Secure and private location sharing for location-aware mobile communication devices
First Claim
1. A location-aware mobile communication device system comprising:
- a registration device allowing a first user and second user to register for a location sharing service by validating possession of a respective location-aware mobile device, wherein the registration device transmits a series of messages from the server computer to the respective mobile devices of the first user and second user within pre-defined intervals following registration of the first user and second user to the location sharing service;
a configuration device allowing the first user to invite the second user to establish a trusted relationship on a server computer coupled to each of the first and second user, by providing an identifier and phone number of the second user;
a location sharing device t displaying a location of the first user on the mobile device of the second user, when the trusted relationship has been established, and the first user has enabled location display of the first user'"'"'s respective mobile device on the mobile device of the second user.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a location sharing network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other trusted users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. A security component allows users to establish trusted relationships by requiring mutual consent and disclosure of identifier and phone number information for each trusted user. Location information can be blocked among trusted users or obfuscated on the display of the mobile devices of the other users.
91 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A location-aware mobile communication device system comprising:
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a registration device allowing a first user and second user to register for a location sharing service by validating possession of a respective location-aware mobile device, wherein the registration device transmits a series of messages from the server computer to the respective mobile devices of the first user and second user within pre-defined intervals following registration of the first user and second user to the location sharing service; a configuration device allowing the first user to invite the second user to establish a trusted relationship on a server computer coupled to each of the first and second user, by providing an identifier and phone number of the second user; a location sharing device t displaying a location of the first user on the mobile device of the second user, when the trusted relationship has been established, and the first user has enabled location display of the first user'"'"'s respective mobile device on the mobile device of the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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determining the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a first user within an area; displaying a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device; establishing a trusted friend relationship between the first user and a second user upon an invitation request from the first user referencing an identifier and a data element related to the second user, the data element representing a non-public item of information known only to trusted friends of the second user, and a validation from the second user referencing an identifier and phone number of the first user; and transmitting a validation message that requires a response to the first user and the second user at random intervals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of allowing display of location-aware mobile communication devices in a network of users comprising:
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registering users in the network through a message-based registration and validation process, wherein the message-based registration and validation process transmits a series of text messages to the user mobile device of which at least one message alerts the user that location display is enabled and requires a response from the user and allows the user to disable such location display; allowing registered users to invite one or more other users coupled to the registered user over a network to participate in interaction within the system by providing an identifier and phone number for each user of the one or more other users. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A location-aware mobile communication device system comprising:
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a registration device allowing a first user and second user to register for a location sharing service by validating possession of a respective location-aware mobile device; a configuration device allowing the first user to invite the second user to establish a trusted relationship on a server computer coupled to each of the first and second user, by providing an identifier and phone number of the second user; a location sharing device displaying a location of the first user on the mobile device of the second user, when the trusted relationship has been established, and the first user has enabled location display of the first user'"'"'s respective mobile device on the mobile device of the second user; and a location obfuscation device allowing the first user to choose to display an obfuscated location of the first user on the mobile device of the second user, and wherein the registration device transmits a series of messages from the server computer to the respective mobile devices of the first user and second user at random times within pre-defined intervals following registration of the first user and second user to the location sharing service, the series of messages including at least one message requiring an affirmative response from a targeted user selecting location sharing for another user. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method comprising:
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determining the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a first user within an area; displaying a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device; establishing a trusted friend relationship between the first user and a second user upon an invitation request from the first user referencing an identifier and a data element related to the second user, the data element representing a non-public item of information known only to trusted friends of the second user, and a validation from the second user referencing an identifier and phone number of the first user; and superimposing on the map, an obfuscated location of the second user in the event that the second user has enabled a location obfuscation feature for the first user; transmitting a validation message to the first user and the second user at random intervals, the validation message including an alert that the location sharing feature is enabled, and requiring an affirmative response from each of the first user and second user to continue to enable the location sharing feature; and monitoring for misuse of the trusted friend relationship by either of the first user and second user. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of allowing display of location-aware mobile communication devices in a network of users comprising:
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registering users in the network through a message-based registration and validation process; allowing registered users to invite one or more other users coupled to the registered user over a network to participate in interaction within the system by providing an identifier and phone number for each user of the one or more other users; displaying an obfuscated location of the registered user on a mobile device of the one or more other users, when the registered user has enabled a location obfuscation function for the mobile device; and wherein the message-based registration and validation process transmits a series of text messages to the user mobile device of which at least one message alerts the user that location display is enabled and allows the user to disable such location display, and at least one message requires a response from the user regarding enabling or disabling of such location display. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification