Method and system for enhanced messaging

• US 9,456,350 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Lau, Chung, Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US14/727,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20150264576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• 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 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging

Abstract

Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code tangible stored thereon for facilitating communication among users of mobile electronic devices, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving message content for a text message via a first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for acquiring status information of the first mobile electronic device, the status information including at least location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for determining a plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof that are authorized to receive the status information;

computer program code for determining whether at least one indication has been received from the first mobile electronic device to influence whether the status information is to be provided with the text message, the at least one indication received being user-initiated via the first mobile electronic device and being for the text message;

computer program code for determining based at least in part on the at least one indication whether the status information is to be provided with the text message, and

computer program code for initiating sending of the text message along with the status information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices via at least one wireless network, provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the status information is to be provided with the text message, and provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof are authorized to receive the status information.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving a user input from the first mobile electronic device via a user interface element displayed at the first mobile electronic device,

wherein the user input via the user interface element influences whether the location information is provided with the text message.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for modifying the status information acquired from the first mobile electronic device prior to the computer program code for initiating sending acting to initiate sending such to the plurality of other mobile electronic devices.

4. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 3, wherein the computer program code for modifying the status information produces modified status information that includes at least one presentation instruction.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one presentation instruction is provided at least in part in a markup language.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code for modifying the status information produces modified status information that includes at least one link.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving a message from another mobile electronic device via the wireless network;

computer program code for determining whether the received message includes at least received status information;

computer program code for extracting the status information from the received message when the computer program code for determining determines that the received message includes at least the received status information; and

computer program code for displaying the received message and at least one representation of the extracted status information on the display when the computer program code for determining determines that the received message includes at least the received status information.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for augmenting the status information acquired from the first mobile electronic device prior to sending such to the plurality of other mobile electronic devices.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the computer program code for augmenting the status information produces augmented status information that facilitates display of a graphical representation of the location information.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the augmented status information is provided in a markup language.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the augmented status information includes at least presentation instructions.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for modifying the location information acquired from the first mobile electronic device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the computer program code for modifying the location information produces modified location information based at least in part on a local network.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the local network comprises a Wi-Fi network.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code for acquiring the status information is configured to determine the location information based on location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code for acquiring the status information is configured to determine the location information based on (i) location data supplied by a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device, and (ii) other location data associated with a local network available for use by the first mobile electronic device.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code for acquiring the status information is configured to receive location data from a GPS receiver provided in the first mobile electronic device, and configured to derive the location information based on the received location data.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for modifying the location information acquired from the first mobile electronic device, and

wherein the computer program code for modifying the location information is configured to modify the location information from the GPS receiver.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one indication is user-initiated with a graphical user interface for the first mobile electronic device, and wherein the graphical user interface allows a user of the first mobile electronic device to direct that at least a portion of the status information be provided with the text message.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one indication is user-initiated with a graphical user interface for the first mobile electronic device, and wherein the graphical user interface allows a user of the first mobile electronic device to direct that at least a portion of the status information not be provided with the text message.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one indication is user-initiated with a graphical user interface for the first mobile electronic device, and wherein the graphical user interface allows a user of the first mobile electronic device to direct that at least a portion of the status information be provided with all text messages to be sent by the user of the first mobile electronic device.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the status information for inclusion with the text message can be set at different levels.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the text message is a SMS message.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1,

wherein the computer program code for initiating sending of the text message along with the status information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices uses a wireless network and operates to include the status information with the text message, provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof are authorized to receive the status information of the first mobile electronic device,

wherein the at least one indication is user-initiated with a graphical user interface for the first mobile electronic device, and

wherein the graphical user interface is configured to facilitate user input as to the indication by directing whether at least a portion of the status information be included or not included with the text message.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1,

wherein the computer program code for initiating sending of the text message along with the status information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices uses a wireless network and operates to include the status information with the text message, provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof are authorized to receive the status information of the first mobile electronic device,

wherein the at least one indication is user-initiated with a graphical user interface for the first mobile electronic device, and

wherein the graphical user interface is configured to facilitate user input as to the indication by directing that at least a portion of the status information be included with all messages to be sent by the user of the first mobile electronic device, and

wherein the text message is a short text message.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the status information is acquired by a sensor.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the sensor is internal to the first mobile electronic device.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the sensor is provided in a sensor device separate from the first mobile electronic device.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the sensor device is a wireless sensor that wirelessly couples to the first mobile electronic device.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the message is a text message.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the status information includes at least first location information associated with the first mobile electronic device, and

wherein said computer readable medium further comprises computer program code for processing at least the first location information of the status information to determine and display an indication of relative positions of the first mobile electronic device and one or more of the other mobile electronic devices.

32. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 31, wherein the one or more of the other mobile electronic devices has second location information associated therewith, and wherein the computer program code for processing determines the relative positions based on the first location information and the second location information.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for processing the status information to identify a type of movement pertaining to the first mobile electronic device.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the type of movement corresponds to a user of the first mobile electronic device, and wherein the type of movement is walking, running, riding in an auto, or being stationary.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for initiating display of a graphical indication of the type of movement.

36. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for processing the status information to determine movement of the first mobile electronic device.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein the movement comprises speed.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein the movement comprises speed and direction of travel.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for initiating display a graphical indication of the movement.

40. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein the computer program code for initiating sending of the text message along with the status information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices includes movement information pertaining to the movement as at least a portion of the status information.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the status information includes at least movement information of the first mobile electronic device.

42. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 41, wherein the computer program code for acquiring the status information is configured to determine the movement information based on at least movement data received at the first mobile electronic device.

43. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 41, wherein the computer program code for acquiring the status information is configured to determine the movement information based on at least movement data supplied by a sensor in the first mobile electronic device.

44. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for processing the status information to determine a user'"'"'s health state.

45. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 44, wherein the user'"'"'s health state comprises heart beat or temperature.

46. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 44, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for displaying a graphical indication of the user'"'"'s health state.

47. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for processing the status information to determine a user'"'"'s stress level.

48. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 47, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for displaying a graphical indication of the user'"'"'s stress level.

49. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for processing the status information to determine a user'"'"'s emotional state.

50. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 49, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for displaying a graphical indication of the user'"'"'s emotional state.

51. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code tangible stored thereon for facilitating communication among users of mobile electronic devices, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving message content for a text message via a first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for accessing location information regarding location of the first mobile electronic device;

computer program code for determining a plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof that are authorized to receive the location information;

computer program code for determining whether at least one indication has been received from the first mobile electronic device to influence whether the location information is to be provided with the text message, the at least one indication received being user-initiated via the first mobile electronic device and being for the text message;

computer program code for determining based at least in part on the at least one indication whether the location information is to be provided with the text message, and

computer program code for initiating sending of the text message along with the location information to each of the plurality of other mobile electronic devices via at least one wireless network, provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the location information is to be provided with the text message, and provided that the computer program code for determining determines that the plurality of other mobile electronic devices or users thereof are authorized to receive the location information.