface and configured to determine the location of the device relative to a terrestrial coordinate system; a graphical user interface including a display area allowing output of information to a user of the device; a map generation circuit configured to display a map encompassing an area around the location of the device on the graphical user interface, wherein the map generation circuit displays geographic location information on the display area for any of the one or more other mobile communication devices that are within a predefined range of the device and that are in communication with the device over the network, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first sub-display area displaying the map and a second sub-display area displaying identification information relating to respective users of the one or more other mobile communication devices, wherein the location of the user and the one or more other mobile communication devices that are within a predefined range of the device are displayed on the map as respective icons superimposed on the map; and a filter circuit configured to allow a user of the mobile communication device to limit sharing of geographic location information to certain users of the one or more other mobile communication devices by preventing display of the geographic location information on the displays of the mobile communication devices of users who are not selected as able to share the geographic location information. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification