Method and apparatus for identifying and presenting location and location-related information

• US 9,723,442 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Lau, Chung, Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US14/874,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20160029175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 4554562, 4554563, 4554042, 455440, 34053913, 34082549, 340988, 34235701, 34235706, 34235707, 34235713, 342457, 701213, 701214, 701215
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Method and apparatus to analyze and present location information in an easy-to-digest manner are disclosed. In one embodiment, each piece of location information can include a piece of location-designating information and a piece of location-related information. Location-designating information is primarily for identifying location. Location-related information is information related to location-designating information. The location-designating information and the location-related information can be supplied by a mobile device. With the help of location-related information, each piece of location-designating information can be more accurately transformed into a label to help identify a location. The amount of location information can be reduced. All of the location-designating information pertaining to a given area can be consolidated into one piece of location-designating information related to the label. Consolidation of some of the information may not occur if a piece of location-related information changes by more than a preset value. To better present location information in an easy-to-digest manner, location information can be compared to standards. Presentation can be on a display with respect to a reference location.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a display;

a satellite-signal receiver in the mobile electronic device to receive signals related to location, with the signals from a plurality of satellites;

a wireless-signal sensor in the mobile electronic device to sense wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device;

a storage device in the mobile electronic device, the storage device to store at least instructions; and

a processor in the mobile electronic device, the processor being coupled to the display, the satellite-signal receiver, the wireless-signal sensor, and the storage device, the processor to execute at least a portion of the instructions,

wherein the instructions include instructions to;

determine a first location of the mobile electronic device based on at least analyzing data from a first measurement and analyzing data from a second measurement, wherein the first location of the mobile electronic device is associated with a first time,

present a symbol at a first position on a geographic area shown by the display, with the first position being based on the first location of the mobile electronic device, and

present a plurality of points of interest on the geographic area,

wherein the first measurement is from the satellite-signal receiver receiving signals related to location,

wherein the second measurement is from the wireless-signal sensor sensing Wi-Fi signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device, and

wherein whether at least a point of interest is presented on the geographic area depends on a distance between the first location and a specific location.

2. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present the symbol at a second position on the geographic area, and

wherein the second position on the geographic area is based on a second location of the mobile electronic device at a second time, the second time being later than the first time.

3. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present a picture that is associated with the first location.

4. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present a selectable symbol on the display that is selectable by a user to cause a webpage to be presented on the display.

5. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present data on the display with the data showing change in the location of the mobile electronic device as a function of time.

6. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present a picture that is associated with a location of the mobile electronic device and that is associated with a time.

7. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present a point of interest based on a preference of a user of the mobile electronic device.

8. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present comments entered by a user, with the comments associated with a location of the mobile electronic device.

9. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to also present a picture that is associated with the comments.

10. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the picture is associated with a time, and wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to present the time.

11. An article comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor in a mobile electronic device having a display, a satellite-signal receiver to receive signals related to location, with the signals from a plurality of satellites, and a wireless-signal sensor to sense wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device, wherein the instructions are executable to;

determine a first location of the mobile electronic device based on at least analyzing data from a first measurement and analyzing data from a second measurement, wherein the first location of the mobile electronic device is associated with a first time,

present a symbol at a first position on a geographic area shown by the display, with the first position on the geographic area shown by the display being based on the first location of the mobile electronic device, and

present a plurality of points of interest on the geographic area,

with the first measurement being from the satellite-signal receiver receiving signals related to location,

with the second measurement being from the wireless-signal sensor sensing Wi-Fi-signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device, and

with at least a point of interest being presented on the geographic area depending on a distance between the first location and a specific location.

12. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present the symbol at a second position on the geographic area, with the second position on the geographic area being based on a second location of the mobile electronic device at a second time, the second time being later than the first time.

13. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present a picture that is associated with the first location.

14. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present a selectable symbol on the display that is selectable by a user to cause a webpage to be presented on the display.

15. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present data on the display with the data showing change in the location of the mobile electronic device as a function of time.

16. An article as recited in claim 15, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present a picture that is associated with a location of the mobile electronic device and that is associated with a time.

17. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present a point of interest based on a preference of a user of the mobile electronic device.

18. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present comments entered by a user, with the comments associated with a location of the mobile electronic device.

