Map presentation on cellular device showing positions of multiple other wireless device users

• US 10,200,811 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• 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:
  US15/428,981
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• 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

A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one server;

server-accessible memory to store an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to cause the at least one server to obtain a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list, to plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map, and to transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the software is further to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position for each one of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map,

permit the first individual to change the geographic resolution represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography and changed geographic resolution with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software is to cause the at least one server to maintain in the server-accessible memory the last known position for each of the multiple users, dependent on the GPS coordinates reported by the respective cell phones, and where the software is to receive and store the position information associated with the cell phones of the plural ones by accessing said database and retrieving the respective GPS coordinates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software is to cause the at least one server to receive and store the position information by transmitting a query for the GPS coordinates to each of the respective cell phones of the multiple users in response to the request, and storing GPS coordinates responsively returned by the respective cell phones.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, where at least one of the respective cell phones is a JAVA enable portable device, and where the software is to cause the at least one server to format the map with plotted positions to be rendered by a JAVA enabled portable device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, where the software is to cause the at least one server to superimpose the name of a specific one of the multiple users at a location on the map corresponding to the plotted position of the specific one.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one server;

server-accessible memory to store an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to cause the at least one server to obtain a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list, to plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map, and to transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the software is further to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position for each one of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map by zooming geographic resolution from a first geography to a second geography,

obtain the map representing the changed geography from a server of a third party map provider, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one server;

server-accessible memory to store an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to cause the at least one server to obtain a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list, to plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map, and to transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the software is further to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position for each one of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography; and

where a specific one of the multiple users is associated with a time limit for location sharing, and where the software is to cause the at least one server transmit the map representing changed geography in a manner that excludes a plotted position for the specific one when the time limit has been exceeded.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one server;

server-accessible memory to store an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to cause the at least one server to obtain a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list, to plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map, and to transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the software is further to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position for each one of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography; and

where the software is to cause the at least one server to, in response to a change in last known position for one of the multiple users, transmit an alert to the first individual, the alert responsive to at least one of a change in the last known position for one of the multiple users that is at least one of (a) a change in position toward a specific location, or (b) a change in position away from the specific location.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, where the alert is responsive to a change in position to within a specific proximity of the specific location.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, where the alert is responsive to a change in position to outside of a specific proximity of the specific location.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one server;

server-accessible memory to store an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to cause the at least one server to obtain a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list, to plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map, and to transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual, where the software is to cause the at least one server to obtain the map, responsive to the request from the first individual to obtain the map, from a third party map server to have a geographic resolution selected in dependence on the last known position of each of the multiple users identified by the list;

where the software is further to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position for each one of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one server;

server-accessible memory to store an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users; and

software responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, to cause the at least one server to obtain a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list, to plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map, and to transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the software is further to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position for each one of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography; and

where the software is to cause the at least one server to obtain the map, responsive to the request from the first individual to obtain the map, from a third party map server to have a geographic coverage dependent on a default geographic resolution.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, where the default geographic resolution is adjustable responsive to instruction received from a cell phone of the first individual, and where the software is to cause the at least one server, responsive to the request from the first individual to obtain a map, to plot the last known position of each of multiple users identified by the list where such last known position corresponds to the geographic coverage.

14. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one server to:

store in server-accessible memory information representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users;

obtain, responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list;

plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map; and

transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the instructions are further, when executed, to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position of each of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map,

permit the first individual to change the geographic resolution represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography and changed geographic resolution with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to maintain in the server-accessible memory a database that stores last known position for each of the multiple users, dependent on the GPS coordinates reported by the respective cell phones, and is to receive and store the position information associated with the cell phones of the plural ones by accessing said database and retrieving the respective GPS coordinates.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to transmit a query for the GPS coordinates to each of the respective cell phones of the multiple users in response to the request, and store GPS coordinates responsively returned by the respective cell phones, to thereby receive and store the position information.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, where at least one of the respective cell phones is a JAVA enable portable device, and where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to format the map with plotted positions to be rendered by a JAVA enabled portable device.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to superimpose the name of a specific one of the multiple users at a location on the map corresponding to the plotted position of the specific one.

19. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one server to:

store in server-accessible memory information representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users;

obtain, responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list;

plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map; and

transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the instructions are further, when executed, to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position of each of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map by zooming geographic resolution from a first geography to a second geography,

obtain the map representing the changed geography from a server of a third party map provider, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography.

20. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one server to:

store in server-accessible memory information representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users;

obtain, responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list;

plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map; and

transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the instructions are further, when executed, to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position of each of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography; and

where a specific one of the multiple users is associated with a time limit for location sharing, and where the instructions when executed are to cause to transmit the map representing changed geography in a manner that excludes a plotted position for the specific one when the time limit has been exceeded.

21. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one server to:

store in server-accessible memory information representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users;

obtain, responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list;

plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map; and

transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the instructions are further, when executed, to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position of each of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography; and

where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to, in response to a change in last known position for one of the multiple users, transmit an alert to the first individual, the alert responsive to at least one of a change in the last known position for one of the multiple users that is at least one of (a) a change in position toward a specific location, or (b) a change in position away from the specific location.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, where the alert is responsive to a change in position to within a specific proximity of the specific location.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, where the alert is responsive to a change in position to outside of a specific proximity of the specific location.

24. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one server to:

store in server-accessible memory information representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users;

obtain, responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list;

plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map; and

transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the instructions are further, when executed, to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position of each of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography; and

where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to obtain the map, responsive to the request from the first individual to obtain the map, from a third party map server to have a geographic resolution selected in dependence on the last known position of each of the multiple users identified by the list.

25. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one server to:

store in server-accessible memory information representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users;

obtain, responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list;

plot the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map; and

transmit the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the instructions are further, when executed, to cause the at least one server to

receive and store in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, in order to obtain the last known position of each of the multiple users,

permit the first individual to change geography represented by the map, and

transmit to the first individual a map representing the changed geography with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography; and

where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to obtain the map, responsive to the request from the first individual to obtain the map, from a third party map server to have a geographic coverage dependent on a default geographic resolution.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, where the default geographic resolution is adjustable responsive to instruction received from a cell phone of the first individual, and where the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server, responsive to the request from the first individual to obtain a map, to plot the last known position of each of multiple users identified by the list where such last known position corresponds to the geographic coverage.

27. A server-implemented method, comprising:

storing in server-accessible memory information representing an account for a first individual, the account having an associated list that identifies multiple users;

obtaining, responsive to a request from the first individual to obtain a map, a last known position for each one of the multiple users identified by the list;

plotting the last known position of at least two of the multiple users on the map; and

transmitting the map with plotted positions to the first individual;

where the server-implemented method further comprises

receiving and storing in the server-accessible memory position information associated with cell phones of plural ones of the multiple users, dependent on global positioning system (GPS) information reported by each of the respective cell phones, in a manner not requiring concurrent voice communications, to thereby obtain the last known positions of each of the multiple users,

permitting the first individual to change geography and geographic resolution represented by the map, and

transmitting to the first individual a map representing the changed geography and changed geographic resolution with position plotted thereon of at least one of the multiple users whose position corresponds to the changed geography.