Push-based location update

• US 8,930,438 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Williamson, Richard, Blumenberg, Christopher, Pylappan, Seejo, Howard, James
• Primary Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/486,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20100325194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238, 709/242
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for a location information server to gather location updates by sending location-update-requests through a push notification service to a mobile device are disclosed. The mobile device provides location updates in response to the push-based location-update-requests received through the push notification service. The mobile device can switch from a self-initiated location update mode to a push-based location update mode depending on the current state of the mobile device. The mobile device can also choose an appropriate positioning system for self-locating based on the information embedded in the location-update-request received through the push notification service. The information embedded in the pushed location-update-request can be a precision requirement or context information that can be used to determine a precision requirement for the location update.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a location-information-request from a first client device for location information of a second client device, the first client device and the second device being location-sharing friend devices of each other;

responding to the location-information-request by sending a stored location of the second client device to the first client device;

determining whether the stored location of the second client device is above a predetermined threshold age;

if the stored location is above the predetermined threshold age, sending a location-update-request for a location update to the second client device through a push-notification service;

receiving the location update from the second client device;

updating the stored location of the second client device according to the received location update; and

sending the updated stored location to the first client device through a push notification service without waiting for a second location-information-request from the first client device for the location information of the second client device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein sending a location-update-request for the location update further comprises:

specifying a location precision requirement for the location update in the location-update-request.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the updated stored location to the first client device in response to a second location-information-request from the first client device for the location information of the second client device.

4. A computer-implemented method for submitting location update by a location-aware mobile device, comprising:

entering a sleep mode;

while in the sleep mode, receiving a location-update-request for a location update from a location information server through a push notification service, wherein the location-update-request was sent in response to a location-information-request for location information made by a friend device of the location-aware mobile device, the location-update-request includes context information related to the location-information-request, and the one or more predetermined criteria specify a location precision preference for the positioning system to be selected based on the context information;

upon receiving the location-update-request, activating a positioning system to self-locate;

sending a location update to the location information server, the location update comprising a current location determined by the positioning system; and

returning to the sleep mode after sending the location update.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the location-update-request specifies a location precision requirement for the location update, and activating the positioning system further comprises:

selecting an appropriate positioning system to activate based on the location precision requirement and according to one or more predetermined criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria specify a low power consumption preference for the positioning system to be selected.

7. A computer-implemented method for submitting location updates by a location-aware mobile device, comprising:

entering a first state;

submitting location information to a location information server periodically while the device is in the first state;

entering a second state;

ceasing to submit location information to the location-information server when the device enters the second state;

while in the second state, receiving a location-update-request for a location update from the location-information server through a push notification service, wherein the location-update-request was sent in response to a location-information-request for location information made by a friend device of the location-aware mobile device, the location-update-request includes context information related to the location-information-request, and the one or more predetermined criteria specify a location precision preference for the positioning system to be selected based on the context information;

in response to the location-update-request, activating a positioning system to self-locate;

submitting a location update to the location information server, the location update comprising a current location determined by the positioning system; and

returning to the second state after the location update is sent.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a location-information-request from a first client device for location information of a second client device, the first client device and the second device being location-sharing friend devices of each other;

responding to the location-information-request by sending a stored location of the second client device to the first client device;

determining whether the stored location of the second client device is above a predetermined threshold age;

if the stored location is above the predetermined threshold age, sending a location-update-request for a location update to the second client device through a push-notification service;

receiving the location update from the second client device;

updating the stored location of the second client device according to the received location update; and

sending the updated stored location to the first client device through a push notification service without waiting for a second location-information-request from the first client device for the location information of the second client device.

14. The medium of claim 8, wherein sending a location-update-request for the location update further comprises:

specifying a location precision requirement for the location update in the location-update-request.

15. The medium of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

sending the updated stored location to the first client device in response to a second location-information-request from the first client device for the location information of the second client device.

9. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and operable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising;

receiving a location-information-request from a first client device for location information of a second client device, the first client device and the second device being location-sharing friend devices of each other;

responding to the location-information-request by sending a stored location of the second client device to the first client device;

determining whether the stored location of the second client device is above a predetermined threshold age;

if the stored location is above the predetermined threshold age, sending a location-update-request for a location update to the second client device through a push-notification service;

receiving the location update from the second client device;

updating the stored location of the second client device according to the received location update; and

sending the updated stored location to the first client device through a push notification service without waiting for a second location-information-request from the first client device for the location information of the second client device.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein sending a location-update-request for the location update further comprises:

specifying a location precision requirement for the location update in the location-update-request.

17. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

sending the updated stored location to the first client device in response to a second location-information-request from the first client device for the location information of the second client device.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

entering a sleep mode;

while in the sleep mode, receiving a location-update-request for a location update from a location information server through a push notification service, wherein the location-update-request was sent in response to a location-information-request for location information made by a friend device of the location-aware mobile device, the location-update-request includes context information related to the location-information-request, and the one or more predetermined criteria specify a location precision preference for the positioning system to be selected based on the context information;

upon receiving the location-update-request, activating a positioning system to self-locate;

sending a location update to the location information server, the location update comprising a current location determined by the positioning system; and

returning to the sleep mode after sending the location update.

18. The medium of claim 10, wherein the location-update-request specifies a location precision requirement for the location update, and activating the positioning system further comprises:

selecting an appropriate positioning system to activate based on the location precision requirement and according to one or more predetermined criteria.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria specify a low power consumption preference for the positioning system to be selected.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and operable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising;

entering a sleep mode;

while in the sleep mode, receiving a location-update-request for a location update from a location information server through a push notification service, wherein the location-update-request was sent in response to a location-information-request for location information made by a friend device of the location-aware mobile device, the location-update-request includes context information related to the location-information-request, and the one or more predetermined criteria specify a location precision preference for the positioning system to be selected based on the context information;

upon receiving the location-update-request, activating a positioning system to self-locate;

sending a location update to the location information server, the location update comprising a current location determined by the positioning system; and

returning to the sleep mode after sending the location update.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the location-update-request specifies a location precision requirement for the location update, and activating the positioning system further comprises:

selecting an appropriate positioning system to activate based on the location precision requirement and according to one or more predetermined criteria.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria specify a low power consumption preference for the positioning system to be selected.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

entering a first state;

submitting location information to a location information server periodically while the device is in the first state;

entering a second state;

ceasing to submit location information to the location-information server when the device enters the second state;

while in the second state, receiving a location-update-request for a location update from the location-information server through a push notification service, wherein the location-update-request was sent in response to a location-information-request for location information made by a friend device of the location-aware mobile device, the location-update-request includes context information related to the location-information-request, and the one or more predetermined criteria specify a location precision preference for the positioning system to be selected based on the context information;

in response to the location-update-request, activating a positioning system to self-locate;

submitting a location update to the location information server, the location update comprising a current location determined by the positioning system; and

returning to the second state after the location update is sent.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and operable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising;

entering a first state;

submitting location information to a location information server periodically while the device is in the first state;

entering a second state;

ceasing to submit location information to the location-information server when the device enters the second state;

while in the second state, receiving a location-update-request for a location update from the location-information server through a push notification service, wherein the location-update-request was sent in response to a location-information-request for location information made by a friend device of the location-aware mobile device, the location-update-request includes context information related to the location-information-request, and the one or more predetermined criteria specify a location precision preference for the positioning system to be selected based on the context information;

in response to the location-update-request, activating a positioning system to self-locate;

submitting a location update to the location information server, the location update comprising a current location determined by the positioning system; and

returning to the second state after the location update is sent.