SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATING CELLULAR PHONES AND SECURITY MEASURES FOR THE SAME

• US 20080039059A1
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Mullen Industries LLC
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 11,234,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• 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:

creating on a first wireless telephonic device a list including a plurality of users, wherein each one of said plurality of users is associated to a different one of a plurality of wireless telephonic devices.

allowing transmission of location information associated to said first wireless telephonic device to said list, wherein said allowance is provided to a remote server;

receiving at said remote server said location information; and

providing said location information to at least one of said plurality of users on said list by providing said location information to said different wireless telephonic device associated to the provided at least one users.

4. A method comprising:

requesting to be alerted on a first wireless device when a second wireless device enters a first area;

obtaining a location of said second wireless device;

determining whether said location is in said first area;

determining whether said second wireless device has provided said first wireless device with permission to obtain information associated with said location of said second wireless device; and

providing an alert to said first wireless device if said location is in said first area and if said second wireless device has provided said first wireless device with permission to obtain information associated with said location of said second wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a positioning system is utilized to provide said location.

6. A system comprising:

a first wireless telephone;

a second wireless telephone; and

a server located remotely from said first and second wireless telephones, wherein said server receives a first location representative of the location of said first wireless telephone, said server receives a second location representative of the location of said second wireless telephone, said server receives a first permission from said first wireless telephone for said second wireless telephone to receive location information associated with said first location, and said server sends said location information to said second wireless telephone after verifying said first permission.

7. A system comprising:

a first wireless telephone;

a stationary computer, wherein said stationary computer receives manual input to identify a user profile; and

a server located remotely from said first and second wireless telephones, wherein said server receives a first location representative of the location of said first wireless telephone, said server receives a first permission from said first wireless telephone for said user profile to receive location information associated with said first location, and said server sends said location information to said stationary computer after verifying said first permission and identifying said user profile associated with said stationary computer.

8. A method comprising:

providing a first level of access for information associated with a location of a first wireless device to a second wireless device by said first wireless device;

providing a second level of access for information associated with said location to a third wireless device by said first wireless device;

storing said first level of access and said second level of access on a remote server, wherein said first and second level of access are different; and

providing said information to said second wireless device in accordance with said first level of access; and

providing said information to said third wireless device in accordance with said second level of access.

9. A method comprising:

allowing a device to locate a first wireless device in accordance with access information stored on a remote server by said first wireless device;

locating said first wireless device a plurality of times and determining a travel speed based on said locating;

utilizing said travel speed to determine an arrival time to a destination; and

providing said arrival time to said device.

10. A method comprising:

allowing a device to locate a plurality of wireless devices based on access information provided by said plurality of wireless devices, wherein said access information is stored on a remote server; and

displaying the location of said plurality of wireless devices on a map on said device.

11. A method comprising:

allowing a device to locate a plurality of wireless devices based on access information provided by said plurality of wireless devices, wherein said access information is stored on a remote server; and

finding the closest one of said plurality of wireless devices to said device.

12. A method comprising:

providing a display screen on a first wireless telephonic device for said first wireless telephonic device to request the location of a different wireless device, wherein a telephone number is operable to be entered on said display screen;

entering said telephone number on said display screen, wherein said telephone number is associated with said different wireless device;

requesting on said different wireless device that said different wireless device provides access information for said first wireless telephonic device; and

storing said access information on a remote server.

13. A method comprising:

determining whether a looking for profile of a first dating service user matches a profile of a second dating service user;

alerting said first dating service user of said second dating service user, wherein a first location of a first wireless telephonic device of said first dating service user and a second location of said second wireless telephonic device of said second service user are utilized in determining to provide said alert and said first and second locations are stored on a remote server; and

requesting access to a form of communication between said first and second dating service users

14. A method comprising:

determining the location of a first wireless device by a second wireless device in accordance with location access information stored on a remote server for said second wireless device by said first wireless device; and

utilizing the location of said second wireless device and the location of said first wireless device to determine the distance between said first and second wireless devices, wherein said distance is displayed on said second wireless device.

15. A method comprising:

determining the location of a first wireless device by a second wireless device in accordance with location access information stored on a remote server for said second wireless device by said first wireless device; and

utilizing the location of said second wireless device and said first wireless device to determine the shortest path between said first and second wireless devices, wherein said shortest path is displayed on said second wireless device.

16. A method comprising:

determining the location of a first wireless device by a second device in accordance with location access information stored on a remote server for said second device by said first wireless device;

determining that the location of a first wireless device is on a highway;

determining a route for a destination utilizing said determination that the location of a first wireless device is on said highway; and

determining an arrival time for said destination utilizing said determined route.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining said route further utilizes the direction of travel of said first wireless device.

18. A method comprising:

providing a list of users on a first wireless telephonic device;

providing a highlight window for selecting one of said list of users on said first wireless telephonic device;

selecting, using said highlight window, one of said users from said list of users;

an

providing a display screen on said first wireless device for selecting location access rights for said selected user with respect to the location of said first wireless telephonic device.

19. A method comprising:

providing a display screen on a first device for selecting a plurality of location alerts for a second wireless device; and

alerting said device in accordance with said selected location alert.

20. A method comprising:

utilizing a password entered on a first device to determine an identity of said first device;

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

utilizing said identity to determine whether said first device is allowed to access the location of said second wireless telephonic device, wherein said access is provided by said second device and is stored remotely; and

determining whether to provide the location of said second wireless telephonic device to said first device based on said access.