Location Display Patents (Class 455/457)
  • Patent number: 8892130
    Abstract: A system enables interactive socialization of users having a wireless device at a venue. The system includes a registration mechanism for registering a user. A location determination mechanism comprises a global positioning system that identifies the longitude and latitude of other users. An on-location update mechanism publishes the availability of the service at a given venue. A data mechanism runs a list of active sessions against a user compatibility engine. A notification is transmitted to each user that contains a compatibility match listing compatible users at the venue. Intercommunication among users is provided through the system/application, whereby a user receives the compatibility match notification and can respond with a message, block or ignore based on a compatibility assessment. The subject system or application may be used for a dating aid for meeting others, or to create networking opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert P. Hudson, Peter R. Hyra
  • Patent number: 8892116
    Abstract: A wireless communication device transmits location information associated with a mobile worker at a first interval when the worker is assigned to a work task. When the worker is not working on the work task, the wireless communication device does not transmit location information, or transmits the location information less persistently. In this manner, business value of tracking mobile worker location is achieved while also allowing for enhanced privacy for the mobile worker when not working on a work task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Omnitracs, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas F. Doyle
  • Patent number: 8886256
    Abstract: A mobile electronic apparatus includes a memory that stores a search range of an object and a processor that executes a process. The process includes acquiring a moving speed of the mobile electronic apparatus, determining the search range of the object on a basis of the moving speed, detecting the object existing within the search range, detecting whether a display unit of the mobile electronic apparatus is in an active state, and notifying that the object is detected when the display unit is detected to be in the active state and the object existing within the search range is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Noriyuki Harada, Hiroshi Kanno, Toshiya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8886218
    Abstract: A wireless detecting device may be operable to receive one or more signals from a corresponding one or more wireless devices within range of the wireless detecting device. A list of the corresponding one or more wireless devices within range of the wireless detecting device may be displayed on the wireless detecting device. Based on the received one or more signals from the corresponding one or more wireless devices, distance, range or geographic location of the one or more wireless devices, relative to the wireless detecting device may be indicated on the wireless detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 8886231
    Abstract: A method carries out mobile communication between a mobile unit and a communications device, which exchange voice messages using a telecommunications protocol. During the method, at least one image can be generated by the mobile unit. In the event that at least one image is generated by the mobile unit, at least this image is transmitted to the communications device. On the part of the communications device, an image object is selected based on the transmitted image, and a position of this image object is determined. The determined position is transmitted by the communications device to the mobile unit, and the mobile unit marks at least one of the images in such a manner that, starting from at least one of the images, which is taken as a basis for the selection of the image object, and from the position, a location of the selected image object is specified for at least one image to be marked and a marking object is superimposed upon at least one of the images at the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Colin Estermann, Hubert Jäger, Robert Kutka, Christian Winkler
  • Patent number: 8886229
    Abstract: Techniques for using wireless devices to implement sensor networks are described. For cognitive radio, a wireless device obtains measurements for a first system (e.g., a broadcast system) with which the wireless device is not in communication. The wireless device sends the measurements and associated location information and/or timestamps via a second system (e.g., a cellular system). A server receives measurements from a number of wireless devices and determines the coverage of the first system based on the measurements. For other applications, a wireless device obtains sensor information from at least one sensor at the wireless device and sends the sensor information and associated location information and/or timestamps via a wireless system. A server receives the sensor information and associated information from a number of wireless devices, aggregates the sensor information, and constructs a map. The wireless device may develop a user profile based on the sensor information and associated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanjiv Nanda, Avneesh Agrawal
  • Patent number: 8886227
    Abstract: An approach is disclosed for providing sharing of content relating to an event. Detection of a plurality of mobile communication devices within a predetermined location is performed. An event is identified corresponding to the predetermined location and a current time. The mobile communication devices are notified to enable exchange of content about the event. The content is received from one or more of the mobile communication devices, wherein the content is accessible by the mobile communication devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tekla Pehr LLC
    Inventors: Albert L. Schmidt, Stephen D. Morrison, Xi Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140329549
    Abstract: Map labels are dynamically downloaded to a wireless communication device for efficiently labelling a map displayed on the device. A method of dynamically downloading map labels to a wireless communications device includes steps of determining a size of label data for an area of interest and dynamically downloading the label data for the area of interest based on the size of the label data. Optionally, map labels can be dynamically downloaded based on a label prioritization scheme that takes into account the current position of the device. Optionally, the size of the label data can be determined from a map data index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald Anthony DICKE
  • Publication number: 20140329548
    Abstract: A first mobile device may receive, via a text messaging application, first location information from a second mobile device. The first location information may indicate a first geographic location of the second mobile device. The first mobile device may receive, via the text messaging application, second location information from the second mobile device. The second location information may indicate a second geographic location of the second mobile device. The first mobile device may generate, based on the first location information and the second location information, a graphical representation. The graphical representation may represent a movement of the second mobile device from the first geographic location to the second geographic location. The first mobile device may provide the graphical representation for display via a display associated with the first mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicants: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless
    Inventors: Mahendra THARSHANAN, Amir MAYBLUM, Jerry M. KUPSH, Ian LYNN, Kim M. GUTIERREZ, Eric BURNS, Ratna DESAI, Kyle HOYT
  • Patent number: 8880119
    Abstract: A personal global tracking system has a waterproof tracking unit operatively interfacing with a global tracking system infrastructure via a microprocessor connected to a transceiver. A tracking unit bottom surface has a unique barcode and a body temperature sensor. A tracking unit top surface has a power button, an alarm arming activation component, an alarm activation component, an auxiliary unit arming activation component, light emitting diodes for indicating status, and a facia. The system has a locking tamper-proof wristband with an alarm activation component and a pulse sensor. The system has a waterproof auxiliary unit. The system has a tracking system infrastructure including a cellular phone tower system, a global positioning satellite system, and a roadway camera system interconnected to a central communication center. The tracking system has a system status website for a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Michael P. Naghdi
  • Patent number: 8880104
    Abstract: Techniques to improve the standby time of a station in a wireless network are described. An access point may advertise or convey a maximum listen interval and/or an association timeout supported by that access point. A station may operate in a power-save mode and may wake up every listen interval to receive a beacon and any potential traffic for the station. The station may select a suitable listen interval based on the maximum listen interval. The station may be dormant for a longer duration than the listen interval and may become active at least once in every association timeout in order to keep the association with the access point alive. The access point may also send broadcast and multicast traffic that might be of interest to stations in the power-save mode less frequently and using a special indication message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Arnaud Meylan, Manoj M. Deshpande, Sanjiv Nanda
  • Patent number: 8880122
    Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a processor, a transceiver coupled to the processor, and a display device coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to display a plurality of first names representing a plurality of electronic devices on the display device, each first name associated with one of the electronic devices, each of the electronic devices being capable of communicating with the mobile computing device. The processor is further configured to receive a selection of one of the first names, and display a second name in response to the selection of the selected first name, the second name being associated with the first name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Moses Lynn George
  • Patent number: 8879540
    Abstract: A variety of methods, systems, devices and arrangements are implemented for emergency call centers. According to one such method, a location database is populated from a plurality of endpoint devices. The location database determines locations for nodes in a data transmission route from information received from the endpoint devices. Emergency calls using these nodes are located using the populated database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: 8x8, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Martin, Garth Judge
  • Patent number: 8880095
    Abstract: A position information aggregation device includes a position information receiving unit receives position information related to the positions of a plurality of mobile communication terminals together with a user ID specifying a user of the terminal corresponding to each position information and an address code of the user, an acquisition rate calculating unit that calculates a position information acquisition rate of each address code of the plurality of terminals using population statistics data and position information of each narrow area in a predetermined broad area, and an aggregating unit that aggregates a population distribution in a certain area by extracting the position information corresponding to the certain area based on the position information received by the position information receiving unit and aggregating the position information in which the position information acquisition rate corresponding to the address code included in the position information is reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Motonari Kobayashi, Masayuki Terada, Ichiro Okajima
  • Patent number: 8880047
    Abstract: Enhancements of and to cell phone operations are based in whole or in part on determining the location of the cell phone. Systems and methods select and determine locations or areas of importance or relevance, and based on that information and other programmed factors affect or alter the operations of the cell phone. While the systems and methods are illustrated by use of cell phone embodiments and applications, they are equally applicable to virtually any portable or mobile communication device, including for example, wireless laptop computers and PDAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Konicek, Steven G. Lisa
  • Patent number: 8880105
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and devices for entropy-based location fingerprinting, in particular for use over wireless local-area networks (WLANs). The invention has particular application in localization for indoor environments. In embodiments of the invention, an entropy-based fingerprint is determined at a number of predetermined locations within the desired area of localization during an off-line phase and subsequently used in an on-line mode to determine the location of a receiver. In particular embodiments, the fingerprint is a vector of entropy estimates of the channel transfer function (CTF) between a mobile terminal and all access points within coverage. The invention seeks to provide a fingerprinting localization solution that has a simplicity of structure, leading to advantages in storage and pattern recognition requirements, and robustness by proving a unique measure of information that is related to the channel experienced at the location of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, British Telecommunications plc, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation
    Inventors: James Aweya, Nayef Alsindi, Kin Poon
  • Publication number: 20140323163
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and devices for providing positioning assistance data to a mobile device based, at least in part, on a location context identifier (LCI). In one particular implementation, a user may select from a one or more of candidate LCIs identified, for example, based on acquiring one or more signals from transmitters in range of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sai Pradeep Venkatraman, Gengsheng Zhang, Marlene Wan
  • Publication number: 20140323162
    Abstract: The subject matter discloses a method performed on two or more mobile devices comprising obtaining a magnetic azimuth value of a mobile device of the two or more mobile devices; obtaining a physical orientation value of the mobile device of the two or more mobile devices; broadcasting the magnetic azimuth value and the physical orientation value from the mobile device, wherein each mobile device of the two or more mobile devices are broadcasting the magnetic azimuth value and the physical orientation value to another mobile device of the two or more mobile devices; receiving the magnetic azimuth value and the physical orientation value, wherein each mobile device of the two or more mobile devices receives the magnetic azimuth value and the physical orientation value of other mobile devices of the two or more mobile devices; determining a relative location of the two or more mobile devices, according to the magnetic azimuth value and the physical orientation value of each mobile device of the two or more mobil
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Ran GILADI, Shai SAUL
  • Patent number: 8874131
    Abstract: Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses to allow for location related information for a region of space within a structure to be divided into blocks and selectively provided in an efficient manner to a mobile station and/or a proxy device associated therewith. The mobile station may, for example, use the blocks of location related information to support signal-based position estimation and/or other like location based services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Behrooz Khorashadi, Saumitra M. Das, Alok Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 8874138
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for determining whether a user device is within a geofenced region using lower powered location tracking techniques. In one instance, the user device may determine the minimum distances to geofenced regions. The user device may track the distance between locations and compare those distances to the minimum distances to determine the likelihood the user device is within one of the geofenced regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Guy Carmel
  • Patent number: 8874088
    Abstract: An integrated communication system comprises a first communication device connected to a second communication device using a data link. When the first communication device is out of network, a dispatch center can indicate to the use a communication is waiting or wanted by sending a communication request signal to the second communication device. The second communication device transmits the communication request signal to the first communication device over the data link alerting the user of the first communication device to the requested communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Omnitracs, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas F. Doyle
  • Publication number: 20140315586
