Formation of wireless device location sharing group
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user;
forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and
wherein the location-sharing group is formed bystoring first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination,storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user,obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, andsending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; and
wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group;
wherein the GPS-enabled wireless device further comprises a software application that can be selectively-launched by the user;
wherein the first input and the second input is selectively-entered by the user via the software application; and
wherein storing the first input and storing the second input are performed responsive to receipt of the first input and the second input from a port address for the GPS-enabled wireless device, the port address specific to the software application.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.
2778 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and wherein the location-sharing group is formed by storing first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and sending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; and wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein the GPS-enabled wireless device further comprises a software application that can be selectively-launched by the user; wherein the first input and the second input is selectively-entered by the user via the software application; and wherein storing the first input and storing the second input are performed responsive to receipt of the first input and the second input from a port address for the GPS-enabled wireless device, the port address specific to the software application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 23)
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8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and wherein the location-sharing group is formed by storing first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and sending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein the location-sharing group is further formed by storing an expiration time in computer-accessible memory; and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises receiving updated GPS coordinates from the GPS-enabled wireless device on an intermittent basis, intermittently sending the updated GPS coordinates via the WAN to the cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input, to thereby update location sharing, and disabling update of location sharing with the cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input when the expiration time is reached.
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9. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and wherein the location-sharing group is formed by storing first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and sending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises storing third input, the third input comprising user-specified text, and associating the third input with at least one of the location or the destination; and wherein sending further comprises sending the user-specified text via the WAN to the cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input, for display thereon.
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10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and wherein the location-sharing group is formed by storing first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and sending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises storing third input, the third input comprising a user-specified photo, and associating the third input with at least one of the location or the destination; and wherein sending further comprises sending the user-specified photo via the WAN to the cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input, for display thereon.
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11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and wherein the location-sharing group is formed by storing first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and sending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises causing the cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input to display an option to request the voice communication with the GPS-enabled wireless device and, responsive to selection of said option, initiating the voice communication over a cellular network.
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12. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and wherein the location-sharing group is formed by storing first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and sending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; and wherein the method further comprises determining that a particular cellular wireless device requires additional software to execute a command associated with the location sharing group, causing download to the particular cellular wireless device of the additional software for installation on to the particular cellular wireless device, and following installation of the additional software onto the particular cellular wireless device, causing the additional software to execute the command.
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13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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associating a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; forming a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person; and wherein the location-sharing group is formed by storing first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, storing second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtaining from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and sending the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein a cellular wireless device respective to at least one contact identified by the second input is to use a software application that can be selectively-launched by the at least one contact; and wherein sending comprises sending the location and destination to a port address specific to the software application for each contact identified by the second input.
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14. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory, machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one processor to:
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associate a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; and form a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person, by causing the at least one processor to store, in processor-accessible storage, first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, store, in processor-accessible storage, second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtain from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and send the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein the GPS-enabled wireless device further comprises a software application that can be selectively-launched by the user; wherein the first input and the second input is selectively-entered by the user via the software application; and wherein the instructions, when executed, are further to cause the at least one processor to store the first input and store the second input in processor-accessible storage, responsive to receipt of the first input and the second input from a port address for the GPS-enabled wireless device, the port address being specific to the software application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory, machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one processor to:
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associate a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; and form a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person, by causing the at least one processor to store, in processor-accessible storage, first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, store, in processor-accessible storage, second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtain from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and send the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein the location-sharing group is further formed by storing an expiration time in computer-accessible memory; and wherein the instructions, when executed, are further to cause the at least one processor to receive updated GPS coordinates from the GPS-enabled wireless device on an intermittent basis, intermittently send the updated GPS coordinates via the WAN to the cellular wireless device respective to each other contact identified by the second input, to thereby update location sharing, and disable update of location sharing with the cellular wireless device respective to each other contact identified by the second input when the expiration time is reached.
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22. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory, machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one processor to:
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associate a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; and form a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person, by causing the at least one processor to store, in processor-accessible storage, first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, store, in processor-accessible storage, second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtain from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and send the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; and wherein the instructions, when executed, are further to cause the at least one processor to store third input in processor-accessible storage, the third input comprising user-specified text, and associate the third input with at least one of the location or the destination, and send the user-specified text via the WAN to the cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input, for display thereon.
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24. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory, machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one processor to:
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associate a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; and form a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person, by causing the at least one processor to store, in processor-accessible storage, first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, store, in processor-accessible storage, second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtain from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and send the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; and wherein the instructions, when executed, are further to cause the cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input to display an option to request the voice communication with the GPS-enabled wireless device and to further cause, responsive to selection of said option, initiation of the voice communication over a cellular network.
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25. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory, machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one processor to:
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associate a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; and form a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person, by causing the at least one processor to store, in processor-accessible storage, first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, store, in processor-accessible storage, second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtain from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and send the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; and wherein the instructions, when executed, are further to cause the at least one processor to determine that a particular cellular wireless device requires additional software to execute a command associated with the location sharing group, cause download to the particular cellular wireless device of the additional software for installation on to the particular cellular wireless device, and cause, following installation of the additional software onto the particular cellular wireless device, the additional software to execute the command.
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26. An apparatus comprising instructions stored on non-transitory, machine-readable media, the instructions when executed to cause at least one processor to:
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associate a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled wireless device with a user; and form a location-sharing group comprising the user and at least one other person, by causing the at least one processor to store, in processor-accessible storage, first input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying a destination, store, in processor-accessible storage, second input received from the GPS-enabled wireless device identifying selection of the at least one other contact from a predetermined list of contacts personal to the user, obtain from the GPS-enabled wireless device a location associated with the GPS-enabled wireless device, and send the location and destination via a wide area network (WAN) to a cellular wireless device respective to each contact identified by the second input; wherein the location and destination are not sent to contacts in the predetermined list which have not been selected by the user to be part of the location-sharing group; wherein a cellular wireless device respective to at least one contact identified by the second input is to use a software application that can be selectively-launched by the at least one contact; and wherein the instructions, when executed, are further to cause the at least one processor to send the location and destination to a port address specific to the software application for each contact identified by the second input.
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Specification