Patent Application
20100148954
This invention relates to a system which allows for a more direct form of presenting useful information to a mobile handset user, and more specifically is a method that adds a friend location function to mobile handsets.
Keeping track of family, friends, or employees is something that has become easier with the advent of mobile phones. One quick phone call is all it usually takes to find out where someone is located. Of course there are times when making that phone call can be difficult such as when one is driving or the other person is not available to answer the phone. Thus, there is still a need for a reliable method to easily determine the location of someone when actually speaking to that person is not an option. This disclosure describes one method of location, and, in particular, the user interface features that will enable such location services.
The following disclosure will describe a method of making a friend location function available to all mobile handset users.
An invention is disclosed that adds a new that adds a friend location function to mobile handsets.
It is therefore an object of the invention to supply increased functionality to a mobile handset by adding a friend location function to mobile handsets, and, as a further object of the invention, to provide a location/homing function to mobile handsets when they are within a prescribed relative range of each other.
For purposes of the preferred embodiment suppose a mobile user is within some distance of another compatible user, perhaps in the order of a mile or two. The application software running in the mobile device will notify the similarly equipped user of his relative presence by an audible, visual and/or vibration alert. In particular, a user can locate another user by selecting from a menu of known users, a particular user he or she wishes to locate. The “searching handset” will listen to the radio channel or channels known to be used in a particular channel scheme for periodic broadcasts from the handset to be located. If the “find me” function of the second handset is activated, it will periodically broadcast a beacon identifier message that the searching handset will listen for. Once the two handsets are within radio contact range, a notification message on the searching handset will alert the user that the second handset is “in the vicinity”. Optionally, an alert message can also notify the second user that his handset has been found. If the searching handset moves closer to the second handset, the signal will get stronger. A relative signal strength indicator, generally a bar graph, will indicate the relative closeness of the two handsets, giving the searching handset an indication of progress when moving relatively closer or farther away. Users may then directly text each other within the proximity area. Text messages may be privately sent or sent via a chat room type application. A quick option is also provided to phone the other user by selecting the user in the list then pressing “dial”.
There are three ways to detect the relative proximity of one user to another. The first method is to detect other users that are within direct radio contact of each other. In this embodiment each handset will periodically transmit an announcement beacon, which is not processed by the base station network.
The second method is by use of a GPS receiver within each handset to routinely note the present location. Signaling to other users then takes place through the base station network. In this embodiment the mobile device transmits its location information to the base station network on a periodic basis, then that announcement is re-broadcast to other local handsets and notification and registration will happen if the other users are within a prescribed relative proximity.
The third method makes use of other handset location methods such as triangulation, which is commonly done to locate handsets that are not equipped with GPS. It is essentially done the same way as method two, with somewhat less precision.
Since certain changes may be made in the above described mobile handset proximity social networking system and method without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the description thereof, or shown in any accompanying figures shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
The present application claims the benefit of previously filed co-pending Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/201,808.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61201808 | Dec 2008 | US |
