Mobile tracking

• US 8,886,212 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Habicher, Michael Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MONG-THUY THI
• Application Number:
  US12/861,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20120052870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/420, 455/404.2, 340/990, 340/539.18
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

A method of tracking a lead mobile device entails receiving tracking data that includes a current location for both the lead mobile device and at least one other mobile device that is also tracking the lead device. The method also entails displaying the current locations of the lead device and of the at least one other mobile device that is also receiving the tracking data. A related method shares tracking data with other mobile devices by activating a communication application, communicating with a plurality of other mobile devices via the communication application, and receiving user input to cause the mobile device to transmit tracking data to the plurality of other mobile devices.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a lead mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving tracking data that includes a current location for both the lead mobile device and at least one other mobile device that is also tracking the lead device;

displaying visually distinctive graphical representations on a map of the current locations of the lead device and of the at least one other mobile device that is also receiving the tracking data to thereby enable each of the lead mobile device, the at least one other mobile device and a user device to be identified by a respective graphical representation, wherein the lead device and the at least one other following device are represented by visually distinctive icons that visually distinguish the lead device from the at least one other following device and also visually distinguish the mobile device from the at least one other following device that is also tracking the lead device; and

receiving user input with respect to one of the icons displayed on the map to select a new mobile device as the lead mobile device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein receiving the user input comprises receiving touch input on one of the icons displayed on the map to select the new mobile device as the lead mobile device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein receiving tracking data is triggered when a short-range wireless proximity detector loses a connection with the lead device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tracking data further includes one or more of speed, heading and path.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

while displaying the map, also displaying a user interface element that is configured to initiate a conference call; and

initiating the conference call in response to receiving touch input on the user interface element.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

while displaying the map, also displaying a user interface element that is configured to call the lead mobile device; and

calling the lead mobile device in response to receiving touch input on the user interface element.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

while displaying the map, also displaying a user interface element that is configured to initiate a conference call with the lead mobile device and the least one other mobile device; and

initiating the conference call in response to receiving touch input on the user interface element.

8. A method of sharing tracking data on a mobile device with a plurality of other mobile devices, the method comprising:

activating a communication application;

receiving user input within the communication application to cause the mobile device to initiate a tracking mode that includes collecting tracking data for sharing with the plurality of other mobile devices that have been identified using the communication application as recipients of the tracking data; and

transmitting the tracking data to the plurality of other mobile devices.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the tracking data comprises one or more of a current location, speed, path and heading.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the communication application is an e-mail application.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the communication application is an instant messaging application.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the communication is a social networking application.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising temporarily deactivating tracking when a short-range wireless proximity detector trigger regains a connection with the device.

14. The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising displaying a map showing a current location of the mobile device that is transmitting the tracking data as well as current locations of the plurality of other mobile devices.

15. A mobile device for tracking both a lead device and at least one other following device that is also tracking the lead device, the mobile device comprising:

a processor operable to control operation of the mobile device;

a positioning system operatively coupled to the processor to determine a current location of the mobile device;

a radio-frequency transceiver operatively coupled to the processor to receive tracking data that includes current locations of the lead device and of the at least one other following device;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor to store the current locations of the mobile device, the lead device and the at least one other following device; and

a display screen operatively coupled to the processor to display visually distinctive graphical representations on a map of the current locations of the mobile device, the lead device, and the at least one other following device, wherein the current locations of the lead device and of the at least one other following device are represented by visually distinctive icons that visually distinguish the lead device from the at least one other following device and also visually distinguish the mobile device from the at least one other following device that is also tracking the lead device; and

wherein the processor causes the display screen to display a new mobile device as the lead device in response to user input selecting the new mobile device as the lead device.

16. The mobile device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the display screen receives the user input on one of the icons displayed on the map to select the new mobile device as the lead device.

17. The mobile device as claimed in claim 15 comprising a short-range wireless proximity detector that triggers tracking when the proximity detector loses a connection with the lead device.

18. A mobile device for sharing tracking data, the mobile device comprising:

a memory storing a communication application;

a processor operatively coupled to the memory to execute the communication application;

a radio-frequency transceiver to communicate with a plurality of other mobile devices via the communication application;

a positioning subsystem operatively coupled to the processor to determine a current location of the mobile device from which the tracking data is generated; and

a user input device operable to receive user input from within the communication application that causes the mobile device to initiate a tracking mode that includes collecting tracking data for sharing with the plurality of other mobile devices that have been identified using the communication application as recipients of the tracking data and to transmit the tracking data to the plurality of other mobile devices.

19. The mobile device as claimed in claim 18 comprising a short-range wireless proximity detector that triggers transmission of the tracking data when the proximity detector loses a connection with a lead device.

20. The mobile device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the tracking data comprises one or more of speed, heading and path data.

21. The mobile device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the communication application is an e-mail application.

22. The mobile device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the communication application is an instant messaging application.

23. The mobile device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the communication application is a social networking application.

24. The mobile device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the memory and processor are operable to recognize user input received by the user input device as a command to initiate a conference call involving the mobile device and the plurality of other mobile devices.