System and method for determining action spot locations relative to the location of a mobile device

• US 8,825,084 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OT Patent Escrow LLC (J.S. Held LLC)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hymel, James Allen, Bouchard, Jean Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/648,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/408, 455/409, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• 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 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A system, server, mobile device, and method for determining action spot location. The action spot location can be determined relative to the location of a mobile device. The mobile device can include a display and a processor module communicatively coupled to the display. The system, server, mobile device, and method can receive data indicative of the current location of the mobile device, and determine at least one action spot relative to the current location of the mobile device. The action spot can be a location where at least one other mobile device has engaged in documenting action within a predetermined period of time from when the mobile device arrived at the current location.

Claims

1. A server configured to:

receive data indicative of a current location of a first mobile device;

determine at least one action spot within a predetermined distance from the current location of the first mobile device, the at least one action spot corresponding to a location where at least one second mobile device has engaged in at least one documenting action, the documenting action including at least one of capturing images, capturing videos and transmitting messages;

transmit the at least one action spot to the first mobile device; and

transmit to the first mobile device, an indication of an activity level at the at least one action spot,

wherein the activity level is based upon at least one of a number of images captured, a number of videos captured, and a number of messages transmitted.

2. The server as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one action spot corresponds to a location where at least one other mobile device has engaged in a documenting action is within a predetermined period of time.

3. The server as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to transmit directions to the at least one action spot in response to receiving an indication that a graphical item associated with the at least one action spot has been selected.

4. The server as recited in claim 3, wherein the transmitting directions further includes transmitting a map.

5. The server as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining of the at least one action spot is based upon a defined distance from the mobile device.

6. The server as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication comprises one or more graphical icons identifying a relative level of documenting action occurring at the at least one action spot.

7. The server as recited in claim 6, wherein the one or more graphical icons identify a type of documenting action occurring at the at least one action spot.

8. The server as recited in claim 6, wherein

the one or more graphical icons includes a first graphical icon corresponding to a first action spot and a second graphical icon corresponding to a second action spot;

and

the first graphical icon is different from the second graphical icon, the difference identifying the relative level of documenting action by one of color, size, activity type, icon-scheme, item-sizing scheme, or activity icon scheme.

9. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein providing action spots on a first mobile device, the computer program product comprising computer readable program code configured to cause the first mobile device to:

determine, via a processor, a current location of the first mobile device;

determine at least one action spot within a predetermined distance from the current location of the first mobile device, the at least one action spot corresponding to a location where at least one second mobile device has engaged in at least one documenting action, the documenting action including at least one of capturing images, capturing videos and transmitting messages; and

display a graphical item on a display of the first mobile device, said graphical item identifying a direction, relative to the current location, in which to travel in order to arrive at the determined at least one action spot, and display a level of activity associated with the at least one action spot, the level of activity based upon at least one of a number of images captured, a number of videos captured, and a number of messages transmitted.

10. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the at least one action spot corresponds to a location where at least one other mobile device has engaged in a documenting action within a predetermined period of time.

11. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the display of the graphical item on the display of the first mobile device further comprises coloring the background of the display according to a color scheme associated with a range of activity occurring at the at least one action spot.

12. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the display of the graphical item on the display of the first mobile device further comprises sizing a graphical item associated with the at least one action spot in accordance with a range of activity occurring at the at least one action spot.

13. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the level of activity is based upon at least one of a number of images being captured, a number of videos being captured, or a number of messages being transmitted from the at least one action spot for a given period of time.

14. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer readable program code is further configured to cause the first mobile device to display directions to the at least one action spot in response to a selection of a graphical item associated with the at least one action spot.

15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the displayed directions further includes a map displayed on a graphical interface on a display of the first mobile device.

16. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 9, wherein the displayed directions further includes a compass displayed on a graphical user interface on a display of the first mobile device.

17. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 15, wherein the compass provides bearing and distance to the at least one activity spot.