19. An article as recited in claim 18, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to also present a picture that is associated with the comments.

20. An article as recited in claim 19, wherein the non-transitory storage medium comprises instructions executable to present a time, with the time associated with the picture.

21. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a satellite-signal receiver in the mobile electronic device to receive signals related to location, with the signals from a plurality of satellites;

a wireless-signal sensor in the mobile electronic device to sense wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device;

a storage device in the mobile electronic device, the storage device to store at least instructions; and

a processor in the mobile electronic device, the processor being coupled to the satellite-signal receiver, the wireless-signal sensor, and the storage device, the processor to execute at least a portion of the instructions,

wherein the instructions include instructions to determine a first location of the mobile electronic device based on at least analyzing data from a first measurement and analyzing data from a second measurement, to assist in presenting a symbol at a first position on a geographic area shown by a display,

with the first position being based on the first location of the mobile electronic device,

with the first location of the mobile electronic device being associated with a first time, and

with a plurality of points of interest also presented on the geographic area, wherein whether at least a point of interest is presented on the geographic area depends on a distance between the first location and a specific location,

wherein the mobile electronic device does not include the display, but is coupled to the display,

wherein the first measurement is from the satellite-signal receiver receiving signals related to location, and

wherein the second measurement is from the wireless-signal sensor sensing wireless signals with at least signals having a frequency that is above a Ghz generated in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device.

22. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist a picture that is associated with the first location to also be presented on the display.

23. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist a selectable symbol to also be presented on the display, with the symbol selectable by a user to cause a webpage to be presented on the display.

24. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist in presenting data on the display with the data showing change in the location of the mobile electronic device as a function of time.

25. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 24, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist a picture to also be presented, with the picture associated with a location of the mobile electronic device, and with the picture associated with a time.

26. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist a point of interest to also be presented on the display based on a preference of a user of the mobile electronic device.

27. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist comments entered by a user to also be presented on the display, with the comments associated with a location of the mobile electronic device.

28. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 27, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist a picture to also be presented on the display, with the picture associated with the comments.

29. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 28, wherein the picture is also associated with a time, and wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to assist to have the time also presented on the display.

30. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions in the storage device further include instructions to:

determine a second location of the mobile electronic device based on at least data from a third measurement and data from a fourth measurement, with the second location of the mobile electronic device being associated with a second time, which is later than the first time, wherein the third measurement is from the satellite-signal receiver receiving signals related to location, and the fourth measurement is from the wireless-signal sensor sensing wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device; and

present a symbol at a second position on the display, with the second position being based on the second location,

wherein the presenting regarding the first location and the presenting regarding the second location being ordered chronologically based on time, with the first location being presented first.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code tangibly stored thereon to facilitate electronically presenting information, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving a first location of a mobile electronic device, with the first location being associated with a first time;

computer program code for receiving image data associated with the first location,

wherein the first location is determined based on at least data from a first measurement and data from a second measurement,

wherein the first measurement is from a satellite-signal receiver in the mobile electronic device receiving signals related to location, and

wherein the second measurement is from a wireless-signal sensor in the mobile electronic device sensing wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device;

computer program code for facilitating electronically presenting at least a part of the image data associated with the first location together with at least a part of a representation of the first location or together with at least a part of a representation of the first time;

computer program code for receiving a second location of the mobile electronic device, with the second location being associated with a second time, which is later than the first time;

computer program code for receiving image data associated with the second location,

wherein the second location is determined based on at least data from a third measurement and data from a fourth measurement,

wherein the third measurement is from the satellite-signal receiver in the mobile electronic device receiving signals related to location, and

wherein the fourth measurement is from the wireless-signal sensor in the mobile electronic device sensing wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device; and

computer program code for facilitating electronically presenting at least a part of the image data associated with the second location together with at least a part of a representation of the second location or together with at least a part of a representation of the second time,

wherein the presenting of the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location, with its associated representation of the first location or the first time, and the presenting of the at least a part of the image data associated with the second location, with its associated representation of the second location or the second time, being ordered based on time.

32. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 31,

wherein the presenting ordered based on time is ordered chronologically based on time, with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location with its associated representation of the first location or first time being presented first, and

wherein said computer readable medium comprises computer program code for presenting, together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location, both the at least a part of the representation of the first location and the at least a part of the representation of the first time.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving comments entered by a user via the mobile electronic device; and

computer program code for facilitating electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the comments together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the comments comprise text.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving environmental information; and

computer program code for facilitating electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the environmental information together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

36. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 35, wherein the environmental information includes information regarding temperature in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein the environmental information is from an environmental sensor in the mobile electronic device.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 31,

wherein the presenting ordered based on time is ordered chronologically based on time, with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location with its associated representation of the first location or first time being presented first, and

wherein the mobile electronic device is a mobile phone.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving comments entered by a user via the mobile electronic device; and

computer program code for facilitating electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the comments together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

40. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 39, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving environmental information; and

computer program code for facilitating electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the environmental information together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 40,

wherein the comments comprise text,

wherein the environmental information is from an environmental sensor in the mobile electronic device, and

wherein the mobile electronic device is a mobile phone.

42. A computing system operable to facilitate electronically presenting information, the computing system comprising:

at least one computing device; and

at least one storage device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one computing device, cause the computing system to;

receive image data via a mobile electronic device, the image data being associated with a first location,

wherein the first location is associated with the mobile electronic device, and the first location is also associated with a first time,

wherein the first location depends on at least data from a first measurement and data from a second measurement,

wherein the first measurement is from a satellite-signal receiver in the mobile electronic device receiving signals related to location, and

wherein the second measurement is from a wireless-signal sensor in the mobile electronic device sensing wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device;

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of the image data associated with the first location together with at least a part of a representation of the first location or together with at least a part of a representation of the first time;

receive image data via the mobile electronic device, the image data being associated with a second location,

wherein the second location is associated with the mobile electronic device, the second location is also associated with a second time, which is later than the first time,

wherein the second location depends on at least data from a third measurement and data from a fourth measurement,

wherein the third measurement is from the satellite-signal receiver in the mobile electronic device receiving signals related to location, and

wherein the fourth measurement is from the wireless-signal sensor in the mobile electronic device sensing wireless signals in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of the image data associated with the second location together with at least a part of a representation of the second location or together with at least a part of a representation of the second time,

wherein the presenting of the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location, with its associated representation of the first location or the first time, and the presenting of the at least a part of the image data associated with the second location, with its associated representation of the second location or the second time, being ordered based on time.

43. A computing system as recited in claim 42,

wherein the presenting of the at least a part of the image data ordered based on time is ordered chronologically based on time, with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location with its associated representation of the first location or first time being presented first, and

wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to facilitate electronically presenting the at least a part of the representation of the first time together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

44. A computing system as recited in claim 43, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to facilitate electronically presenting the at least a part of the representation of the first location together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

45. A computing system as recited in claim 42, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to:

receive comments via the mobile electronic device, the comments being provided by a user of the mobile electronic device; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the comments together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

46. A computing system as recited in claim 45, wherein the comments comprise text.

47. A computing system as recited in claim 42, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to:

receive environmental information; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the environmental information together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

48. A computing system as recited in claim 47, wherein the environmental information includes information regarding temperature in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device associated with the first location.

49. A computing system as recited in claim 42, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to:

receive information regarding speed of the mobile electronic device via the mobile electronic device; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the information regarding speed together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

50. A computing system as recited in claim 42, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to:

receive information regarding altitude of the mobile electronic device via the mobile electronic device; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the information regarding altitude together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

51. A computing system as recited in claim 42, wherein the computing system comprises a remote server.

52. A computing system as recited in claim 43, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to:

receive comments via the mobile electronic device, the comments being provided by a user of the mobile electronic device; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the comments together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

53. A computing system as recited in claim 52, wherein the comments comprise text.

54. A computing system as recited in claim 53, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to facilitate electronically presenting the at least a part of the representation of the first location together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

55. A computing system as recited in claim 54, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to:

receive environmental information; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the environmental information together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.

56. A computing system as recited in claim 55, wherein the environmental information includes information regarding temperature in the vicinity of the mobile electronic device associated with the first location.

57. A computing system as recited in claim 54, wherein the at least one storage device stores instructions, when executed, to cause the computing system to:

receive information regarding speed of the mobile electronic device via the mobile electronic device; and

facilitate electronically presenting at least a part of a representation of the information regarding speed together with the at least a part of the image data associated with the first location.