US7203502B2 — System for providing location-based services in a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 321 words

In a system for providing telecommunication services between multiple mobile devices and multiple network access points, an apparatus comprising: at least one server computer coupled among at least some of the network access points; a database coupled with the server computer; and a location subsystem coupled with the server computer, wherein the server computer is configured to: receive a command via one of the network access points, wherein the command is based on a single command from a user's mobile device to locate a friend's mobile device among the multiple mobile devices within communication range of the multiple network access points; provide a request to the location subsystem to locate the friend's mobile device; receive a geographic location of the friend's mobile device from the location subsystem; return a location message to the user's mobile device, wherein the location message provides the geographic location of the friend's mobile device with a granularity of at least a neighborhood within a city; obtain a request from the user's mobile device for a meeting with a friend associated with the friend's mobile device at a meeting location, wherein the selected meeting location is near a current location of the friend's mobile device, near a current location of the user's mobile device, or at an approximate equidistant midpoint between the current locations of the user's and friend's mobile devices; provide another request to the location subsystem to locate the user's mobile device; receive a geographic location of the user's mobile device from the location subsystem; provide, to the user's mobile device, a list of at least two points of interest near to the selected meeting location; and responsive to the meeting request, determine a local time of the user's or friend's mobile devices based on the determined geographic location of the user's and friend's mobile devices or a preexisting data record stored in the database associated with each of the user's and friend's mobile devices.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 321 words

In a system for providing telecommunication services between multiple mobile devices and multiple network access points, an apparatus comprising: at least one server computer coupled among at least some of the network access points; a database coupled with the server computer; and a location subsystem coupled with the server computer, wherein the server computer is configured to: receive a command via one of the network access points, wherein the command is based on a single command from a user's mobile device to locate a friend's mobile device among the multiple mobile devices within communication range of the multiple network access points; provide a request to the location subsystem to locate the friend's mobile device; receive a geographic location of the friend's mobile device from the location subsystem; return a location message to the user's mobile device, wherein the location message provides the geographic location of the friend's mobile device with a granularity of at least a neighborhood within a city; obtain a request from the user's mobile device for a meeting with a friend associated with the friend's mobile device at a meeting location, wherein the selected meeting location is near a current location of the friend's mobile device, near a current location of the user's mobile device, or at an approximate equidistant midpoint between the current locations of the user's and friend's mobile devices; provide another request to the location subsystem to locate the user's mobile device; receive a geographic location of the user's mobile device from the location subsystem; provide, to the user's mobile device, a list of at least two points of interest near to the selected meeting location; and responsive to the meeting request, determine a local time of the user's or friend's mobile devices based on the determined geographic location of the user's and friend's mobile devices or a preexisting data record stored in the database associated with each of the user's and friend's mobile devices.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 199 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the location subsystem includes a mobile device locator subsystem and a location based services subsystem coupled via a private network with the server computer, wherein the mobile device locator subsystem provides latitude and longitude coordinates of the friend's mobile device based on the received request, and wherein the location based services subsystem provides the geographic location based on the provided latitude and longitude of the friend's mobile device, and wherein the server computer is further configured to: before receiving the single command, authenticate the user for access, and if authenticated, provide a list of friends to the user's mobile device, wherein the list of friends includes those friends who have given the user permission to locate them, and wherein the list of friends is stored in the database; provide a text message to the friend mobile device that the user is attempting to locate the friend; and, before obtaining the request from the user mobile device for the meeting, provide a list of options to the user mobile device, wherein the list of options include: call the friend mobile device, send a text message to the friend mobile device or meet the friend.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 143 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the meeting location is the approximate equidistant midpoint, and wherein the server computer is further configured to: calculate the approximate equidistant midpoint based on the geographic location of the friend's and user's mobile devices; before providing the list of points of interest near to the meeting location, provide to the user's mobile device choices of points of interest, including restaurants, coffee shops, and bars; receive from the user's mobile device a selected point of interest; receive an RSVP (reply or response) message from the friend's mobile device and forward at least a related RSVP (reply or response) message to the user's mobile device; obtain directions from at least the geographic location of the user's mobile device to the selected point of interest; and provide to the user's mobile device the directions to the selected point of interest.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 93 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server computer is further configured to: receive a from-address from the user's mobile device; determine a local time associated with the received from-address; adjust a time of the meeting based on the determined local time; and determine a local time of the friend's mobile device based at least in part on a zip code associated with a home location of the friend's mobile device, wherein the zip code is stored in the database in a record associated with an account associated with the friend's mobile device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 154 words

In a system for providing wireless telecommunication services to mobile devices, a method comprising: obtaining a request from a first mobile device for a meeting with a person associated with a second mobile device, wherein the obtaining the request includes receiving a request for a meeting at an approximate equidistant midpoint between the current locations of the first and second mobile devices; and indicating to the first mobile device: 1) a list of options of midpoint neighborhoods or cites, 2) that the first and second mobile devices are in a same city or neighborhood, or 3) that the first and second mobile devices are nearby or in a same cell site automatically determining locations of the first or second mobile devices; and automatically providing information to at least the first or second mobile device regarding a meeting location based at least in part on the determined location of the first or second mobile device.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 154 words