    Abstract: User-applications provided by mobile devices are integrated. In one aspect, an email message is received at a mobile device from an email address and a representation of the email message is displayed on a graphical user interface. An input is received from a user indicating a selection of the email address. Contact information corresponding to a set of contacts is searched for a contact having a contact email address matching the email address. Contact information for the contact includes a geographic location for the contact. A display of a map is provided to the user. The display includes a graphical representation indicating the geographic location for the contact having a contact email address matching the email address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Scott Forstall, Gregory N. Christie, Robert E. Borchers, Kevin Tiene
  • Patent number: 8868111
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to couple a personal communications device to an integrated vehicle interface is provided. The method, in one embodiment, enables the use of the personal data on the personal communications device, to provide a feature to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Kahn, Arthur Kinsolving
  • Patent number: 8868112
    Abstract: Providing location information on a mobile device includes receiving signals from external devices. Each signal includes information that specifies a geographic location for the external device that has provided the signal. A geographic location for the mobile device is calculated by using the information contained in each of the received signals. A representation of the geographic location of the mobile device is generated. The representation of the geographic location is included within an electronic message that provides information describing a user of the mobile device to other users of an electronic communications system. The electronic message is transmitted to another device to provide an indication of the geographic location for the user to one of the other users of the electronic communications system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Granito, Alexander Franco
  • Patent number: 8866606
    Abstract: A subscriber device for use in an automated personal emergency response system implemented as a conference bridge on a remote computing network. The device, intended to be worn as a pendant, wristband or in another wearable configuration, includes a color high-resolution display for signaling a user of the subscriber device with notifications, arrows for directional guidance, and/or other status messages. The device also includes microphones and speakers for enabling a teleconference between a user of the subscriber device in need of assistance and parties joined to the teleconference via the automated personal emergency response system. The user of the subscriber device may initiate the call for assistance and teleconference via a press of a single button on the device; alternatively, accelerometers in the device may detect a fall and automatically initiate the call. The device can receive medical telemetry and provide it to conference participants and perform home automation tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwilli RMR LLC
    Inventors: Travis E. Will, Russell E. VanDevanter, Steven M. Myhre, Michael J. Myhre
  • Patent number: 8866638
    Abstract: Data acquisition from a sampling of vehicle sensors includes identifying a vehicle population density for a defined region, calculating a proportional representation ratio from the vehicle population density, and transmitting a request for data over a network. The request includes the response criteria configured with the proportional representation ratio. The data acquisition also includes receiving the data from vehicles that are located in the defined region and that fall within the proportional representation ratio, and which meet the response criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Norman J. Weigert, Vyacheslav Berezin, Kier M. Mathieson
  • Patent number: 8867553
    Abstract: A network element, method and computer program product is enabled to perform interactive connectivity checks in a mobility environment. Specifically, a network element comprises a discovery unit configured to identify a candidate defined as a combination of an internet protocol address and a port which the network element can use to communicate with a particular other network element. The network further comprises a mobile internet protocol signaling unit configured to submit a candidate identified by the discovery unit and to receive a candidate related to the other network element, and a simple traversal underneath network address translators protocol enabled unit configured to perform a connectivity check for a pair constituted by the submitted candidate and the received candidate by using the simple traversal underneath network address translators protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Pasi Ismo Eronen, Hannes Tschofenig
  • Patent number: 8868113
    Abstract: The inventive method for monitoring entities (10) moving in a monitored space represented by a first digital model (14) comprising a set of maps (16) divided into geographical zones (18) of a predetermined shape, and having a size defined according to the level of granularity, includes: identifying geographical zones (18) of each map (16), defining operational zones (24a, 24b) and associating each operational zone (24a, 24b) with a predefined level of granularity, configuration, positioning the entity (10), determining a level of granularity to be applied, determining a geographical zone (18) containing the entity (10), detecting a change of zone, and applying a new level of granularity as a function of the operational destination zone (24a, 24b). The determination steps, the detection step, and the application step are carried out within each entity (10), independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Antoine Soulie
  • Publication number: 20140308982
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an arrangement for physically locating field devices in process installations, in which each field device can be identified and the installation location of each field device in the process installation is known. In order to control and find a field device in the shortest possible time, a mobile device having at least one memory and a graphical display device is provided, at least one graphical representation of the field device and a topological coordinate specification of the installation location of the respective field device being assigned to the particularized data relating to the respective field device and being stored in a retrievable manner in the at least one memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Roland BRAUN, Alexander Kaiser
