Server-implemented methods and systems for sharing location amongst web-enabled cell phones

• US 10,299,071 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2018
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• 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:
  US16/199,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20190098438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 178 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. A server-implemented method of sharing location amongst GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, the method comprising:

providing an application for download to each of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones;

permitting a user of a first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to selectively establish a location-sharing group with a user of a selected one of others of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, via the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, wherein use of the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to selectively establish the location-sharing relationship is conditioned on registration of the associated web-enabled cell phone and submission of payment information;

intermittently receiving, from the applications downloaded respectively to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, position information which identifies updated position of the corresponding web-enabled cell phone;

selecting at least one map dependent on the updated position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the updated position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and, dependent on proximity of the updated position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the updated position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, and marking the updated position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the updated position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones on the at least one selected map; and

transmitting the at least one marked, selected in packet form to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, for display thereon;

wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the application downloaded to the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones are to display the marked, selected at least one map in a manner that can be selectively zoomed and moved in terms of geographic coverage by the respective user.

2. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the application downloaded to the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones are each to transmit GPS coordinates in encrypted form, and wherein:

intermittently receiving further comprises receiving and decrypting the encrypted GPS coordinates;

selecting the at least one map is performed repeatedly, such that transmitting the marked, selected at least one map comprises causing the display of a moving map on each of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones; and

transmitting the marked, selected at least one map comprises encrypting the marked, selected at least one map and transmitting the encrypted at least one map in packet form to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones for display thereon.

3. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the server-implemented method further comprises:

receiving a request, entered by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones using the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, to further share location with one or more specifically-selected others of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones; and

causing the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to send a SMS text message to each of the specifically-selected others of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, wherein the SMS text message embeds a web link to display a map showing position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones marked thereon.

4. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the server-implemented method further comprises:

receiving a request, entered by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones using the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, to share location with one or more pre-established contacts of the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones; and

causing the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to send a SMS text message to cell phones belonging to the one or more pre-established contacts, wherein the SMS text message embeds a web link to display a map showing position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones marked thereon.

5. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the selected one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is selected by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones in connection with a request for a desired service;

the user of the selected one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is a provider of the desired service; and

the server-implemented method further comprises forming a use-specific group to have the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones in connection with the request for the desired service.

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

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is to further display an option to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to request emergency assistance; and

said method comprises, responsive to selection of the option by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, receiving data representing the initiating of a 911-call.

7. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enable cell phones is to further display an option to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to selectively send a text message to the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enable cell phones after a location-sharing group has been formed; and

said method comprises causing the application to, following the transmitting of the marked, selected at least one map in packet form to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and, responsive to user invocation of the option, automatically solicit a text message entered by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, and transmit the text message for display on the selected one of the other web-enabled cell phones.

8. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones are the same application.

9. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is to provide enterprise-specific commercial content of a predetermined enterprise to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones.

10. The server-implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

the predetermined enterprise is a first predetermined enterprise;

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones comprises an application programming interface to provide enterprise-specific commercial content of respective predetermined enterprises, including the first predetermined enterprise, to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones;

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is to receive a user-selection of one of the respective predetermined enterprises; and

the server-implemented method further comprises

receiving the user-selection from the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, and

responsively transmitting content respective to the chosen one of the respective predetermined enterprises to the one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones.

11. An apparatus for sharing location amongst GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, the apparatus comprising:

at least one server;

instructions stored on non-transitory machine readable media, the instructions when executed to cause the at least one server to

provide an application for download to each of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones,

permit a user of a first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to selectively establish a location-sharing group with a user of a selected one of others of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, via the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, wherein use of the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to selectively establish the location-sharing relationship is conditioned on registration of the associated web-enabled cell phone and submission of payment information;

intermittently receive, from the applications downloaded respectively to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, position information which identifies updated position of the corresponding web-enabled cell phone;

select at least one map dependent on the updated position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the updated position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and, dependent on proximity of the updated position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the updated position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, and mark the updated position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the updated position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones on the at least one selected map, and

transmit the at least one marked, selected in packet form to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, for display thereon;

wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the application downloaded to the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones are to display the marked, selected at least one map in a manner that can be selectively zoomed and moved in terms of geographic coverage by the respective user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the application downloaded to the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones are each to transmit GPS coordinates in encrypted form, and wherein said instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to:

receive and decrypt the encrypted GPS coordinates;

select the at least one map is performed repeatedly, such that transmission of the marked, selected at least one map is to cause the display of a moving map on each of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones; and

encrypt the marked, selected at least one map and transmit the encrypted at least one map in packet form to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones for display thereon.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to:

receive a request, entered by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones using the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, to further share location with one or more specifically-selected others of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones; and

cause the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to send a SMS text message to each of the one or more specifically-selected others of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, wherein the SMS text message embeds a web link to display a map showing position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones marked thereon.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to:

receive a request, entered by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones using the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, to share location with one or more pre-established contacts of the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones; and

cause the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to send a SMS text message to cell phones belonging to the one or more pre-established contacts, wherein the SMS text message embeds a web link to display a map showing position of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and position of the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enabled cell phones marked thereon.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the selected one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is selected by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones in connection with a request for a desired service;

the user of the selected one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is a provider of the desired service; and

the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to form a use-specific group to have the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the selected one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones in connection with the request for the desired service.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is to further display an option to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to request emergency assistance;

the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to, responsive to selection of the option by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, receive data representing the initiation of a 911-call.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enable cell phones is to further display an option to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones to selectively send a text message to the selected one of the other GPS- and web-enable cell phones after a location-sharing group has been formed; and

the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to cause the application to, following the transmission of the marked, selected at least one map in packet form to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and, responsive to user invocation of the option, automatically solicit a text message entered by the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones, and transmit the text message for display on the selected one of the other web-enabled cell phones.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones and the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones are the same application.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is to provide enterprise-specific commercial content of a predetermined enterprise to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the predetermined enterprise is a first predetermined enterprise;

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones comprises an application programming interface to provide enterprise specific commercial content of respective predetermined enterprises, including the first predetermined enterprise, to the user of the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones;

the application downloaded to the first one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones is to receive a user-selection of one of the respective predetermined enterprises; and

the instructions when executed are to cause the at least one server to receive the user-selection from the application and responsively transmit content respective to the chosen one of the respective predetermined enterprises to the one of the GPS- and web-enabled cell phones.