Systems and methods for locating cellular phones and security measures for the same

• US 20060252431A1
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 11,122,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• 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 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Systems and methods for locating a cellular phone are provided. More particularly, systems and methods for providing the location of a requested user'"'"'s cellular phone from a requesting user'"'"'s device (e.g., a second cellular phone) based on access rights defined by the requested user. Location descriptions may be provided at a multitude of levels. For example, if a cellular phone, or an identity associated to (e.g., logged into) a cellular phone, has been given access rights to a cell phone'"'"'s exact location for an indefinite amount of time, that cell phone can receive, on command, the exact location of the approved cell phone. Other levels of location information that can be granted include, for example, proximities, states, and countries.

Claims

1-2. -2. (canceled)

3. A method comprising:

determining a location of a first wireless device;

providing said location to a facility;

requesting said location of said first wireless device by a second wireless device;

providing a permission by said first wireless device for said second wireless device to access location information about said location;

storing said permission in said facility, wherein said facility is located remotely from said first and second wireless devices;

providing said location information about said location from said facility to said second wireless device in accordance with said permission; and

wherein said second wireless device uses said location information to display directions from said second wireless device to said first wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first and second wireless devices are wireless telephones.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said second wireless device displays a map with a location marker associated with said location.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining how fast said first wireless device is traveling.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining the direction said first wireless device is traveling.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising removing said permission, by said first wireless device, for said second wireless device to obtain said location.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said location is determined by a positioning system that receives signals from a plurality of positioning satellites, said location is updated by said positioning system, and said updated location is provided to said facility.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising alerting said second wireless device when said first wireless device is within a distance of second wireless device.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing a first dating matching profile by said first wireless device;

providing a second dating matching profile by said second wireless device;

obtaining a second location, wherein said second location is the location of said second wireless device; and

utilizing said location, said second location, said first dating matching profile, and said second dating matching profile to provide an alert.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein a second location is associated with said second wireless device and said location of said first wireless device is displayed relative to said second location of said second wireless device.

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the direction that said second wireless device is traveling in.

14. The method of claim 3, further comprising allowing said second wireless device to set location alerts associated with said first wireless device.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein said permission is assigned for a period of time.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising alerting said second wireless device when said first wireless device enters a geographic area.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein said facility stores a history of locations for said first wireless device.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein said server stores a history of locations for said first wireless device and said history is utilized to provide an approximate location of said first wireless device.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein said first wireless device is OFF when said location is provided to said second wireless device.

20. A method comprising:

determining a first location of a first wireless device;

determining a second location of a second wireless device;

providing said first and second locations to a server, wherein said server is located remotely from said first and second wireless devices;

requesting said first location by said second wireless device;

requesting said second location by said first wireless device;

providing a first permission by said first wireless device for said second wireless device to obtain said first location;

providing a second permission by said second wireless device for said first wireless device to obtain said second location;

storing said first and second permissions on said server;

providing said first location from said server to said second wireless device as a result of said first permission; and

providing said second location from said server to first wireless device as a result of said second permission.

21. A method comprising:

determining a first location of a first wireless device;

determining a second location of a second wireless device;

providing said first and second locations to a server, wherein said server is located remotely from said first and second wireless devices;

requesting said first location by said second wireless device;

requesting said second location by said first wireless device;

providing a first permission by said first wireless device for said second wireless device to obtain said first location;

providing a second permission by said second wireless device for said first wireless device to obtain said second location;

storing said first and second permissions on said server;

providing said first location from said server to said second wireless device as a result of said first permission;

providing said second location from said server to first wireless device as a result of said second permission;

providing updates of said first location to said second wireless device as a result of said first permission; and

providing updates of said second location to said first wireless device as a result of said second permission.