Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application uses computer-readable instructions for exchanging, viewing or providing location sharing information in a context of a public group, a private group or both. The location sharing information may be made available to aid or enhance commerce-related activities performed by a merchant, a consumer or both. In another embodiment, a method for authenticating a private group permits an authenticating user to restrict the private group and selectively allow subsequent participants restricted access to the private group.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application uses computer-readable instructions for exchanging, viewing or providing location sharing information in a context of a public group, a private group or both. The location sharing information may be made available to aid or enhance commerce-related activities performed by a merchant, a consumer or both. In another embodiment, a method for authenticating a private group permits an authenticating user to restrict the private group and selectively allow subsequent participants restricted access to the private group.

Abstract: A mobile application uses computer-readable instructions for exchanging, viewing or providing location sharing information in a context of a public group, a private group or both. The location sharing information may be made available to aid or enhance commerce-related activities performed by a merchant, a consumer or both. In another embodiment, a method for authenticating a private group permits an authenticating user to restrict the private group and selectively allow subsequent participants restricted access to the private group.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing one or more unique account names in response to a user request, or in response to a user attempting to adopt another name that is unavailable. When performed in response to a user request, the method includes the steps of combining a randomly selected word element, such as an affix or adjective, and a randomly selected stem, such as a noun, to produce a random account name, and comparing the name with a list of existing account names to determine if it is unique. If so, the unique name is provided to the user for acceptance. Additional unique names can be produced by the same or a different method so that the user is presented with a plurality of unique names for consideration. For example, if the user attempts to adopt a name that is unavailable, a unique modified account name can be produced that is based on the name entered by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing work load in a cluster of at least two service resources. Depending upon the configuration, a service resource may be an individual process, such as a single instance of a computer game, or a node on which multiple processes are executing, such as a Server. Initial connection requests from new clients are directed to a single entry-point service resource in the cluster, called an intake. A separate intake is designated for each type of service provided by the cluster. The clients are processed in a group at the service resource currently designated as the intake to which clients initially connected, for the duration of the session. Based upon its loading, the current intake service resource determines that another service resource in the cluster should become a new intake for subsequent connection requests received from new clients. Selection of another service resource to become the new intake is based on the current work load of each resource in the cluster.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing work load in a cluster of at least two service resources. Depending upon the configuration, a service resource may be an individual process, such as a single instance of a computer game, or a node on which multiple processes are executing, such as a Server. Initial connection requests from new clients are directed to a single entry-point service resource in the cluster, called an intake. A separate intake is designated for each type of service provided by the cluster. The clients are processed in a group at the service resource currently designated as the intake to which clients initially connected, for the duration of the session. Based upon its loading, the current intake service resource determines that another service resource in the cluster should become a new intake for subsequent connection requests received from new clients. Selection of another service resource to become the new intake is based on the current work load of each resource in the cluster.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing work load in a cluster of at least two service resources. Depending upon the configuration, a service resource may be an individual process, such as a single instance of a computer game, or a node on which multiple processes are executing, such as a Server. Initial connection requests from new clients are directed to a single entry-point service resource in the cluster, called an intake. A separate intake is designated for each type of service provided by the cluster. The clients are processed in a group at the service resource currently designated as the intake to which clients initially connected, for the duration of the session. Based upon its loading, the current intake service resource determines that another service resource in the cluster should become a new intake for subsequent connection requests received from new clients. Selection of another service resource to become the new intake is based on the current work load of each resource in the cluster.

Abstract: A method and system for determining network latency between clients in a computer network, such as in a gaming zone environment. Each client determines the network latency between each other client via a ping, response, and response-response protocol. To this end, a first client places first time information such as a timestamp into a (ping) data packet and sends the packet to the second client, who places second time information into the packet, and sends the packet as a response packet back to the first client. The first client determines a first network latency based on its current time and the first time information returned in the response packet. The first client then sends the packet back to the second client as a response to the response packet. The second client determines a second latency based on the current time information at the second client and the second time information received in the response-response packet.