Temporary location sharing group with event based termination
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory storage media, said instructions when executed to cause at least one processor of an internet-ready cell phone belonging to a user to:
- install a software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, following internet-based download of the software application to the internet-ready cell phone of the user;
in connection with launch of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, and contingent upon verification of currently valid payment status, enable a mutual location tracking and position-mapping function of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user; and
as part of the mutual location tracking and position-mapping function,receive from a user interface of the internet-ready cell phone of the user, a user selection of an individual with whom position information will be exchanged,configure the internet-ready cell phone of the user so as to send updated GPS information of the user to an internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual and receive updated GPS information of the selected individual therefrom, wherein exchange of the updated GPS information of the selected individual is to be effectuated via a software application installed on the internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual,render a moving map on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, dependent on at least one map retrieved from a server, and dependent at least in part on the updated GPS information of the selected individual, so as to be displayed on the internet-ready cell phone of the user in a manner that encompasses updated position of the selected individual, andautomatically terminate the exchange of the GPS information between the user and the selected individual upon occurrence of a predetermined event.
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Accused Products
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.
2824 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory storage media, said instructions when executed to cause at least one processor of an internet-ready cell phone belonging to a user to:
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install a software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, following internet-based download of the software application to the internet-ready cell phone of the user; in connection with launch of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, and contingent upon verification of currently valid payment status, enable a mutual location tracking and position-mapping function of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user; and as part of the mutual location tracking and position-mapping function, receive from a user interface of the internet-ready cell phone of the user, a user selection of an individual with whom position information will be exchanged, configure the internet-ready cell phone of the user so as to send updated GPS information of the user to an internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual and receive updated GPS information of the selected individual therefrom, wherein exchange of the updated GPS information of the selected individual is to be effectuated via a software application installed on the internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual, render a moving map on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, dependent on at least one map retrieved from a server, and dependent at least in part on the updated GPS information of the selected individual, so as to be displayed on the internet-ready cell phone of the user in a manner that encompasses updated position of the selected individual, and automatically terminate the exchange of the GPS information between the user and the selected individual upon occurrence of a predetermined event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory storage media, said instructions when executed to cause at least one processor of an internet-ready cell phone belonging to a user to:
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install a software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, following internet-based download of the software application to the internet-ready cell phone of the user; in connection with launch of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, and contingent upon verification of currently valid payment status, enable a mutual location tracking and position-mapping function of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user; and as part of the mutual location tracking and position-mapping function, receive from a user interface of the internet-ready cell phone of the user, a user selection of an individual with whom position information will be exchanged, configure the internet-ready cell phone of the user so as to send updated GPS information of the user to an internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual and receive updated GPS information of the selected individual therefrom, wherein exchange of the updated GPS information of the selected individual is to be effectuated via a software application installed on the internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual, render a moving map on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, dependent on at least one map retrieved from a server, and dependent at least in part on the updated GPS information of the selected individual, so as to be displayed on the internet-ready cell phone of the user in a manner that encompasses updated position of the selected individual, and automatically terminate the exchange of the GPS information between the user and the selected individual upon occurrence of a predetermined event; wherein said instructions when executed are to cause the at least one processor to render the moving map on the internet-ready cell phone of the user in a manner that also depicts updated position of the user, the software application installed on the internet-ready cell phone of the user corresponds to a business application and is to be launched in connection with a request by the user for a desired service, and the user is a customer of a business corresponding to the business application, and the user selection is to be drawn from among a set of individuals associated with the business, dependent on equipment of the selected individual, wherein the selected individual is to be a provider of the requested service. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory storage media, said instructions when executed to cause at least one processor of an internet-ready cell phone belonging to a user to:
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install a software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, following internet-based download of the software application to the internet-ready cell phone of the user; in connection with launch of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, and contingent upon verification of currently valid payment status, enable a mutual location tracking and position-mapping function of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user; and as part of the mutual location tracking and position-mapping function, receive from a user interface of the internet-ready cell phone of the user, a user selection of an individual with whom position information will be exchanged, configure the internet-ready cell phone of the user so as to send updated GPS information of the user to an internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual and receive updated GPS information of the selected individual therefrom, wherein exchange of the updated GPS information of the selected individual is to be effectuated via a software application installed on the internet-ready cell phone of the selected individual, render a moving map on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, dependent on at least one map retrieved from a server, and dependent at least in part on the updated GPS information of the selected individual, so as to be displayed on the internet-ready cell phone of the user in a manner that encompasses updated position of the selected individual, and automatically terminate the exchange of the GPS information between the user and the selected individual upon occurrence of a predetermined event; wherein further said instructions, when executed, are to communicate with a server and store an activation code from the server on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, contingent on submission to the server of payment information associated with use of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user, upon launch, the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user is to check for validity of the activation code and is to enable the mutual location tracking and position-mapping function of the software application on the internet-ready cell phone of the user contingent on validity of the activation code, and said instructions when executed are to render the moving map on the internet-ready cell phone of the user in a manner that conveys direction of travel of the selected individual and path traveled.
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Specification