Location sensitive messaging

• US 9,344,392 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Lohtia, Sunit, Astroth, Joseph H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US14/223,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20140208228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Methods including computer program products for receiving a request from a first device, the request incorporating a message. One or more users from a first set of one or more users are selected where each of the selected one or more users is associated with a second device that is in a proximity to a current location of the first device. The message and the current location of the first device are sent to each of the second devices associated with the selected one or more users.

Claims

1. A method of location sensitive messaging, comprising:

receiving, at a messaging system from a first wireless phone, a text message;

obtaining, by said messaging system, a current geographic location of said first wireless phone;

obtaining, by said messaging system, a current location of each of said plurality of other wireless phones;

determining, by said messaging system, a user-specified proximity zone surrounding said current geographic location of said first wireless phone;

determining, by said messaging system, which of said plurality of other wireless phones are currently located within said user-specified proximity zone surrounding said current geographic location of said first wireless phone as a plurality of proximate wireless phones;

automatically including, at said messaging system, a current geographic location of said first wireless phone with said text message; and

routing, by said messaging system, said text message including said current geographic location of said first wireless phone, only to proximate wireless phones within said proximity zone and not to those of said plurality of other wireless phones not within said proximity zone.

2. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one of said plurality of other proximate wireless phones is a plurality of other wireless phones.

3. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message includes an image file.

4. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message includes a video file.

5. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, wherein:

said current geographic location of said first wireless phone is transmitted from a location server.

6. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, wherein:

said current geographic location of said first wireless phone is transmitted from said first wireless phone.

7. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, wherein:

said user-specified proximity zone is determined by a code received by said messaging system with said text message.

8. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 7, wherein:

said code is appended to said text message.

9. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of other wireless phones are executing at least one of a buddy list, a chat list, and a Short Message Service (SMS) application, at a time of said determination of which of said plurality of other wireless phones are currently located within said user-specified proximity zone.

10. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by said messaging system, a geographic reference point based on said current geographic location of said first wireless phone; and

incorporating said geographic reference point into said determination of said user-specified proximity zone.

11. The method of location sensitive messaging according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by said messaging system, a respective navigation route(s) from said each of said plurality of other wireless phones to said first wireless phone; and

providing said respective navigation route(s) to respective ones of said plurality of other wireless phones.

12. Apparatus for location sensitive messaging, comprising:

means for receiving, at a messaging system from a first wireless phone, a text message;

means for obtaining by said messaging system, a current geographic location of said first wireless phone;

means for obtaining by said messaging system, a current location of each of said plurality of other wireless phones;

means for determining by said messaging system, a user-specified proximity zone surrounding said current geographic location of said first physical wireless phone;

means for determining by said messaging system which of said plurality of other wireless phones are currently located within said user-specified proximity zone surrounding said current geographic location of said first wireless phone as a plurality of proximate wireless phones;

means, at said messaging system, for automatically including at said messaging system a current geographic location of said first wireless phone with said text message; and

means for routing, by said messaging system, said text message including said current geographic location of said first wireless phone, only to proximate wireless phones within said proximity zone and not to those of said plurality of other wireless phones not within said proximity zone.

13. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, wherein:

said text message includes an image file.

14. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, wherein:

said text message includes a video file.

15. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for obtaining said current geographic location is transmitted from a location server.

16. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, wherein:

said current geographic location is transmitted from said first wireless phone.

17. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for determining a user-specified proximity zone specifies said user-specified proximity zone is determined by a code received with said text message.

18. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, wherein:

said code is appended to said text message.

19. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for determining by said messaging system a geographic reference point based on said current geographic location of said first wireless phone; and

means for incorporating said geographic reference point into said determination of said user-specified proximity zone.

20. The apparatus for location sensitive messaging according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for determining by said messaging system, a respective navigation route(s) from said each of said plurality of other wireless phones to said first wireless phone; and

means for providing said respective navigation route(s) to respective ones of said plurality of other wireless phones.