Method and apparatus for sending, retrieving, and planning location relevant information

• US 9,582,177 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheha, Michael A., Sheha, Angie, Petilli, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): ULRICH, NICHOLAS S
• Application Number:
  US14/132,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sending and retrieving location relevant information to a user by selecting and designating a point of interest that is displayed on a graphical user interface and sending the location information associated with that point of interest to a receiver that is also selected using the graphical user interface. The location relevant information may also include mapped routes, waypoints, geo-fenced areas, moving vehicles etc. Updated location relevant information may also be continuously sent to the user while generating updated mapping information on the graphical user interface. The present invention may be practiced by using communication devices such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistance, in-vehicle navigation systems, or a mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system, comprising:

establishing a text message window on a first wireless phone;

activating, at said first wireless phone a request for location information relating to a second wireless phone in response to user input at a graphical user interface (GUI);

receiving, at said first wireless phone, authorized location information relating to said second wireless phone; and

transferring, from said first wireless phone, said location information of said first wireless phone to said second wireless phone over said text messaging system in response user input corresponding to a drag-and-drop of a first icon of said first wireless phone onto a second icon of said second wireless phone in said GUI.

2. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 1, wherein said location information of said first wireless phone comprises:

a navigation route based on a current location of said second wireless device.

3. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2, wherein said navigation route includes:

a current location of said first wireless device.

4. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2, wherein said navigation route comprises:

a route origin; and

a route destination.

5. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2, wherein said navigation route comprises:

a route origin;

a route destination; and

all turn points.

6. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2, wherein said navigation route comprises:

a route origin;

a route destination;

all turn points; and

a map database identifier.

7. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2, wherein said navigation route comprises:

a route origin;

a route destination;

all turn points; and

user preferences.

8. A first wireless phone comprising:

a display to provide user output;

a non-transitory memory to store machine readable instructions; and

one or more processors to access the memory and execute the machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions comprising a text message system comprising;

an active text message window on said display of said first wireless phone;

a virtual button in a graphical user interface (GUI) of said text message system to activate a request communication for location information relating to a second wireless phone in response to actuation of said virtual button, wherein said GUI provides output via said display;

wherein said text messaging system;

receives authorized location information relating to said second wireless phone in response to said request communication;

displays a first graphical icon of said first wireless phone in said GUI;

displays a second graphical icon of said second wireless phone in said GUI; and

transmits location information relating to said first wireless phone, to said second wireless phone, upon user-cursored overlap of said first graphical icon onto said second graphical icon in said GUI.

9. The first wireless phone of claim 8, wherein said request communication is transmitted to said second wireless phone.

10. The first wireless phone of claim 8, wherein said request communication is transmitted to a physical network positioning server.

11. The first wireless phone of claim 8, wherein said location information relating to said first wireless phone comprises:

a navigation route based on a current location of said second wireless device.

12. The first wireless phone of claim 11, wherein said navigation route includes:

a current location of said first wireless device.

13. The first wireless phone of claim 11, wherein said navigation route includes:

a route origin; and

a route destination.

14. The first wireless phone of claim 11, wherein said navigation route includes:

a route origin;

a route destination; and

all turn points.

15. The first wireless phone of claim 11, wherein said navigation route includes:

a route origin;

a route destination;

all turn points; and

a map database identifier.

16. The first wireless phone of claim 11, wherein said navigation route includes:

a route origin;

a route destination;

all turn points; and

user preferences.