Patent · US Active

Ad hoc formation and tracking of location-sharing groups

US9369847B2 · kind B2 · utility

79Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 2012
Grant dateJun 14, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 1, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W84/12
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for forming and tracking a location-sharing group are disclosed. The location-sharing group can be performed ad hoc without the assistance of a central server. A geofence can be defined that encloses the current locations of the participating devices in the location-sharing group. The geographic location of the location-sharing group as a whole can be tracked and provided to the participating devices in the location-sharing group. Group-level location-sharing can be enabled. Departure of a participating device from the location-sharing group can be detected based on the current location and the coverage radius of each device in the location-sharing group. Entry of points of interest into the geofence of the location-sharing group can be detected and notified to the participating devices in the location-sharing group.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.