Methods, systems and apparatuses for the formation and tracking of location sharing groups
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more data processing apparatuses, the method comprising:
- detecting formation of a location-sharing group between two or more mobile devices, wherein the formation of the location-sharing group is dependent on receipt of a request to form the location-sharing group from a first one of the two or more mobile devices, and a specification from a user of the first one of the two or more mobile devices which selects each additional mobile device of the two or more mobile devices which is to participate in the location-sharing group from a subscriber list;
identifying a geographic area corresponding to an outline which encompasses the current geographic locations of two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group;
tracking changes in the geographic area dependent on changes in the outline,by receiving global positioning system (GPS) coordinates from the respective two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, processing said GPS coordinates to identify the current geographic locations of the respective two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, and reshaping the outline in a manner that corresponds to changes represented by the received GPS coordinates; and
periodically updating a map to correspond to the tracked changes in the geographic area, and transmitting the updated map via a wide area network (WAN) to each of the two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, for electronic display thereon as a moving map which depicts location of each of the two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group.
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Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to methods, systems and apparatuses enabling location sharing group formation and the tracking of group members. Groups may be bound by a geographical area that circumscribes the boundary of a location sharing group. Active members of a location sharing group may become active based on their relative location to the geographical area defining the location sharing group. The geographical area may be static, mobile or change size and shape based on parameters forming the location sharing group. Alerts may be generated informing members of the location sharing group of the entry or exit of members from the location sharing group. Active members of a location sharing group may share location information with other members of the location sharing group. A radius or other shape may identify a geographical area for location sharing between members.
2796 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more data processing apparatuses, the method comprising:
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detecting formation of a location-sharing group between two or more mobile devices, wherein the formation of the location-sharing group is dependent on receipt of a request to form the location-sharing group from a first one of the two or more mobile devices, and a specification from a user of the first one of the two or more mobile devices which selects each additional mobile device of the two or more mobile devices which is to participate in the location-sharing group from a subscriber list; identifying a geographic area corresponding to an outline which encompasses the current geographic locations of two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group; tracking changes in the geographic area dependent on changes in the outline, by receiving global positioning system (GPS) coordinates from the respective two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, processing said GPS coordinates to identify the current geographic locations of the respective two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, and reshaping the outline in a manner that corresponds to changes represented by the received GPS coordinates; and periodically updating a map to correspond to the tracked changes in the geographic area, and transmitting the updated map via a wide area network (WAN) to each of the two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, for electronic display thereon as a moving map which depicts location of each of the two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising detecting formation of a location-sharing group between two or more mobile devices, wherein the formation of the location-sharing group is dependent on receipt of a request to form the location-sharing group from a first one of the two or more mobile devices, and a specification from a user of the first one of the two or more mobile devices which selects each additional mobile device of the two or more mobile devices which is to participate in the location-sharing group from a subscriber list, identifying a geographic area corresponding to an outline which encompasses the current geographic locations of two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, tracking changes in the geographic area dependent on changes in the outline, by receiving global positioning system (GPS) coordinates from the respective two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, and processing said GPS coordinates to identify the current geographic locations of the respective two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, and reshaping the outline in a manner that corresponds to changes represented by the received GPS coordinates, and periodically updating a map to correspond to the tracked changes in the geographic area, and transmitting the updated map via a wide area network (WAN) to each of the two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group, for electronic display thereon as a moving map which depicts location of each of the two or more mobile devices in the location-sharing group. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification