Method and system of providing instant location service

• US 9,961,535 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bucchieri, Vittorio
• Primary Examiner(s): CAI, WAYNE HUU
• Application Number:
  US11/669,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20080182589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,108 Days
• Field of Search: 4554563
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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: 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 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

An approach is disclosed for providing an instant location service. At a wireless device of a first user, mapping information of a second user is received over a wireless network. The mapping information specifies position of the second user within a prescribed proximity of the wireless device. The first user is notified of the location of the second user based on the received mapping information. A communication session is selectively initiated by the wireless device, over the wireless network to the second user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location system, a list of contacts associated with a first user associated with a first wireless device and, for each contact in the list of contacts, an indication of a prescribed proximity to the first user,

wherein the location system is remote from the first wireless device;

receiving, at the location system and from the first wireless device, location information associated with a first plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals from a first plurality of GPS satellites associated with the first wireless device;

receiving, at the location system, mapping information associated with a second plurality of GPS signals from a second plurality of GPS satellites associated with a second wireless device of a second user,

wherein the second user is included in the list of contacts,

wherein the mapping information indicates that the second user is within the prescribed proximity to the first user, and

wherein the mapping information specifies a location of the second user within the prescribed proximity to the first user;

notifying, by the location system, the first user of the location of the second user within the prescribed proximity by sending, to the first user, a map generated by the location system,

wherein the map depicts the location of the second user within the prescribed proximity to the first user based on the received mapping information,

wherein the first user and the second user are represented as respective user graphical icons on the map,

wherein the user graphical icons represent different types of public service workers when a user associated with the user graphical icon is a public servicer worker,

wherein respective directional graphical icons proximate to the respective user graphical icons indicate first user direction of a first user graphical icon and second user direction of a second user graphical icon,

wherein, when the second user graphical icon is selected on the map, a pop-up text menu is presented,

wherein the pop-up text menu displays;

an identifier associated with the second user,

relative direction and distance of the second user from the first user, and

a plurality of options for initiating a communication session with the second user, and

wherein information associated with the second user is displayed in a text box in conjunction with the map when the second user is selected on the map;

presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) to the first user for modifying contact information associated with the second user; and

notifying the first user of a location of a third user within the prescribed proximity to the first user based on the received mapping information,

wherein the third user is represented as another graphical icon on the map, and

wherein an option to initiate another communication session with the third user is presented in conjunction with the map.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the map is displayed on the first wireless device,

wherein at least one of the first and second pluralities of GPS satellites includes at least four satellites, and

wherein at least one of the first or second wireless devices determines three-dimensional geolocation based on signals received from the respective first and second pluralities of GPS satellites.

3. A method according to claim 2,

wherein at least one of the first and second pluralities of GPS satellites includes six to eleven satellites.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of options for initiating the communication session includes an option for initiating an audio communication session and an option for initiating text messaging for two-way communication.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the location information to a mapping module within the location system configured to generate the mapping information in response to receiving the location information.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the mapping module cross-references the list of contacts within the prescribed proximity to the first user, depicting the location of the second user on the map only when the second user is a member of the list of contacts and is within the prescribed proximity.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless device includes a cellular phone.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the respective first and second user graphical icons are symbolic icons that convey information about the respective first user and second user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating presence status information of the second user in the text box.

10. A wireless device operated by a first user, the wireless device comprising:

a processor configured to;

send, to a location system, a list of contacts associated with the first user and, for each contact in the list of contacts, an indication of a prescribed proximity to the first user,

wherein the location system is remote from the wireless device,

determine a location of the wireless device based on receiving a first plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals from a first plurality of GPS satellites, and

send, based on receiving the first plurality of GPS signals, a location of the wireless device to the location system,

wherein the location system further receives mapping information associated with a second plurality of global positioning system GPS signals from a second plurality of GPS satellites associated with a second wireless device of a second user,

wherein the location system is remote from the second wireless device,

wherein the mapping information indicates that the second user is within the prescribed proximity to the first user, and

wherein the mapping information specifies a location of the second user within the prescribed proximity to the first user,

a display configured to;

present the location of the second user when the second user is within the prescribed proximity by displaying a map generated by the location system,

wherein the map depicts the locations of the second user and the first user by representing the first user and the second user on the map as respective user graphical icons,

wherein the user graphical icons represent different types of public service workers when a user associated with the user graphical icon is a public servicer worker,

wherein respective directional graphical icons on the map proximate to the respective user graphical icons indicate first user direction of a first user graphical icon and second user direction of a second user graphical icon within the prescribed proximity on the map,

wherein, when the second user graphical icon is selected on the map, a pop-up text menu is presented on the map, and

wherein the pop-up text menu displays;

an identifier associated with the second user,

a relative direction and distance of the second user from the first user, and

a plurality of options for initiating a communication session with the second user;

notify the first user of a location of a third user when the third user is within the prescribed proximity to the first user;

provide an option to initiate, by the wireless device, a communication session over a wireless network with the third user; and

represent the third user on the map as another graphical icon,

wherein a communication session is initiated over the wireless network to the third user,

wherein the second user and the third user are contacts in the list of contacts, and the display is further configured to present a graphical user interface (GUI) for modifying the list of contacts, and

wherein the GUI is configured to permit the first user to selectively highlight the name of the second user on the list of contacts to reveal profile information about the second user in a text box.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second user is represented by the second user graphical icon,

wherein at least one of the first or second pluralities of GPS satellites includes at least four satellites, and

wherein at least one of the wireless device or the second wireless device determines three-dimensional geolocation based on signals received from the respective first and second pluralities of GPS satellites.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of options for initiating the communication session includes an option for initiating an audio communication session and an option for initiating text messaging for two-way communication, and

wherein at least one of the first or second pluralities of GPS satellites includes six to eleven satellites.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a GPS module coupled to the processor and configured to determine position information of the wireless device,

wherein the position information is transmitted to a mapping module of the location system configured to generate the mapping information in response to the position information.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to present the location of a fourth user based on the received mapping information, and an additional communication session is initiated over the wireless network to the fourth user.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the respective first and second user graphical icons are symbolic icons that convey information about the respective first user and second user.