In a system for providing wireless telecommunication services to mobile devices, a method comprising: obtaining a request from a first mobile device for a meeting with a person associated with a second mobile device, wherein the obtaining the request includes receiving a request for a meeting at an approximate equidistant midpoint between the current locations of the first and second mobile devices; and indicating to the first mobile device: 1) a list of options of midpoint neighborhoods or cites, 2) that the first and second mobile devices are in a same city or neighborhood, or 3) that the first and second mobile devices are nearby or in a same cell site automatically determining locations of the first or second mobile devices; and automatically providing information to at least the first or second mobile device regarding a meeting location based at least in part on the determined location of the first or second mobile device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving an RSVP (reply or response) message from the second mobile device; and forwarding a signal related to the RSVP (reply or response) message to the first mobile device.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the information regarding a meeting location comprises: a list of restaurants, coffee shops, bars/pubs or bookstores.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the information regarding a meeting location comprises: a list of hospitals, pharmacies, fire departments or healthcare clinics.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the information regarding a meeting location comprises: a list of cities, neighborhoods, sites or parks.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the information regarding a meeting location comprises: a list of geographic points of interest.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving a search radius parameter from the first or second mobile devices; and providing a list of points of interest within the search radius parameter.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the information regarding a meeting location first comprises: a list of cities, neighborhoods or sites; and after receiving a selected city, neighborhood or site, providing a list of points of interest associated with the selected city, neighborhood or site.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving a request for a meeting near a current location of the first mobile device, near a current location of the second mobile device, or at an approximate equidistant midpoint between the current locations of the first and second mobile devices.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: obtaining a request from the first mobile device for a meeting with at least a user of a third mobile device; automatically determining a location of the third mobile device; calculating an approximate equidistant midpoint based on the geographic locations of the first, second and third mobile devices; and automatically coordinating an approximately concurrent meeting associated with the first, second and third mobile devices.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: obtaining a request from the first mobile device for a meeting with at least a user of a third mobile device; and automatically coordinating an approximately concurrent meeting associated with the first, second and third mobile devices.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing a notice to the first mobile device when the second mobile device is near to the meeting location.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing a notice to the first mobile device when the second mobile device is too far.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: managing states of the meeting between the first and second mobile devices via a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) session.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing a first of four sequential screens of directions to the first or second mobile devices; receiving a request for a fourth screen of directions; and providing the fourth screen of directions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: obtaining locations of at least two mobile devices associated with at least two different individuals who have given permission to be located; and providing to the first mobile device a list of the at two individuals with the obtained locations of the associated two mobile devices.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a screen for entering a desired starting address associated with geographic directions; receiving from the first mobile device at least two characters associated with a first two characters of the desired starting address; and automatically providing a full, multi-character address as a possible match for the desired starting address.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a screen for entering a desired starting address associated with geographic directions.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a starting address for geographic directions; receiving a change signal from the first mobile device; and in response to the change signal, providing a screen for entering a desired new starting address associated with the directions.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: faxing a map or textual directions to the meeting location.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: sending, by an electronic mail utility, textual or graphical directions to the meeting location.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first or second mobile devices audible directions to the meeting location.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first or second mobile devices an address of the meeting location and a closest cross-street associated with the address.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing a notice to the first mobile device when the second mobile device is currently near to a location of the first mobile device.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a screen comprising an option to place a call to the second mobile device; and initiating the call after receiving an appropriate input from the first mobile device.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a screen comprising an option to send a Short Message Service (SMS) message to the second mobile device; and initiating the SMS message transfer after receiving an appropriate input from the first mobile device.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a screen comprising an option to send an electronic mail message to the second mobile device; and initiating an electronic mail message transfer after receiving an appropriate input from the first mobile device.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a screen comprising an option to send a multimedia message to the second mobile device; and initiating transfer of a multimedia message after receiving an appropriate input from the first mobile device.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving a request from the first mobile device to not receive short message service (SMS) notifications.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving data from the first mobile device; and determining a local time associated with the first mobile device based on the received data.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: determining local times of the first and second mobile devices; and coordinating the requested meeting based on the determined local times.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: determining a geographic location of the first mobile device; and determining a local time associated with the geographic location of the first mobile device.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: determining a local time of the first or second mobile devices; and determining when to send a communication to the first or second mobile device based on the determined local time.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: determining a current local time of the first mobile device based on a zip code associated with a registered home location of the first mobile device.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: creating a subscriber profile record associated with a user of the first mobile device; and determining a local time associated with the first mobile device based on the profile.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: obtaining data from a calendaring application associated with a user of the first mobile device; and determining a local time associated with the first mobile device based on the data.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 99 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: authenticating the first mobile device to receive location information associated with the second mobile device; providing to the first mobile device a top level displayable menu having, as a menu choice, a locate friend choice; providing to the first mobile device a displayable list of friends to locate after receiving from the first mobile device the menu choice to locate a friend; and providing a geographic location of the second mobile device after receiving from the first mobile device a menu choice selecting a friend associated with the second mobile device.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing to the first mobile device a displayable list of individuals to locate; and providing a geographic location of the second mobile device after receiving from the first mobile device a menu choice selecting a friend associated with the second mobile device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-04-09	2010-10-09	2011-04-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-04-09	2014-10-09	2015-04-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-04-09	2018-10-09	2019-04-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for providing location-based services in a wireless network, such as locating individuals and coordinating meetings

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