Network manager system for location-aware mobile communication devices

• US 9,503,533 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Dot Corporation
• Original Assignee: Green Dot Corporation
• Inventors: Altman, Samuel H., Sivo, Nicholas T., Pernikoff, Thomas B., Deshpande, Alok, Pernikoff, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US14/275,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20140250191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• 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 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• 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 4/185 : by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

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 comprehensive network manager process provides management functions to allow communication with mobile phone users outside of the service network and allows for efficient communication with groups of users within the service network.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a network interface configured to allow the mobile communication device to communicate with one or more other users over a network;

a geographic location circuit coupled to the network interface and configured to determine the location of the device relative to a terrestrial coordinate system;

a graphical user interface including a display area allowing output of information to a user of the device;

a map generation circuit configured to display a map encompassing an area around the location of the device on the graphical user interface, wherein the map generation circuit displays geographic location information on the display area for any of the one or more other users, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first sub-display area displaying the map and a second sub-display area displaying identification information relating to respective one or more users; and

a filter circuit configured to allow a user of the mobile communication device to limit sharing of geographic location information to certain of the one or more users by preventing sharing of the geographic location information of the user.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the network comprises the Internet.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface updates the geographic location information for the one or more users that are displayed on the display area and modifying their displayed position on the map as they move within the area around the location of the device.