Apparatus and systems for providing location-based services within a wireless network

• US 9,918,194 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Brian, Bhuyan, Krishna, Feinstein, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US15/270,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 4554562, 4554563, 455457, 4554566, 4554042
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality for location-based services, and includes both server and client/mobile device apparatuses. One apparatus includes a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device. A computer is coupled to the data store and is configured to receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device. The computer is configured to receive a change location privileges request, and to update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. Other apparatuses provide additional structures and functions.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that cause a processor executing the instructions to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving from a first communications device an indication of a friend;

determining a location of a second communications device, wherein the second communications device is associated with the friend;

receiving from the first communications device a meeting request comprising an indication of a second location; and

sending a message to the second communications device requesting a response to the meeting request.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the meeting request comprises a request to meet at the second location.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of the friend is received in response to a selection made from a friends list.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the friends list comprises at least one public profile.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the at least one public profile is provided to the first communications device based on a criteria set by the first communications device.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the criteria is a distance.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of the friend comprises a selection from a map rendered on the first communications device.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the map further comprises an indication of the location of the second communications device.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first communications device comprises a wireless communications device.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the instructions further comprising:

rendering on the first communications device directions to the second location.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the instructions further comprising:

providing to the second communications device at least one of a mobile number, username, or email address associated with the first communications device.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the instructions further comprising:

rendering on the second communications device directions to the second location.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the instructions further comprising:

responsive to receiving a response from the second communications device, sending to the first communications device an indication that the friend has responded.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the instructions further comprising:

providing to a database an indication of the message; and

responsive to receiving a response from the second communications device, providing to the database an indication of the response.

15. A method comprising:

receiving at a server an indication of a friend from a first communications device;

determining by the server a location of a second communications device, wherein the second communications device is associated with the friend;

receiving by the server a meeting request from the first communications device, the meeting request comprising an indication of a second location; and

sending by the server a message to the second communications device requesting a response to the meeting request.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wherein the indication of the friend is received in response to a selection made from a friends list.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the friends list comprises at least one public profile.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one public profile is provided to the first communications device based on a criteria set by the first communications device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the meeting request comprises a request to meet at the second location.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing by the server the location of the second communications device to the first communications device.