SECURE AND PRIVATE LOCATION SHARING FOR LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a location sharing network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other trusted users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. A security component allows users to establish trusted relationships by requiring mutual consent and disclosure of identifier and phone number information for each trusted user. Location information can be blocked among trusted users or obfuscated on the display of the mobile devices of the other users.
27 Citations
46 Claims
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1-31. -31. (canceled)
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32. A location-aware mobile communication device system comprising:
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a registration device allowing a first user and second user to register for a location sharing service using a respective location-aware mobile device; a configuration device allowing the first user to invite the second user to establish a trusted relationship on a server computer coupled to each of the first and second user; a location sharing device displaying a location of the first user on the mobile device of the second user, when the trusted relationship has been established, and the first user has enabled location display of the first user'"'"'s respective mobile device on the mobile device of the second user. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method comprising:
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determining the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a first user within an area; displaying a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device; establishing a trusted friend relationship between the first user and a second user upon an invitation request from the first user; and transmitting a validation message to the first user and the second user, the validation message including an alert that the location sharing feature is enabled, and requiring an affirmative response from each of the first user and second user to continue to enable the location sharing feature. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification