Location sensitive messaging

• US 8,364,170 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Longhorn Acquisition LLC (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Longhorn Acquisition LLC (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Lohtia, Sunit, Astroth, Joseph H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US12/929,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20110159887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Methods including computer program products for receiving a request from a first device, the request incorporating a message. One or more users from a first set of one or more users are selected where each of the selected one or more users is associated with a second device that is in a proximity to a current location of the first device. The message and the current location of the first device are sent to each of the second devices associated with the selected one or more users.

Claims

1. A method of communicating location information, comprising:

receiving, from a first wireless device, a first data message;

obtaining a proximity zone surrounding a current location associated with said first wireless device;

selecting one or more user IDs from a first set of one or more user IDs, said selected one or more user IDs being associated with at least one second wireless device that is within said proximity zone;

automatically appending said current location information associated with said first wireless device to said first data message;

transmitting said first data message comprising said current location information associated with said first wireless device to said at least one second wireless device;

receiving, said at least one second wireless device, a second data message comprising a request to transmit current location associated with said at least one second wireless device, to said first wireless device; and

transmitting current location associated with said at least one second wireless device to said first wireless device.

2. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said first data message is at least one of a text message, an image message, a voice message, and a streaming media message.

3. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said first data message specifies said proximity zone.

4. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said received first data message requests said first set of one or more user IDs.

5. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said first set of one or more user IDs is part of at least one of a buddy list, a chat list and a Short Message Service (SMS) group.

6. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a geographic reference point based on said current location of said first wireless device; and

incorporating said geographic reference point into said current location of said first wireless device.

7. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message further includes at least one of an image, a voice, sound, and streamed media.

8. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a route from said first wireless device to said at least one second wireless device; and

providing said route to said first wireless device.

9. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said first data message includes a code indicating at least one of said proximity zone and said first set of one or more user IDs.

10. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said first data message identifies said first set of one or more user IDs.

11. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

said first data message is comprised of at least one of an image, a voice, sound, and streamed media.

12. The method of communicating location information according to claim 1, wherein:

determining a route from said at least one second wireless device to said first wireless device; and

providing said route to said second wireless device.

13. An apparatus for communicating location information, comprising:

a receiver to receive, from a first wireless device, a first data message and to receive, from a second wireless device, a second data message comprising a request to transmit current location associated with said second wireless device to said first wireless device;

an obtainer to obtain a proximity zone surrounding a current location associated with said first wireless device;

a selector to select one or more user IDs from a first set of one or more user IDs, said selected one or more user IDs being associated with said second wireless device that is within said proximity zone;

an appender to automatically append said current location information associated with said first wireless device to said first data message; and

a transmitter to transmit said first data message comprising said current location information to said second wireless device, and to transmit current location associated with said second wireless device to said first wireless device.

14. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said first data message is at least one of a text message, an image message, a voice message, and a streaming media message.

15. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said first data message specifies said proximity zone.

16. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said received first data message requests said first set of one or more user IDs.

17. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said first set of one or more user IDs is part of at least one of a buddy list, a chat list and a Short Message Service (SMS) group.

18. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, further comprising:

a determiner to determine a geographic reference point based on said current location of said first wireless device; and

an incorporator to incorporate said geographic reference point into said current location of said first wireless device.

19. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said first data message further includes at least one of an image, a voice, sound, and streamed media.

20. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, further comprising:

a determiner to determine a route from said first wireless device to said second wireless device; and

a provider to provide said route to said first wireless device.

21. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said text message includes a code indicating at least one of said proximity zone and said first set of one or more user IDs.

22. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said first data message identifies said first set of one or more user IDs.

23. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

said first data message is comprised of at least one of an image, a voice, sound, and streamed media.

24. The apparatus for communicating location information according to claim 13, wherein:

a determiner to determine a route from said at least one second wireless device to said first wireless device; and

a provider to provide said route to said second wireless device.