Apparatus and systems for providing location-based services within a wireless network

• US 9,037,159 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feinstein, Jacob, Bhuyan, Krishna, Wilson, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US14/135,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20140329545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.2, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/410, 455/411, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality for location-based services, and includes both server and client/mobile device apparatuses. One apparatus includes a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device. A computer is coupled to the data store and is configured to receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device. The computer is configured to receive a change location privileges request, and to update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. Other apparatuses provide additional structures and functions.

Claims

1. A communications device comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a request to add a friend to a friends list on the communications device; and

responsive to receiving the request, when a privacy setting comprises a first setting, receiving;

an indication of a location of a device associated with the friend; and

an image, obtained from a public profile, of the friend.

2. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

rendering, on the communications device, an indication of the image.

3. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

rendering, on the communications device, the indication of the location.

4. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the location comprises a geographical location.

5. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the location is indicated on a map.

6. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the indication of the location further comprises a message.

7. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

rendering, on the communications device, directions to the location.

8. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

providing, via the communications device, communications with the friend.

9. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.

10. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

receiving a second request to add a second friend to the friends list on the communications device; and

responsive to receiving the second request, when a privacy setting of the second friend is the first setting, receiving an indication of a location of a second device associated with the second friend.

11. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

searching, via the communications device, for a second location proximate the location.

12. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

rendering, via the communications device, directions to a second location proximate the location.

13. The communications device of claim 1, wherein:

the location is determined in accordance with at least one of;

geo-coding;

reverse geo-coding;

proximity searching;

routing;

map generation;

a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site in which the friend is located;

or

GPS.

14. The communications device of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

removing the friend from the friends list on the communications device responsive to the receiving, by the communications device, an indication that the friend removed permission to be on the friends list.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving an indication that a friend is being added to a friends list;

responsive to receiving the indication, determining a privacy setting;

when the privacy setting comprises a first setting;

determining a location of the friend; and

obtaining, from a public profile, an image of the friend; and

providing;

an indication of the location of a device associated with the friend; and

an indication of the image.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the location comprises a geographical location.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the indication of the location comprises the location indicated on a map.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the indication of the location further comprises a message.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

providing directions to the location.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

determining a second location proximate to the location.