Apparatus and systems for providing location-based services within a wireless network

• US 8,634,857 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Brian, Bhuyan, Krishna, Feinstein, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/274,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/456.2, 455/456.4, 455/457, 455/410, 455/411, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality for location-based services, and includes both server and client/mobile device apparatuses. One apparatus includes a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device. A computer is coupled to the data store and is configured to receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device. The computer is configured to receive a change location privileges request, and to update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. Other apparatuses provide additional structures and functions.

Claims

1. A communications device comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

adding a friend to a friends list on the communications device; and

responsive to adding the friend to the friends list, when a privacy setting comprises a first setting, receiving;

an indication of a location of the friend; and

an image, obtained from a public profile, of the friend.

2. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the location comprises a geographical location.

3. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the location is indicated on a map.

4. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the indication of the location further comprises a message.

5. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

receiving directions to the location.

6. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

communicating with the friend via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.

7. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.

8. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

removing the friend from the friends list.

9. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

adding a second friend to the friends list on the communications device; and

responsive to adding the second friend to the friends list, when a privacy setting of the second friend is a first setting, receiving an indication of a location of the second friend.

10. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

searching, via the communications device, for a place near the location.

11. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

receiving, via the communications device, directions to a place near the location.

12. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the location is determined in accordance with at least one of;

geo-coding;

reverse geo-coding;

proximity searching;

routing;

map generation;

a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site in which the friend is located;

Or GPS.

13. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

removing the friend from the friends list on the communications device responsive to the friend removing permission to be on the friends list.

14. A communications device comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving, via the communications device, a request to at least one of;

be a friend;

or

share a location; and

responsive to receiving the request, when a privacy setting is a first privacy setting, providing;

an indication of a current location of the communications device;

and

an image, obtained from a public profile, of an individual associated with the device.

15. The communications device of claim 14, wherein:

the request is representative of a request from a specific requester; and

the privacy setting is associated with the specific requester.

16. The communications device of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, via the communications device, a second request from a specific requester to at least one of;

be a friend of the specific requester;

or

share a location with the specific requester; and

responsive to receiving the second request, when a privacy setting associated with the specific requester is a first privacy setting, providing an indication of a current location of the communications device.

17. The communications device of claim 14, wherein:

the current location represents a geographical location.

18. The communications device of claim 14, wherein:

the current location is provided in a format allowing the current location to be indicated on a map.

19. The communications device of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a message.

20. The communications device of claim 14, wherein:

the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.

21. The communications device of claim 14, the operations further comprising:

communicating with a device from which the request was sent via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.

22. The communications device of claim 14, wherein:

an indication of the current location of the communications device is provided; and

the current location is utilized to determine directions to the current location.

23. The communications device of claim 14, wherein:

an indication of the current location of the communications device is provided; and

the current location is utilized to determine directions to a place near the current location.

24. The communications device of claim 14, the operations further comprising:

responsive to receiving the request to be a friend, adding a requester of the request to a friends list on the communications device.

25. The communications device of claim 14, wherein:

the current location is determined in accordance with at least one of;

geo-coding;

reverse geo-coding;

proximity searching;

routing;

map generation;

a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site within which the communications device is located;

or

GPS.

26. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

adding a friend to a friends list; and

responsive to adding the friend to the friends list, when a privacy setting comprises a first setting, receiving;

an indication of a location of the friend; and

an image, obtained from a public profile, of the friend.