Location Display Patents (Class 455/457)
  • Patent number: 8996038
    Abstract: A method for displaying an idle screen, which is varied depending on a specific condition of a mobile communication terminal, for better graphic impressions. When the user of the mobile communication terminal travels between countries, and a border crossing is detected, a landmark image of a corresponding country is displayed on the idle screen. In addition, an animation effect is displayed on the idle screen so as to inform of the occurrence of the corresponding event. Accordingly, a novel graphic effect is provided to the user via a user interface having enhanced entertaining features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Hwan Baek, Jin-Yong Kim, Kyoung-Sik Yoon, Hee-Woong Choi, In-Won Jong, Hee-Kyung Jeon
  • Patent number: 8996029
    Abstract: A method of detecting a transmitting device within an obstruction rich environment is disclosed. The method may involve detecting the transmitting device with a wireless transmission detection facility; communicating signal information relating to the detected transmitting device from the wireless transmission detection facility to a central unit; determining the location of the transmitting device; displaying information of the detection and location of the transmitting device through a user interface; and providing an action facility for causing actions related to the detected transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BINJ Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Noonan, Barry R. Nadler, Julius R. Insler
  • Publication number: 20150088464
    Abstract: A method includes receiving activity of a monitoring device that is configured to be worn by a user having a user account. The activity includes an amount of movement of the monitoring device and occurs for a period of time. The method further includes receiving geo-location data for the monitoring device and processing the activity data and geo-location data received for the period of time. The operation of processing is performed to segment the period of time into at least two events. The method includes assigning an identifier to each event. The identifier has a default description for the geo-location data. The default description is selected from a plurality of descriptions based on the activity data obtained by the movement of the monitoring device for the geo-location data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, James Park, Hans Christiansen Lee
  • Patent number: 8989778
    Abstract: Embodiments of a location sharing network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other trusted users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. A security component allows users to establish trusted relationships by requiring mutual consent and disclosure of identifier and phone number information for each trusted user. Location information can be blocked among trusted users or obfuscated on the display of the mobile devices of the other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Green Dot Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel H. Altman, Nicholas T. Sivo, Mark Jacobstein, Brian R. Knapp, James F. Potter, Thomas B. Pernikoff
  • Patent number: 8989773
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products that include, on a first device executing a first instance of a location application, receiving an indication to begin sharing data describing a path traveled by the first device, receiving location data describing the path traveled by the first device, the location data received from a location system of the first device, and the location data including a plurality of locations of the first device, and transmitting the location data in a form usable to enable a user interface of a second instance of a location application executing on a second device to indicate the path traveled by the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Eran Sandel, Elad Harush, Roman Guy
  • Patent number: 8989819
    Abstract: A method for saving number applied to a handheld electronic device is provided. In the method, in response to determining that the total number of digits of a entered number reaches the predetermined minimum number and the entered number does not correspond to a part of any one of one or more contact data, a save button is displayed on the screen for saving the entered number after the save button is triggered, a save button is shown on the screen, and the entered number is saved after the save button is triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Yuan-Mao Tsuei
  • Patent number: 8989763
    Abstract: A mobile computing device comprises a memory, a processor and a transceiver. The memory is configured to store at least one type of position assist data. The processor is configured to provide a position fix based on the position assist data. The transceiver is configured for wireless communication. The memory is configured to store updated position assist data for the type of position assist data. The processor is operable in a first operating mode in which the type of position assist data is not updated and operable in a second operating mode in which the type of position assist data is updated in response to at least one triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Janell Paulson, Isabel Ge Mahe, Craig C. Hamilton, Sachin S. Kansal, Gurunath Ramaswamy, Dante Russo, Cherif Jazra, Vivek Shah
  • Patent number: 8989774
    Abstract: A method for locating a mobile device inside a building by using a plurality of reference areas in the building as satellites. A scan is obtained by the mobile device at an unknown location in the building. The scan includes a plurality of detected WAPs with a corresponding RSSI for each detected WAP. The method to improve accuracy of a semantic indoor positioning system by generating a vector of distance scores based on the scan for comparison with vectors of survey distance scores corresponding to the reference areas. The method includes arranging the detected WAPs into an ordered list, extracting a set of WAP tuples from the ordered list, retrieving a set of probabilities for each reference area, calculating a distance score for each reference area, generating the vector of distance scores, and comparing the vector of distance scores with each of the vectors of survey distance scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Du Li
  • Patent number: 8989775
    Abstract: In an implementation, techniques are provided for tracking the location of a device that transmits wireless signal. The wireless signal can be received at a set of receivers. Distances to the device are determined based on signal strength. From the distances, boundaries encompassing possible locations of the device are defined. Boundary intersections are analyzed in order to determine the location of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: RetailNext, Inc.