  • Patent number: 8862092
    Abstract: An emergency notification system for a mobile device. The system includes a mobile device application that is adapted to be stored in memory on the mobile device. The application, upon activation during an emergency, determines the GPS coordinates of the mobile device, records digital images over a period of time, sends a preset message from the mobile device to at least one recipient, preferably a emergency responder, and sends the GPS coordinates and the digital images. The coordinates and images may be sent to a remote server for storage and which can be accessed by the emergency provider. The coordinates and images are periodically updated and sent while the program is activated. The application can be hidden during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: EmergenSee, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Reitnour
  • Patent number: 8862147
    Abstract: In order to manage a neighbor list of neighboring base stations based on the location of a terminal communicating with a base station of a macrocell with femtocell deployments, the base station divides the macrocell in accordance with a predetermined standard of division, and generates a mobile neighbor advertisement message so as to periodically transmit the generated message to the terminal. At this time, the terminal identifies the current location thereof in the macrocell upon receipt of the pilot signals periodically transmitted from the base station of the macrocell. The terminal obtains information regarding the location of the terminal from the information regarding the femtocells deployed within the respective divided regions and information regarding macrocells neighboring the macrocell through using the mobile neighbor advertisement message to scan base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Won-Ik Kim, Ho-Shin Cho, Sung-Geun Jin, Hyun Lee, Chul Sik Yoon, Jee Hwan Ahn
  • Patent number: 8862138
    Abstract: An aspect of the exemplary embodiments of this invention is a method that includes receiving information from a plurality of spatially distributed user devices, where the information includes at least observations of a radio environment of each user device. Based on the received information, the method creates a model of time evolution of a spatio-temporal map for a plurality of spatial locations. The method further includes creating a policy based on the model of time evolution of the spatio-temporal map, and transmitting the policy to the plurality of user devices. A further aspect of exemplary embodiments of this invention is a method that includes generating a probabilistic model based at least on observations of a radio environment of a user device; transmitting the probabilistic model to a network access node of a wireless communication network; receiving information from the network access node; and operating the user device at least in part based on the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Mikko Aleksi Uusitalo, Ari Hottinen, Jaakko Tapani Peltonen, Joni Kristian Pajarinen
  • Patent number: 8862153
    Abstract: An automated portable call collection unit (APCCU) may gather information used in testing the accuracy of a wireless mobile device locating system. A GPS ground truth detector may detect the location of the APCCU based on GPS signals. A cellular GPS detector may detect GPS signals identified by a signal-identification communication from the locating system. An internal clock may keep time and synchronize its time to GPS time as announced periodically by GPS time signals. A controller may repeatedly cause a cellular network communication system to wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication and to send the information about the detected GPS signals, the locations, and the times. All of this may be done in a manner that insures that the accuracy of the locating system is not tested before the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the APCCU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Robert M. Iwaszko, Jeff Torres, Todd Covington
  • Patent number: 8862159
    Abstract: A current location of a mobile user device within a building may be determined and presented to the user via map information. Map information, including data about locations within the building, may be retrieved and business process information associated with a user's execution of a business process may be accessed. The business process may have a series of business process steps, and steps may be associated with the pre-determined locations within the building. It may then be automatically arranged for the map information to be displayed, along with information about the business process steps, via the mobile user device based on the current location of the mobile user device within the building. The system may automatically direct the user step-by-step through a process using map and/or audio information indicating what the next step is, where the next step is located, and/or time requirements associated with the next step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Nirit Cohen-Zur
  • Publication number: 20140302879
    Abstract: A method used by an electronic device receiving a geo-fence service, determines whether a current position of the electronic device, determined using a cellular positioning system (CPS), is located within a first distance from a central point of a geo-fence service area. In response to determining that the current position is located within the first distance, the current position is determined using a Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS) and it is further determined whether the WPS determined current position is located within a second distance from the central point of the geo-fence service area. In response to the determination the current position is located within the second distance, it is determined whether the current position calculated using a global positioning system (GPS), is located within a boundary of a geo-fence service area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-June KIM, Young-Ae KANG, Dae-Jin KIM, Jong-Man PARK
  • Patent number: 8855903
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing incentives for the public to travel during time windows and routes that help alleviate traffic congestion. The systems described herein include at least two components: a computer server software system that includes various algorithms and database sub-systems; and a mobile device application. Generally, a user may enter an origin, destination, and preferred time of travel for an intended trip into the mobile device application, which transmits the information to a remote server. The server computes a route for the trip and provides the user with available incentives for traveling the route at one or more departure time windows. The user's mobile device transmits GPS data to the server, which allows the server to verify whether the user has traveled the route during the specified time window. If so, the server then provides the incentive to the user via the user's mobile device or through email.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: The Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona, The University of Arizona, Tech Transfer Arizona
    Inventor: Yi-Chang Chiu
  • Patent number: 8855665
    Abstract: A method for determining the privacy settings for location-based services without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is disclosed. This is done by establishing a session between the location generator and the location recipient. The session is created by a validator that is capable of keeping track of the rules for a stream of location objects created by a location generator. The validator determines what information to send to the location recipient without having to determine the rules for each location object and each location recipient every time a new location object is received by the location server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: John Buford, Venkatesh Krishnaswamy, Xiaotao Wu
  • Patent number: 8855703
    Abstract: A method of driving a mobile communication terminal in a cellular network, includes monitoring with a control unit of the mobile communications terminal, reception power levels between the mobile communication terminal and cellular network base stations at a predefined monitoring rate for each base station. Timing information values for a number of base stations are intermittently monitored by the control unit. Drift of the timing information values for at least two of the base stations is monitored and significant motion of the mobile communication terminal is deemed detected if at least one of the timing information values indicates a drift equal to or exceeding a given timing drift threshold. The predefined reception power level monitoring rate is reduced to a reduced reception power level monitoring rate for at least a number of the base stations as long as the motion of the mobile communication terminal is not significant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ericsson Modems SA
    Inventors: Arnaud Rosay, Samuel Lamazure
  • Patent number: 8855684
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein that generally involve storing a historical record of a user's maps searches (a maps history), and providing a user with relevant information about elements in their maps history based on the location of a mobile device associated with the user. Such elements can include generic queries, specific queries, direction queries, click entries, places, and so forth. In some examples, the mobile device's location is provided to a server, which in turn processes the user's maps history to determine which elements from the maps history may be relevant to the mobile device's current location. Elements that are determined to be of possible relevance, and/or information relating thereto, can then be presented to the user, in many instances decreasing the time and effort required for the user to locate map-based information for which they are searching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo Bellver, Keir Banks Mierle, Tushar Udeshi, James A. Guggemos
  • Publication number: 20140295894
    Abstract: A facility for determining the location of a mobile device when a location determination of a desired accuracy is desired. If available, the facility determines the location of the mobile device using a device-based technique or using a location determination technique that is accessible over a macronetwork. Macronetworks are networks that are designed to cover relatively large areas. If a location determination technique of desired accuracy is not available on the device or over a macronetwork, the facility attempts to use a location determination technique that is accessible over a micronetwork to determine the location of the mobile device. Micronetworks are networks that are designed to cover smaller areas. By forcing a switch from a macronetwork-based location determination technique to a micronetwork-based location determination technique, the facility ensures that a location determination is made for the mobile device of a desired accuracy, time to fix (TTF), and/or yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
    Inventor: Magesh Annamalai
  • Publication number: 20140295895
    Abstract: A system for exchanging messages, position data, and status information among subscribers of different cellular providers. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers are associated with different cellular carriers. These wireless devices support a Buddy Watch application that communicates with a remote Buddy Watch Server outside of the carriers' networks. The Buddy Watch servers allows subscribers to associate themselves with a group of “buddies,” a subset of the subscribers serviced by the Buddy Watch server but not necessarily by the same cellular carrier. The server than allows each subscriber to monitor the status of his or her buddies, and to communicate messages and position data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Richard D. Haney
  • Patent number: 8847754
    Abstract: A device, system and method for providing (a) a wireless communications component, configured to send and receive wireless signals such that the device is locatable via a wireless means; the wireless communications component including: (i) a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) module for measuring signal strength of a wireless signal received at the wireless communications component, wherein the device is configured to be tracked by a mobile computing device (MCD) running a mobile application wherein the distance of the device from the MCD is calculated by the mobile application upon receiving between one and three RSSI values, measured by the RSSI module, and sent in a signal by the device to the MCD, wherein the distance is calculated based an average of the received RSSI values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: James Buchheim, Arne Hennig
  • Patent number: 8845436
    Abstract: A location-based game is provided in which users with mobile devices leave footprints associated with locations they physically occupy, allowing the users to control and interact with physical locations on computerized maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Norton, Charles Mendis, Taj Jay Campbell
  • Patent number: 8849306
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to help provide a location of a mobile station in cases in which the location of the serving base station may not be known or may not be available from a base station almanac. According to the disclosed methods and systems, if the serving base station is not listed in the almanac, a positioning system will direct the mobile station to obtain identification information from a second base station (e.g., the “second best” available base station) by acquiring or partially acquiring a connection to the second base station. The positioning system may then query the almanac for location information of the second base station, based on the identification information obtained from that base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Alan J. Falk, Darrin C. Mott, Julie A. Hart
  • Publication number: 20140287784
    Abstract: A location tagged data provision and display system. A personal communication device (PCD) with electromagnetic communication capability has a GPS receiver and a display. The PCD requests maps and location tagged data from data providers and other for display on the PCD. The data providers respond to requests by using searching and sorting schemes to interrogate data bases and then automatically transmitting data responsive to the requests to the requesting PCD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SILVER STATE INTELLECTUAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael L. Obradovich
  • Patent number: 8843157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for estimating travel behavior in a mobile network. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving event data indicative of user equipment location, pre-processing received event data to produce pre-processed data, performing straight line interpolation on pre-processed data of one or more individuals in the population to estimate intermediate positions of a trajectory of each of the one or more individuals from a first position to a second position, and counting a number of individuals in population at a given time and at a given area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Motoharu Miyake, Fujio Watanabe, Daichi Funato
  • Patent number: 8842003
    Abstract: A system and method for viewing a target in a background from a user's perspective. In one form, the views are selectable by the user on, for example, a GPS equipped cell phone, to include a view from the participant's position, zoom, pan, and tilt views, or views from another geographic location, giving increased situational awareness and identification of the target. Other information can be conveyed, such as messages or advertisements, on a billboard, which may be a geo-referenced area on or near the target. Preferably, an orientation mechanism shows when the device is correctly pointed to a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Charles D. Huston
  • Publication number: 20140274165
    Abstract: A communication system includes: a first storage unit configured to receive relevant information by entering a region of interest; a first control unit, coupled to the first storage unit, configured to parse the relevant information; and a display, coupled to the first control unit, configured to display the relevant information, a target object, and a suggested path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun Z. Wu, Nastasha Tan, Michael Baisuck
  • Publication number: 20140274166
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a wireless sensor network system. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona, Acting for and on behalf of Ariz
    Inventors: Xue Zhang, Cihan Tepedelenlioglu, Mahesh K. Banavar, Andreas Spanias
  • Patent number: RE45197
    Abstract: A system may enable vehicle operators to request information automatically along the route of travel by transmitting information requests, tied to the vehicle's current position, to a server. The server may store a plurality of informational files associated with particular global positioning system coordinates. Upon receipt of a request, the files associated with a particular position may be located and transmitted to the vehicle. The files may be stored as audio files so the user may listen to the files without being distracted while driving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford H. Needham, Anthony C. Salvador, John W. Sherry