Sending location information from within a communication application

• US 8,620,583 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• 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:
  US13/665,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20130053074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/438, 701/487, 701516-517
• 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 obtained by 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;

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

transmitting the communication to a recipient that includes the current location information;

updating the location; and

,

replying to a communication from the recipient in response to the transmitted communication with the updated location information.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 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.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 comprising:

in response to the receiving of the input, embedding the current location information into a message body of a message.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 comprising:

in response to the receiving of the input, attaching the current location information as an attachment to a message.

5. The method as recited 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 communication.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein transmitting the current location information to the recipient comprises transmitting map image data representing the current location.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communication application is an instant messaging application.

21. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

automatically including the updated location information in the reply communication being generated from within the communication application.

22. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

providing a reminder to transmit the updated location information.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein providing the reminder is based on a time threshold.

24. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein providing the reminder is based on a distance threshold.

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

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

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

transmit the communication to a recipient that includes the current location information;

update the location information; and

,

reply to a communication from the recipient in response to the transmitted communication with the updated location information.

9. The computer readable medium as recited 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 recited in claim 8 comprising code that causes the device to, in response to receiving the input, embed the current location information into a message body of the communication.

11. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 8 comprising code that causes the device to, in response to receiving the input, attach the current location information as an attachment to the communication.

12. The computer readable medium as recited 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 communication.

13. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 8 further comprising code that causes the device to transmit map image data representing the current location.

14. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 8 wherein the communication application is an instant messaging application.

25. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the medium is further configured to cause the wireless communications device to automatically include the updated location information in the reply communication being generated from within the communication application.

26. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the medium is further configured to cause the wireless communications device to:

provide a reminder to transmit the updated location information.

27. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the medium is further configured to cause the wireless communications device to provide the reminder based on a time threshold.

28. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 26 wherein the medium is further configured to cause the wireless communications device to:

provide the reminder based on a distance threshold.

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

a user interface for receiving input;

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

a memory operatively connected to a processor for storing and executing a communication application configured to generate a communication to a recipient and to include current location information from the subsystem into the generated communication in response to the input received via the user interface, and to generate a reply to a communication from the recipient in response to the communication to the recipient with updated location information from the subsystem; and

a radiofrequency transmitter for transmitting the current location information as part of the communication generated from within the communication application and also the updated location information as part of the reply generated from within the communication application.

16. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 15 wherein the communication application is further configured to display 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.

17. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 15 wherein the communication application is an instant messaging application.

18. The wireless communications device as recited 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.

19. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to, in response to receiving the input, embed the current location information into a message body of the message.

20. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to, in response to receiving the input, attach the current location information as an attachment to the message.

29. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 15, wherein the communication application is further configured to automatically include the updated location information in the reply communication being generated from within the communication application.

30. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 15, wherein the communication application is further configured to:

provide a reminder to transmit the updated location information.

31. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 30, wherein the communication application is further configured to cause the wireless communications device to provide the reminder based on a time threshold.

32. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 30 wherein the communication application is further configured to cause the wireless communications device to:

provide the reminder based on a distance threshold.

33. The wireless communications device as recited in claim 15 wherein the communication application is further configured to transmit map image data representing the current location.