    Inventor: George Shaw
  • Publication number: 20150080033
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and electronic device for positioning a device based on a device cooperative system are disclosed. A display screen of a first electronic device is divided into M regions on which N kinds of patterns are displayed; a first cooperative device acquires a pattern of a region where the first cooperative device locates and transmits pattern information to the first electronic device; after receiving the pattern information, the first electronic device judges whether a preset positioning condition is met, and if it is not, adjusts the regions in the display screen to make the first cooperative device continue to acquire the pattern of the region where the first cooperative device locates until the preset positioning condition is met; after the preset positioning condition is met, the first electronic device determines the position where the first cooperative device locates based on the pattern information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicants: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Qiang Zhang, Rongyao Fu
  • Patent number: 8983456
    Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention are a resource policy decision method and system in a roaming scenario, for improving the accuracy of the resources allocated to the user. The method includes: after having received an available resource query message from a mobility management and control function MMCF entity, a resource and admission control function RACF entity of a visited network acquiring degrade information of current service of a user from a resource and admission control platform, and according to a candidate access network list in the available resource query message, checking current availability of resource of each candidate access network in the candidate access network list, so as to obtain resource availability information of each candidate access network; the RACF entity of the visited network carrying out resource decision according to the degrade information, the resource availability information and user information of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Jianjie You
  • Patent number: 8983488
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for providing location-based services to consumers of a shopping facility. In one embodiment, a consumer creates a user account, user profile, and registers one or mobile devices. The system monitors for the presence of the registered mobile devices within one or more shopping facilities. The system transmits advertising material corresponding to the user created profile to a detected registered mobile device in response to the registered mobile device being within a specified range of a store associated with the user created profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Sweeney, Kelsyn Rooks
  • Patent number: 8983446
    Abstract: A method of detecting a transmitting device within a facility is disclosed. The method involves detecting the transmitting device of a wireless transmission detection facility; communicating signal information relating to the detected transmitting device to a central unit where the detected transmitting device is identified; determining whether the detected transmitting device is allowed within the facility and providing instruction to a transmitting device to interfere with the detected transmitting device when the detected transmitting device is not allowed in the facility and providing instructions and methodologies when the detected transmitting device is allowed in the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: BINJ Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Nadler, Joseph S. Noonan
  • Patent number: 8982178
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for acquiring real-time video images of a terminal, sad method comprising: acquiring light intensity of an existing environment when the terminal acquires the real-time video images; comparing the light intensity of the existing environment with a light intensity threshold value set by the terminal system; acquiring images preset by the terminal and sending the preset images to an existing receiver which is communicating with the terminal if the light intensity of the existing environment is lower than the light intensity threshold value set by the terminal system. The present invention can ensure the quality of video conversation when the light intensity is weak, save power energy, improve the user experience, and is beneficial to promote the video communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhibing Yang
  • Patent number: 8981902
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling location information at a computer device such as a mobile telephone. Location information is intercepted and obtained by, for example, intercepting it from an Application Programming Interface destined for a location application. The location application is identified, and a rule is determined for applying to the location information on the basis of the identified location application. The rule is applied to the location information to give amended location information, and the amended location information is then sent to the location application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: F-Secure Corporation
    Inventors: Jarno Niemelä, Veli-Jussi Kesti, Pirkka Palomäki
  • Patent number: 8983549
    Abstract: A method of acquisition by a mobile terminal (20) situated in proximity to a display panel (10), of complementary information related to at least one poster (11) present on the display panel (10), the method including the following steps: acquisition of the identification data (S1) making it possible to identify the display panel (10), transmission of the identification data (S2) to a processing service by way of a communication network; and reception, from the processing service, of the complementary information relating to the poster (11) presented on the display panel (10) identified by the processing service on the basis of the identification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jerome Gonzalez, David Libault, Jacques Lewiner
  • Publication number: 20150072714
    Abstract: A method for providing accurate geolocation information is described in which geolocation information is received from a plurality of position information sources. A confidence indicator value is associated with each of the plurality of position information sources. Geolocation information received from two or more of the plurality of position information sources is combined based on the confidence value associated with each of the plurality of position information sources. A geolocation accuracy indicator (e.g., a graphical indicator) is provided to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Robert William Froehlich, Martin Winau
  • Patent number: 8977288
    Abstract: A geo-fence capable device is disclosed that is capable of performing an accurate geo-fence operation while minimizing power consumption. The device includes sensors, Wi-Fi connectability and GNSS. Sensors intermittently detect whether the device is in motion. When determined to be in motion, Wi-Fi is used to acquire a wireless access point list and to compare the access point list to previously-stored access points in order to determine whether the device is still within a particular region. GNSS is used to confirm exit from a region and to intermittently monitor whether the device has entered a new region. GNSS and application processor use can be minimized by utilizing sensor and Wi-Fi functionality as preliminary region monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Abraham, Frank van Diggelen
  • Patent number: 8977294
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium for securely locating a mobile device. In one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes receiving first information from a first device, where the first information is usable to identify a geographic location of the first device. The first information is verified as originating from the first device. A first request for the geographic location of the first device is received, where the first request includes second information associated with a user associated with the first device. The geographic location of the first device is provided to the user at a second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Dallas De Atley
  • Patent number: 8977322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program in which information can be reliably exchanged when performing wireless communication by allowing a user to know a communication distance at which devices can be connected. A communication unit 28 performs Bluetooth communication with a communication unit, which serves as a Bluetooth module, provided for a cellular telephone. A CPU 21 displays an image corresponding to the cellular telephone based on the input level of Bluetooth radio waves transmitted from the cellular telephone. For example, when the input level of the radio waves transmitted from the cellular telephone is equal to the maximum input, the CPU 21 sets the level of transparency to be 0, and displays the image corresponding to the cellular telephone on an LCD 32 so that a background image is not transmitted at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Patent number: 8976735
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for channel scanning. In one aspect, a method includes, while maintaining an association with a first access point on a first channel during first, second, and third consecutive time slices: (i) monitoring, by a client device, a single second channel during the first time slice and the third time slice, and (ii) monitoring, by the client device, the first channel during the second time slice; receiving a beacon from a second access point during the first time slice or the third time slice; and determining a property of the client device or the second access point using the beacon, without using the beacon to determine whether to establish an association with the second access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Dmitry Shmidt
  • Patent number: 8971795
    Abstract: A display generating device includes a display screen generator generating a display screen showing connection status between each wireless communication device in a wireless network in which a plurality of the wireless communication devices operate in an autonomous and distributed manner, and a detector detecting an operation of changing connection status performed by a user via the display screen generated by the display screen generator, wherein, when the operation of changing connection status is detected by the detector, the display generating device performs a change process of reflecting the content of the operation of changing connection status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8971932
    Abstract: An apparatus, system or method for use of encrypted or confidential location or position, time, and unique identifier information (LPTI Information) comprising mobile device encoded unique identifiers (UIs), to register the presence of one or more persons in a retail or service store or outlet, vehicle, financial, educational, governmental, transportation, shipping, cargo, residential, vacation, travel, power generation or distribution, water or food supply or storage, or data storage location or position, for use in identifying potential suspects, conspirators, participants or witnesses for criminal, regulated, tort, or prohibited activity for use by law enforcement or a court, and which information is kept encrypted until authorized access is granted to law enforcement or a court by issuance or a warrant or other appropriate legal authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Secure Sigint, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Mapes
  • Patent number: 8972184
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining an orbit of a geostationary satellite is provided. The orbit of the geostationary satellite may be determined using at least one pseudo-range of the geostationary satellite calculated based on an orbit and a position of at least one global positioning system (GPS) satellite, position information of the geostationary satellite, and an angle between the geostationary satellite and each GPS satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Yoo La Hwang, Byoung Sun Lee
  • Patent number: 8972167
    Abstract: An enhanced geocoding module may be used to determine various physical addresses located on the same street. The enhanced geocoding module may create a grid around a predetermined location and request the physical addresses of various coordinate points located on the grid. Additional features of the module may include a display that displays the grid with physical addresses located on the same street, various statistics related to a user of the enhanced geocoding module, and a color-coded scheme that indicates the status of individuals/groups located at the physical addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Oberweis Group Inc.
    Inventors: Akash Takyar, Shaifali Garg
  • Patent number: 8971919
    Abstract: A method for generating a two-dimensional radio coverage map comprising a plurality of physical levels including a first physical level and a second physical level. The access point is located above the second physical level. A first radio coverage map comprising original points located at a first distance from the access point is generated. Each of the original points has a first predicted value. A distance is selected to place the two-dimensional radio coverage map at the target distance from the access point. Coordinates of map points of the two-dimensional radio coverage map are generated. Each of the map points corresponds to one of the original points. An offset value representing an attenuation due to the target distance being different than the first distance is computed. For each of the map points, a predicted received signal strength value is generated by adding the offset value to the first predicted value of the corresponding one of the original points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ju-Yong Do, Young Shin Park
  • Patent number: 8972186
    Abstract: Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Naoshi Kobuya, Toru Masano, Motoya Itako, Atsushi Noda, Hiroshi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 8971805
    Abstract: Provided is a portable terminal providing environment adapted to a current situation and a method for operating the same. The method includes the steps of: collecting current situation information of the portable terminal; searching preset situation information classified as a same situation as the current situation information; extracting function information of the portable terminal corresponding to the searched preset situation information; and constituting a Graphic User Interface (GUI) according to the extracted function information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Hwa Kim, Tae Won Um, Dong Jun Shin, Kyoung Taek Kim, Hyang Ah Kim
  • Patent number: 8971924
    Abstract: A system and method of locating “friends” having mobile devices connected to a network and associated with a user account is disclosed. The method includes sending a request to a mobile device, the mobile device determining its present geographic location and responding to the requestor with this information. This information may be in the form of a coordinate location such as a GPS location or it may be in the form of a name that the mobile device owner assigned to a particular area (e.g., “home”). Having this location information, a user is able to view the location of the friend that is associated with the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Raghu Pai, Timothy S. Hurley, Patrice Olivier Gautier, Karthik Narayanan, Murthy Parthasarathi, Maxime Veron
  • Publication number: 20150057032
    Abstract: A wireless terminal, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The wireless terminal includes circuitry configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted from a base station; perform signal intensity measurement of the received wireless signal; receive, via a graphical user interface, section information that identifies a section of a building structure for which the signal intensity measurement is to be performed; and transmit measurement information acquired by the signal intensity measurement of the received wireless signal, base station identification information that indicates a base station of a transmission source of the wireless signal, and the section information. The measurement information is associated with the base station identification information and the section information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi REKIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8965353
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for configuring settings of a mobile device based on an inferred location. The mobile device can use stored indicia of trip (e.g., an electronic ticket or itinerary) to identify origination and destination locations. The start and end of the trip can be inferred based on changes in operation of the mobile device. For instance, if the user is on an airplane, the user may turn off network connectivity at the origination location just prior to takeoff, and may turn the network connectivity back on upon landing at the destination location. If the time that elapsed between the changes in operation is consistent with the duration of the trip indicated by the stored indicia, the mobile device can infer that the current location is the destination location. The mobile device can then configure location-specific settings in accordance with the destination location to establish a network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jay N. Bruins, Paul H. Gleichauf
  • Patent number: 8965405
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for disseminating user mobile device location information is provided. The method includes enabling a first request for location information of a mobile device based on at least one of a particular schedule and a particular criterion. Mobile device location information is received responsive to the first request. The mobile device location information received responsive to the first request is stored. A second request for the mobile device location information is received from a requester. Responsive to the second request, the requester is provided the location information received responsive to the first request, and at least one user-visible consequence is initiated responsive to the second request, wherein the at least one user-visible consequence is not initiated responsive to the first request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: WaveMarket, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Hodges, Tasos Roumeliotis, Scott Hotes
  • Patent number: 8965395
    Abstract: Techniques for supporting positioning of user equipments (UEs) with network-based measurements are described. In one design, a network entity (e.g., a location server) may obtain at least one measurement for a UE, e.g., a power headroom measurement, a spatial direction measurement, an uplink timing measurement, an uplink pilot measurement, an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) measurement, or a combination thereof. The network entity may determine a location estimate for the UE based on the at least one measurement for the UE and a database of measurements for different locations, e.g., using pattern matching or interpolation. In one design, the network entity may receive measurements and locations of a plurality of UEs and may update the database based on the measurements and locations of these UEs. The database may also be updated based on measurements obtained by test UEs during test drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ravi Palanki, Naga Bhushan
  • Patent number: 8965403
    Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Patent number: 8965400
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a location of a portable terminal of another subscriber's by the calling party's portable terminal. This display occurs during a call without switching displayed screen windows or applications. The method includes a first portable terminal performing a call mode; driving a camera upon receiving location information of the other subscriber's terminal in the call mode to display an image photographed by the camera; and analyzing location information detected by a location detection unit and the received location information of a second portable terminal of another subscriber to calculate a distance between two terminals and displaying a location of the other subscriber's terminal on the displayed image when a direction of the calling party's terminal detected by a direction detection unit aligns with a direction of the other subscriber's terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiyoung Kang, Kyunghwa Kim, Heewoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8965336
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generate metrics quantifying the mobility of a mobile device without persisting information related to the device's specific location at any given time. Specifically, at multiple intervals, a value of a mobility metric is computed based on the distance between the current location of the mobile device and a previously identified origin location of the mobile device. The values of the mobility metric computed over a period of time quantify the overall mobility of the mobile device. The mobility metric does not provide any information regarding the specific location of the mobile device at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Quantcast Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Michael Murff
  • Patent number: 8965670
    Abstract: Software, at a networked central computer or at a wireless mobile user device, uses GPS coordinates of a mobile user device's current location to determine a polygon in which the GPS coordinates lie. Upon determining the polygon that surrounds the current location, the software can perform a task related to the polygon. Examples of tasks include: determining traffic camera images to display on the mobile user device based on the location, speed, and heading of the user device. The images can include advertisements that pertain to the general vicinity, or demographics of those typically in the vicinity, of the cameras' coverage area. Another task includes associating performance data from a vehicle, and stored in a table, for a given location with a corresponding polygon that surrounds the location; processing the data; and assigning a risk value to the polygon based on the corresponding performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: HTI IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Peterson, Deep Kalinadhabhotla, Charles M. Link
  • Patent number: 8965404
    Abstract: A computer server provides location of a mobile device to a user. The computer server allocates to an account for the user a predetermined number of location credits associated with a purchase made by the user; The computer server receives, from the user, identification information that identifies the mobile device. Upon the user requesting a current location of the mobile device, the computer server checks to see whether there remains location credits allocated to the account for the user and, provided there remains location credits allocated to the account for the user, provides to the user location information about the current location of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Liveviewgps, Inc.
    Inventor: George Peter Karonis, III
  • Patent number: 8966390
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for visually indicating location probability, particularly in a multi-level, three-dimensional environment. In general, a method of a graphical user interface may be provided that displays the uncertain location of a device within an environment in an easily discernable format. A method may be provided that includes providing for transmission of a location request from a first location within an environment and receiving at least two potential locations that are within the environment. The method may further include providing for display of a graphical representation of the environment including visual indicators of the potential locations within the graphical representation of the environment and receiving an indication that a potential location corresponds to the first location. Each visual indicator may convey the accuracy confidence level for each respective location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Christian Prehofer
  • Patent number: 8959098
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for associating location data from one or more unique sources. The place and time of a unique location enabled device are associated with stored demographic information relating to the particular place and particular time. The place and time of the unique location enabled device are associated with a historical record of past locations and time of locations that the device has been. Based on the association of demographical information and historical information, the unique location enabled device is assigned to one or more groups or tribes. The location of all members of the group or tribe can be aggregated and exported for further analysis or display, thereby showing all group or tribe members at a particular time and place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Yellowpages.com LLC
    Inventors: Greg Skibiski, Alex (Sandy) Pentland, Tony Jebara, Christine Lemke, Markus Loecher, Girish Rao, Jason Uechi, Blake Shaw, Joseph Mattiello
  • Patent number: 8958830
    Abstract: A method and system for providing location based presence status and enhancing location privacy management in a mobile, instant messaging or social networking environment. A user specifies or saves their favorite locations (e.g. home, work, school, or particular business or point of interest locations), and specifies or selects names and/or categories to be shared for each user-specified location. In addition, the system provides multiple sharing levels for sharing multiple types of location contextual information. When user's current location corresponds to user-specified locations, location based presence status is provided to specified contacts according to the sharing level settings, and provides user the option to share location contextual information without sharing location coordinates of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: mPanion, Inc.
