Method and system for authorizing location monitoring
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring position of a plurality of persons via a networked location monitoring system, each of the persons having a mobile computing device proximate thereto, said method comprising:
- obtaining locations for the mobile computing devices and thus the persons proximate thereto;
receiving, at the networked location monitoring system, a request initiated by a viewing party to access the location pertaining to a particular one of the persons;
determining, at the networked location monitoring system, whether the viewing party is permitted to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, said determining comprising (i) determining whether the viewing party has been pre-authorized to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons based at least in part on an input received from a person other than the viewing party, (ii) permitting the viewing party to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons when the determining (i) determines that the viewing party has been pre-authorized to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, (iii) sending, when the determining (i) determines that the viewing party has not been pre-authorized to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, a location access request notification to a mobile computing device for approval or disapproval of the request initiated by the viewing party, the mobile computing device receiving the location access request notification is associated with a person other than the viewing party, (iv) receiving, at the networked location monitoring system, a location access response from the mobile computing device receiving the location access request notification, and (v) permitting the viewing party to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons based at least in part on the location access response; and
delivering, to the viewing party, the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons provided that said permitting (ii) or said permitting (v) permits the viewing party to access the location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for location tracking, location utilization, and dissemination and management of location information are disclosed. As a location monitoring system, one embodiment includes at least a plurality of mobile computing devices supported by a wireless network, and a computing device coupled to a wired network (e.g., the Internet) that couples to the wireless network. Each of the mobile computing devices is associated with and proximate to an object whose location is being monitored. The computing device stores the locations of each of the mobile computing devices or the objects proximate thereto, and enables only authorized users to obtain access the locations via the wired network.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring position of a plurality of persons via a networked location monitoring system, each of the persons having a mobile computing device proximate thereto, said method comprising:
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obtaining locations for the mobile computing devices and thus the persons proximate thereto; receiving, at the networked location monitoring system, a request initiated by a viewing party to access the location pertaining to a particular one of the persons; determining, at the networked location monitoring system, whether the viewing party is permitted to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, said determining comprising (i) determining whether the viewing party has been pre-authorized to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons based at least in part on an input received from a person other than the viewing party, (ii) permitting the viewing party to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons when the determining (i) determines that the viewing party has been pre-authorized to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, (iii) sending, when the determining (i) determines that the viewing party has not been pre-authorized to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, a location access request notification to a mobile computing device for approval or disapproval of the request initiated by the viewing party, the mobile computing device receiving the location access request notification is associated with a person other than the viewing party, (iv) receiving, at the networked location monitoring system, a location access response from the mobile computing device receiving the location access request notification, and (v) permitting the viewing party to access the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons based at least in part on the location access response; and delivering, to the viewing party, the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons provided that said permitting (ii) or said permitting (v) permits the viewing party to access the location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A location monitoring system for managing access to location information of a plurality of mobile electronic devices supported by at least one wireless network, each of the mobile electronic devices being associated with and proximate to a corresponding object, said location monitoring system comprising:
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a computing device operatively connectable to the wireless network, said computing device storing locations of each of the mobile electronic devices, and said computing device enabling certain users to be authorized to access the locations of the mobile electronic devices via one or more networks, wherein in managing authorization for access to locations of the mobile electronic devices, said computing device (i) receives, from a requesting user, a request to view the location pertaining to a particular one of the objects;
(ii) determines whether the requesting user is authorized to receive the location of the particular one of the objects; and
(iii) delivers the location pertaining to the particular one of the objects to the requesting user provided that it is determined (ii) that the requesting user is authorized to receive such a response, andwherein in determining (ii) whether the requesting user is authorized to receive the location of the particular one of the objects, said computing device (a) determines whether viewing of the location of the particular one of the objects is pre-authorized based at least in part on an input received from a user other than the requesting user, and (b) sends, when the viewing is determined not to be pre-authorized, a location access request notification to a mobile electronic device for approval or disapproval of the request to view the location pertaining to the particular one of the objects. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code stored thereon for monitoring position of a plurality of persons via a networked location monitoring system, each of the persons having a mobile unit proximate thereto, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for obtaining locations of the mobile units and thus the persons proximate thereto; computer program code for receiving, at the networked location monitoring system, a request initiated by a viewing party to view the location pertaining to a particular one of the persons; computer program code for determining, at the networked location monitoring system, whether the viewing party is permitted to receive the location pertaining of the particular one of the persons, said computer program code for determining comprising (i) computer program code for determining whether the viewing party has been pre-authorized to receive the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons based at least in part on an input received from a person other than the viewing party, (ii) computer program code for permitting the viewing party to receive the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons if the computer program code for determining (i) determines that the viewing party has been pre-authorized to receive the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, (iii) computer program code for sending a location access request notification to a mobile unit for approval or disapproval of the request initiated by the viewing party, if said computer program code for determining (i) determines that the viewing party has not been pre-authorized to receive the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons, (iv) computer program code for receiving, at the networked location monitoring system, a location access response from the mobile unit receiving the location access request notification, and (v) computer program code for permitting the viewing party to receive the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons based at least in part on the location access response; and computer program code for delivering, to the viewing party, the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons provided that said computer program code for permitting (ii) or (v) permits the viewing party to receive the location pertaining to the particular one of the persons. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification