SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FRIEND'S LOCATION INFORMATION

• US 20100062794A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Han, Jong Kook
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A system and method of providing friend location information is provided. More particularly, when a friend appears in a region desired by a user, it is possible to track a travel route of the friend and display for the user a map where the travel route is marked and thereby enable the user to understand preferred places of the friend.

Claims

1. A system for providing friend location information, the system comprising:

a friend information receiving unit configured to receive from a user a mobile phone number of a friend;

a region selection unit configured to receive from the user a selection of a region to verify a travel route of the friend;

a location information receiving unit configured to receive the friend location information based on the mobile phone number of the friend;

a location information storage unit configured to store in a database the travel route of the friend in the region when a location of the friend is included in the region; and

a location information provider configured to provide the user with a map of the region by referring to the database, wherein the map of the region includes the travel route of the friend.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information provider provides

the user with current location information of the friend.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information receiving unit further comprises:

a distance calculation unit configured to receive user location information and calculate a distance between the friend and the user by referring to the user location information and the friend location information.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the location information provider provides

the user with the calculated distance between the friend and the user.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a setup receiving unit configured to receive from the user an approach notification setup,

wherein the location information provider determines whether the calculated distance between the friend and the user is within a predetermined distance and informs the user of an approach of the friend when the approach notification setup is received.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the location information provider transmits a short message service (SMS) message to a mobile phone of the user to inform that the friend is approaching the user.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a setup receiving unit configured to receive from the user a separation notification setup,

wherein the location information provider determines whether the calculated distance between the friend and the user is beyond a predetermined distance and informs the user of separation from the friend when the separation notification setup is received.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the location information provider transmits an SMS message to a mobile phone of the user to inform that the friend is becoming separated from the user.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the location information storage unit stores the travel route of the friend when the calculated distance between the friend and the user is within a predetermined distance.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the location information storage unit stores in the database the travel route of the friend when the calculated distance between the friend and the user is beyond a predetermined distance.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information storage unit stores in the database the travel route of the friend in the region when the location of the friend is included in the region by verifying the location of the friend for each predetermined period.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period is input from the user.

13. A method of providing friend location information, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a mobile phone number of a friend;

receiving from the user a selection of a region to verify a travel route of the friend;

receiving the friend location information based on the mobile phone number of the friend;

storing in a database the travel route of the friend in the region when a location of the friend is included in the region; and

providing the user with a map of the region by referring to the database wherein the map of the region includes the travel route of the friend.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing the user with current location information of the friend.

16. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing the method according to claim 13.

15. (canceled)