    Inventor: Neeraj Chawla
  • Patent number: 8958829
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing system which facilitates data communication between an information processing apparatus and another apparatus. Position data indicative of a position, at which the information processing apparatus which makes up the information processing system automatically performs short-distance wireless communication, is transmitted to a server. The server accumulates and stores the position indicated by the position data transmitted from each information processing apparatus. The position data accumulated and stored at the server is transmitted to an information processing apparatus when the server receives the request therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8953889
    Abstract: An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects and enhances an unstructured real-world environment. An object datastore comprising attributes of an object within the environment may be built and/or maintained from sources including manufacturers, retailers, shippers, and users. This object datastore may be local, cloud based, or a combination thereof. Applications may interrogate the object datastore to provide user functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rawles LLC
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Edward Dietz Crump
  • Patent number: 8954110
    Abstract: To improve convenience of a function of rearranging and conveying information registered in an address book. A mobile phone, if any one of users registered in an address book is selected, obtains location information of a mobile phone owned by the selected user from a location search server. The mobile phone, by comparing location information of a home or an office of the selected user registered in the address book and the location information of the mobile phone obtained from the location search server, decides an indication sequence of plural communication addresses registered in the address book for the selected user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Eiju Yamada
  • Patent number: 8954088
    Abstract: Location-based person and object monitoring are provided. The location of a person or object may be monitored by associating a device with the person or object that is operative to send location information for the monitored person or object to a receiving station for establishing precise geo-location data for the monitored person or object. The geo-location information for the monitored person or object may be passed to a television services system for generating and displaying on a viewable television channel mapping information showing the location of the monitored person or object. A television channel may be designated for each monitored person or object. If the monitored person or object moves out of a prescribed monitoring range, a television channel showing the mapping information may be automatically displayed to replace a presently viewed television channel for alerting a monitoring person as to the whereabouts of the monitored person or object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Gravino, Radhakrishnan Gopinath, Michael L. Poffenberger
  • Publication number: 20150038178
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for communication between users in a venue. The system comprises: detecting a first communication device recognisable by a primary communication device in a venue, the primary communication device capable of transferring details of the venue, the first communication device being capable of receiving details of the venue; transferring the details of the venue from the primary communication device to the first communication device; and displaying the details of the venue on the first communication device and illustrating location based information of one or more second communication devices being first communication devices of other users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yit Fun Chin, Hean Leng Tai
  • Patent number: 8948784
    Abstract: Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aegis Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Mandy Chan, Andrew S. Wright, Peter A. Featherstone, John J. Geyer, Stephen J. Williams
  • Patent number: 8949941
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for the authentication of the physical location of a target node are disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the authentication of the target node's physical location is achieved by using ping ranging measurements obtained from the amount of time that elapses during ping messages being sent between the target node and at least one trusted node with a known physical location. The physical location of the trusted node(s) is obtained by using satellite geolocation techniques. The accuracy of the ranging measurements may be improved upon by using pre-coordination and/or priority determination of the ping messages being sent between the target node and the trusted node(s). In at least one embodiment, the ping messages are sent by dedicated ping response hardware that is associated with the target node and/or the trusted node(s). In some embodiments, the ping messages include a pseudo random code bit sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David A. Whelan, Gregory M. Gutt, David G. Lawrence, Michael Lee O'Connor, Rachel Rane' Schmalzried
  • Patent number: 8942721
    Abstract: A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to be executed by a processor includes code to cause the processor to receive from a wireless access point (WAP) device frequency-domain data associated with signals received at the WAP device from a wireless device during a time period. The code includes code to determine multiple frequency-domain magnitudes associated with the frequency-domain data for the time period to define a spectral magnitude signature associated with the frequency-domain data. Each frequency-domain magnitude from the multiple frequency-domain magnitudes is uniquely associated with a frequency bin from multiple mutually-exclusive frequency bins associated with the frequency domain data. The code also includes code to identify a spectral response deviation associated with the spectral magnitude signature and send a location identifier associated with a location of the wireless device based on the spectral response deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: David Aragon
  • Patent number: 8942727
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving information from a remote system comprising one or more time periods during which a location of the client device can be tracked and monitoring the location of the client device during each of the time periods by obtaining a plurality of location coordinates from the client device during the time period and persistently storing the location coordinates on the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: ACR Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony C. Roman, Michael P. Hammond, Jr., Douglas J. Rose