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein presence status information of the second user is presented in the text box.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, from a first user associated with a first wireless device and at a location system, a list of contacts associated with the first user and, for each contact in the list of contacts, an indication of a prescribed proximity to the first wireless device,

wherein the location system is remote from the first wireless device;

receiving first location information from the first wireless device, over a wireless network,

wherein the first location information is associated with a first plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals from a first plurality of GPS satellites;

receiving second location information from a second wireless device associated with a second user within the prescribed proximity to the first wireless device over the wireless network,

wherein the second location information is associated with a second plurality of GPS signals from a second plurality of GPS satellites,

wherein the second wireless device is remote from the location system;

generating, by the location system, mapping information for the first wireless device, wherein the mapping information specifies a location of the second wireless device when the second wireless device is within the prescribed proximity of the first wireless device;

transmitting the mapping information to the first wireless device over the wireless network,

wherein the mapping information causes a map, generated by the location system, to be displayed on the first wireless device,

wherein the map depicts the location of the second wireless device when the second wireless device is within the prescribed proximity to the first wireless device,

wherein the second user is a member of the list of contacts,

wherein the first user and the second user are represented on the displayed map as respective user graphical icons,

wherein respective directional graphical icons proximate to the respective user graphical icons indicate first user direction of a first user graphical icon and second user direction of a second user graphical icon on the map,

wherein, when the second user graphical icon is selected on the map, a pop-up text menu is provided on the map, and

wherein the pop-up text menu displays;

an identifier associated with the second user,

a relative direction and distance of the second user from the first user, and

a plurality of options to initiate a communication session with the second user;

notifying the first user of a location of a third user when the third user is within the prescribed proximity to the first user,

wherein the third user is represented on the map as another graphical icon, and

wherein an option to initiate another communication session with the third user is presented in connection with the map; and

presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) to the first user for modifying the list of contacts,

wherein profile information about the second user is presented in a text box when a name of the second user is highlighted in the list of contacts.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the second wireless device is represented by the second user graphical icon,

wherein at least one of the first or second pluralities of GPS satellites includes at least four satellites;

and

wherein at least one of the first or second wireless devices determines three-dimensional geolocation based on signals received from the respective first and second pluralities of GPS satellites.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of options for initiating the communication session includes an option for initiating an audio communication session and an option for initiating text messaging for two-way communication, and

wherein at least one of the first or second pluralities of GPS satellites includes six to eleven satellites.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein each of the first wireless device and the second wireless device determines position information based on a plurality of GPS signals.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein the respective first and second user graphical icons are symbolic icons that convey information about the respective first user and second user.

22. A method according to claim 17, further comprising representing a direction of travel of at least one of the first user or the second user.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising indicating presence status information of the second user in the text box.

24. A system comprising:

a mapping module configured to;

receive, from a first user associated with a first wireless device, a list of contacts and, for each contact in the list of contacts, an indication of a prescribed proximity to the first user, wherein the list of contacts includes a second user associated with a second wireless device;

receive first location information from the first wireless device over a wireless network, and second location information from the second wireless device over the wireless network,

wherein the system is remote from the first wireless device and the second wireless device,

wherein the first location information is associated with a first plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals from a first plurality of GPS satellites, and

wherein the second location information is associated with a second plurality of GPS signals from a second plurality of GPS satellites;

determine, based on the first location information and the second location information, that the second wireless device is within the prescribed proximity to the first wireless device;

generate mapping information for the first wireless device, the mapping information specifying a location of the second wireless device when the second wireless device is within the prescribed proximity of the first wireless device,

wherein the mapping information is transmitted to the first wireless device,

wherein the mapping information includes a map depicting the location of the first wireless device and the second wireless device when the second wireless device is within the prescribed proximity to the first wireless device,

wherein the first user and the second user are represented on the map as respective user graphical icons,

wherein the user graphical icons represent different types of public service workers when a user associated with the user graphical icon is a public servicer worker,

wherein respective directional graphical icons proximate to the respective user graphical icons indicate first user direction of a first user graphical icon and second user direction of a second user graphical icon on the map,

wherein, when the second user graphical icon is selected on the map, a pop-up text menu is presented on the map, and

wherein the pop-up text menu displays;

an identifier associated with the second user,

a relative direction and distance of the second wireless device from the first wireless device, and

a plurality of options to initiate a communication session with the second wireless device;

notify the first user of a location of a third user when the third user is within the prescribed proximity to the first user,

wherein the third user is represented on the map as another graphical icon; and

present a graphical user interface (GUI) to the first user for modifying the list of contacts,

wherein profile information about the second user is presented in a text box when a name of the second user is highlighted in the list of contacts.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the second wireless device is represented by the second user graphical icon,

wherein at least one of the first and second pluralities of GPS satellites includes at least four satellites, and

wherein at least one of the first and second wireless devices determines three-dimensional geolocation based on signals received from the respective first and second pluralities of GPS satellites.

26. A system according to claim 24, wherein the plurality of options to initiate the communication session includes an option to initiate an audio communication session and an option to initiate text messaging for two-way communication,

wherein at least one of the first or second pluralities of GPS satellites includes six to eleven satellites.

27. A system according to claim 24, wherein the first wireless device and the second wireless device are each configured to determine position information based on a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) signals.

28. A system according to claim 24, wherein the respective first and second user graphical icons are symbolic icons that convey information about the respective first user and second user.