Device-to-device location awareness

• US 9,456,298 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Michael M., Gregg, Justin, Seguin, Chad G.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANOHARAN, MUTHUSWAMY GANAPATHY
• Application Number:
  US12/185,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20100029302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,976 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.6, 455/456.2, 455/466, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/23 for mobile advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

During an ongoing wireless telephone call communication session between a pair of mobile devices, a local device responds to its user'"'"'s activation of a virtual or actual button or key, or its user'"'"'s verbal command, by automatically sending an over the air message (e.g., a SMS or text message or other network communication message) to the remote device. The message requests location information of the remote device. Upon obtaining location information from the remote device, a location of the remote device is automatically displayed on the local device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for communication between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, comprising:

during an ongoing telephone call communication session between the first and second mobile devices;

receiving, at the second mobile device, a location request message from the first mobile device requesting location information of the second mobile device, the location request message being sent by the first device in response to detecting input corresponding to a selection of an image object displayed by the first mobile device, the image object indicating that a location request message requesting location information of the second mobile device can be sent, wherein the image object is displayed on the first mobile device simultaneously with elapsed time for the communication session; and

in response to receiving the location request message at the second mobile device requesting location information of the second mobile device, the location request message comprising a current location of the first mobile device;

comparing, by the second mobile device, a name of a user of the first mobile device and an address of the first mobile device to names and addresses in a stored profile associated with the second mobile device so as to determine whether the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information; and

in response to determining that the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information, sending, from the second mobile device to the first mobile device, the location information of the second mobile device, wherein the location information includes current GPS coordinates of the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

during the ongoing communication session between the first and second mobile devices, receiving by the first mobile device one of a) a SMS or text message, b) a TCP/IP message, c) a UDP message, and d) a cellular network control message, from the second mobile device that contains location information of the second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the image object that indicates the location request message can be sent is displayed in a contact list of the first mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a location of the second mobile device on the first mobile device, wherein displaying the location of the second mobile device comprises:

displaying, at the first mobile device, one or more pointers on a map indicating a location of the first mobile device relative to that of the second mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

providing step by step directions at the first mobile device to travel from the location of the first mobile device to that of the second mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the message received at the second mobile device contains location information of the first mobile device calculated by a RF-based locating methodology.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the image object that indicates the location request message can be sent is a virtual key that is exposed in an on-going call screen of the first mobile device during the communication session.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the image object once selected triggers the sending of the location request message without additional input.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein during the ongoing communication session between the first and second mobile devices, and after receiving the location request message requesting location information of the second mobile device, the method further comprises:

sending permission from the second mobile device to the first mobile device, to obtain the location information of the second mobile device, prior to displaying the location of the first mobile device on a display of the second mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said sending permission comprises:

sending a SMS or text message from the second mobile device that contains current GPS coordinates of the second mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon obtaining location information from the second mobile device, the first mobile device displaying a location of the second mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the location information of the second mobile device is performed prior to displaying the location of the first mobile device on a display of the second mobile device.

13. A mobile device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to;

manage a telephone call communication session with another mobile device;

during the telephone call communication session;

in response to receiving a location request message including current location information of said another mobile device, wherein the location request message requests location information of the mobile device, the location request message being sent by said another mobile device in response to detecting input corresponding to a selection of an image object displayed by said another mobile device, the image object indicating that a location request message requesting location information of the mobile device can be sent, wherein the image object is displayed on said another mobile device simultaneously with elapsed time for the communication session;

compare a name of a user of said another mobile device and an address of said another mobile device to names and addresses in a stored profile associated with the mobile device so as to determine whether the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information, wherein the mobile device is configured to send the location of the mobile device to said another mobile device during the telephone call communication session; and

in response to determining that the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information, send, from the mobile device, the location information of the mobile device, wherein the location information includes current GPS coordinates of the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 wherein the mobile device is configured to cryptographically sign and/or encrypt the location request message to ensure sender authenticity.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein the location request message further comprises a creation date and an expiration to prevent replay spoofing.

16. A mobile device comprising:

a telephony module to manage a telephone call communication session with another mobile device;

a user interface module configured to;

display, during the telephone call communication session, a first image object indicating that a location release message can be sent to said another mobile device, simultaneously with a second image object indicating elapsed time for the communication session; and

detect activation of a virtual or actual key in the mobile device, or a verbal command to the mobile device, during the telephone call communication session;

a messaging module configured to send or receive a message during the telephone call session; and

a location awareness module configured to, in response to receiving a location request message comprising location information of said another mobile device from said another mobile device during the telephone call communication session;

automatically prompt for permission to release location information;

compare a name of a user associated with said another mobile device and an address of said another mobile device to names and addresses in a stored profile associated with a user so as to determine whether the name of the user associated with said another mobile device and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information; and

instruct the messaging module to send the location release message to said another mobile device in response to obtaining permission and determining that the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information, wherein the location release message includes current GPS coordinates of the mobile device.

17. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the location awareness module, in response to the activation of the key or the verbal command being detected, is configured to instruct the messaging module to send the location release message addressed to said another mobile device, wherein the location release message authorizes said another mobile device to display the current location of the mobile device.

18. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the location release message contains RF-based locator methodology coordinates of the mobile device and is sent to said another mobile device prior to displaying the location of said another mobile device on a display of the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the stored profile is cryptographically signed and/or encrypted.

20. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the stored profile has a creation date and an expiration date built into it.

21. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the user associated with said another mobile device is identified within said another mobile device by:

a cryptographic hash, wherein the cryptographic hash is generated from the name of the user, the user'"'"'s associated contact numbers, a shared secret key, and a private secret key.

22. A mobile device comprising:

means for managing a telephone call with another mobile device;

means for displaying an image object in a user interface at the mobile device indicating that an over the air network communication message requesting location information of said another mobile device can be sent during the telephone call;

means for receiving the selection of the image object via activation of a virtual or physical key in the user interface at the mobile device;

means for detecting the selection;

means for sending the over the air network communication message to said another mobile device during the telephone call;

means for instructing the sending means to send a current location of the mobile device as part of a message addressed to said another mobile device in response to receiving location information of said another mobile device during the telephone call;

means for comparing a name of a user of said another mobile device and an address of said another mobile device to names and addresses in a stored profile associated with the mobile device so as to determine whether the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information;

means for sending location information of the mobile device in response to determining that the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information, wherein the location information includes current GPS coordinates of the mobile device; and

means for displaying the location information of said another mobile device.

23. A method for communications between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, comprising:

during an ongoing telephone call communication session between the first and second mobile devices;

receiving an over the air location request message from the first mobile device requesting location information of the second mobile device, the location request message comprising location information of the first mobile device, the location request message being sent by the first device in response to detecting input corresponding to a selection of an image object displayed by the first mobile device, the image object indicating that a location request message requesting location information of the second mobile device can be sent, wherein the image object is displayed on the first mobile device simultaneously with elapsed time for the communication session;

comparing a name of a user associated with the first mobile device and an address of the first mobile device to names and addresses in a stored profile associated with a user of the second mobile device to determine whether the name of the user associated with the first mobile device and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information of the second mobile device;

performing an RF-based locating methodology that determines location information of the second mobile device, wherein the determined location information includes current GPS coordinates of the second mobile device; and

replying to the received message by sending the determined location information to the first mobile device in response to determining that the name of the user and the address matches a name and an address in the stored profile that is authorized to receive location information.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the receiving the over the air location request message from the first mobile device requesting location information of the second mobile device comprises receiving the address of the first mobile device, and wherein sending the determined location information to the first mobile device is performed prior to displaying the location information of the first mobile device on a display of the second mobile device.