Methods for identifying location of individuals who are in proximity to a user of a network tracking system

• US 9,615,199 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X One Inc.
• Original Assignee: X One Inc.
• Inventors: Haney, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US14/531,234
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 4554562
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 : Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 : in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 : Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 : Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 : Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• 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 4/022 : with dynamic range variability
• 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 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• 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 4/08 : User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 : Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• 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 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• 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 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 : Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 : for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to comparing location information of devices associated with users and providing an indication or alert to at least one of the users about the proximity of another user. The users may be “buddies,” friends, family, or colleagues, for example. The indication or alert may include information about one of the other users in proximity, such as their geographic location or other information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving location information of a first cellular device associated with a first user, the location information comprising global positioning system (GPS) coordinates generated by the first cellular device which represent a geographic location of the first user, and an associated time stamp;

receiving a request from the first user to identify locations of other specific users who are in a predetermined list of the first user and who are in proximity to the first user;

identifying the other specific users who are in proximity to the first user, dependent on a comparison between the GPS coordinates of the first cellular device with GPS coordinates of second cellular devices associated with the respective other specific users and dependent on a determination that the respective other users are within a threshold distance from the geographic location of the first user;

transmitting via a digital communication network an indication to the first cellular device, the indication identifying each of the other specific users who is in proximity to the first user, as determined from the identifying, as well as information representing age of the GPS coordinates of each respective one of the second cellular devices within such proximity;

storing information representing the geographic location of the first user in association with a profile of the first user; and

transmitting via a digital communication network a map to the first cellular device, the map to display location of each of the other specific users who is in proximity to the first user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting information to the first cellular device to convey an address to the first user of at least one of the other specific users based on the GPS coordinates of the respective second cellular device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises storing in computer-accessible, non-transitory storage a list connecting the first cellular device and each of the second cellular devices.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the map is to be presented to the first user in a manner such that the first user can selectively change resolution represented by the map as displayed by the first cellular device, via interface between the first user and the first cellular device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein:

the computer-implemented method further comprises receiving an elective post of the first user from the first cellular device, storing the elective post in non-transitory storage, and transmitting the electronic post to each one of the second cellular devices associated one of the other specific users who is in proximity to the first user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting the indication comprises transmitting a short message service (SMS) message to the first user; and

transmitting the map to the first cellular device is performed using a transmission control protocol, responsive to a request from the first cellular device for the map, made in response to the SMS message.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises transmitting the map to the first cellular device in a manner such that the map is to be displayed via a specific software application which is resident on the first cellular device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

intermittently receiving updated GPS coordinates of each of the second cellular devices associated with one of the other specific users who is in proximity to the first user, and storing said updated coordinates in non-transitory storage; and

intermittently transmitting updated information to the first cellular device via a digital communication network, the updated information to cause display on the first cellular device of an updated map updating location of the one or more other specific users, responsive to said updated coordinates.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from over a digital communication network global positioning system (GPS) coordinates identifying a location of a particular user of a network user tracking system, the GPS coordinates generated by a first cellular device associated with the particular user;

receiving from over a digital communication network GPS coordinates respectively identifying locations of a plurality of other users, the plurality of other users each being in a predetermined list of contacts of the particular user, the GPS coordinates identifying the locations of the plurality of other users being respective to second cellular devices associated with the other users of the plurality, and time stamp information for each of the GPS coordinates identifying the locations of the plurality of other users;

determining that one or more other users in the plurality are in proximity to the particular user based on (1) a comparison of the GPS coordinates identifying the location of the particular user and the GPS coordinates respectively identifying the respective locations of the one or more other users, and (2) a determination based on the comparison that that the respective locations of the one or more other users are within a threshold distance relative to the particular user;

transmitting a communication to the particular user via a digital communication network based on the determining, the indication identifying the one or more other users, as well as information representing age of the GPS coordinates respective to the one or more other users; and

storing information representing the geographic location of the particular user in association with a profile of the particular user; and

transmitting via a digital communication network a map to the particular user, the map to display location of each of the one or more other users who is in proximity to the particular user.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises storing in computer-accessible, non-transitory storage a list connecting a wireless device of the particular user with a wireless device of each of the plurality of other users.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

the computer-implemented method further comprises receiving an elective post of the particular user from the first cellular device, storing the elective post in non-transitory storage, and transmitting the electronic post to each of the second cellular devices associated with the one or more other users.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

transmitting the indication comprises transmitting a short message service (SMS) message to the particular user; and

transmitting the map to the particular user is performed using a transmission control protocol, responsive to a request from the particular user for the map, made in response to the SMS message.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein:

the map is to be presented to the particular user in a manner such that the particular user can selectively change resolution represented by the map as displayed by the first cellular device, via interface between the particular user and the first cellular device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises transmitting the map to the first cellular device in a manner such that the map is to be displayed via a specific software application which is resident on the first cellular device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

intermittently receiving updated GPS coordinates of at least one of the second cellular devices associated with the one or more other users, and storing said updated coordinates in non-transitory storage; and

intermittently transmitting updated information to the first cellular device via a digital communication network, the updated information to cause display on the first cellular device of an updated map showing updates to location of the at least one of the second cellular devices, responsive to said updated coordinates.

16. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from over a digital communication network global positioning system (GPS) coordinates identifying a location of a particular user of a network user tracking system, and an associated time stamp, generated by a first cellular device associated with the particular user;

receiving from over a digital communication network GPS coordinates respectively identifying locations of a plurality of other users who are in a predetermined list of the particular user, and associated time stamps, wherein said GPS coordinates respectively identifying locations of the plurality of other users and associated time stamps are generated by second cellular devices respective to the other users in the plurality;

determining that one or more of the other users in the plurality are in proximity to the particular user based on (1) a comparison of the GPS coordinates identifying the location of the particular user and the GPS coordinates respectively identifying the respective locations of the one or more of the plurality of other users, and (2) a determination based on the comparison that that the respective locations of the one or more other users are within a threshold distance relative to the particular user;

transmitting via a digital communication network a communication to the particular user based on the determining, the indication identifying the one or more other users, as well as information representing age of the GPS coordinates respective to the one or more other users;

storing information representing the geographic location of the particular user in association with a profile of the particular user; and

transmitting via a digital communication network a map to the particular user, the map to display location of each of the one or more other users who is in proximity to the user;

wherein the communication includes a status for at least one of the one or more other users who is in proximity to the particular user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein:

the computer-implemented method further comprises receiving an elective post of the particular user from the first cellular device, storing the elective post in non-transitory storage, and transmitting the electronic post to each of the second cellular devices associated with the one or more other users.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein:

transmitting the indication comprises transmitting a short message service (SMS) message to the particular user; and

transmitting the map to the particular user is performed using a transmission control protocol, responsive to a request from the particular user for the map, made in response to the SMS message.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein:

the map is to be presented to the particular user in a manner such that the particular user can selectively change resolution represented by the map as displayed by the first cellular device, via interface between the particular user and the first cellular device.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises transmitting the map to the first cellular device in a manner such that the map is to be displayed via a specific software application which is resident on the first cellular device.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

intermittently receiving updated GPS coordinates of at least one of the second cellular devices associated with the one or more other users, and storing said updated coordinates in non-transitory storage; and

intermittently transmitting updated information to the first cellular device via a digital communication network, the updated information to cause display on the first cellular device of an updated map showing updates to location of the at least one of the second cellular devices, responsive to said updated coordinates.

22. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving from over a digital communication network global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of a first cellular device associated with a first user of a network user tracking system, the GPS coordinates representing a geographic location of the first user, and an associated time stamp;

receiving a request from the first user for other specific users who are in a predetermined list of the first user and who are in proximity to the first user;

comparing the GPS coordinates of the first device with GPS coordinates of second cellular devices, the second cellular devices respectively associated with the other specific users;

transmitting an indication to the first user via the digital communication network that one or more of the other specific users is in proximity to the first user based at least in part on the comparison and a determination that a respective one of the second cellular devices is within a threshold distance of the first device, as identified from the GPS coordinates of the first device and the GPS coordinates of the respective one of the second cellular devices, as well as information representing age of the GPS coordinates of each of the second cellular devices associated with such proximity;

storing information representing the geographic location of the first user in association with a profile of the first user; and

transmitting via a digital communication network a map to the first device, the map to display location each of the other specific users who is determined to be in proximity to the first user, as determined from the comparison.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein:

the map is to be presented to the first user in a manner such that the first user can selectively change resolution represented by the map as displayed by the first cellular device, via interface between the first user and the first cellular device.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein:

the computer-implemented method further comprises receiving an elective post of the first user from the first cellular device, storing the elective post in non-transitory storage, and transmitting the electronic post to each of the second cellular devices associated with one of the at least one specific users who is in proximity to the first user.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein:

transmitting the indication comprises transmitting a short message service (SMS) message to the first user; and

transmitting the map to the first cellular device is performed using a transmission control protocol, responsive to a request from the first cellular device for the map, made in response to the SMS message.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises transmitting the map to the first cellular device in a manner such that the map is to be displayed via a specific software application which is resident on the first cellular device.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, wherein:

the updated map is to be presented to the particular user in a manner such that the particular user can selectively change resolution represented by the updated map as displayed by the first cellular device, via interface between the particular user and the first cellular device.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

intermittently receiving updated GPS coordinates of at least one of the second cellular devices associated with the one or more other users, and storing said updated coordinates in non-transitory storage; and

intermittently transmitting updated information to the first cellular device via a digital communication network, the updated information to cause display on the first cellular device of an updated map updating location of the one or more other users, responsive to said updated coordinates.