IP Library › Granted Patent US 12676929

Granted Patent B2

US 12676929 · App. 18/201,411 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Methods and systems of user interfaces for providing updated location information

Inventors: Pablo F. Caro (San Francisco, CA); Kaely Coon (San Francisco, CA); Frank De Jong (San Francisco, CA); Vitalii Kramar (Woodinville, WA); Siva Ganesh Movva (San Jose, CA); Caelan G. Stack (Belmont, CA)

Assignee: Apple Inc.

H04M1/72469 H04M1/72418 H04W52/0267 H04W84/06 H04W84/12

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12676929
App. No.: 18/201,411
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and user interfaces for establishing communications. A computer system automatically transmits updated location information after communication with a first communication network is initiated and based on a set of criteria being met. After the computer system transmits the updated location information, the computer system detects that the first communication network is unavailable. In response to detecting that the first communication network is unavailable, the computer system is enabled to update the location information via a second communication network, and the computer system forgoes automatically transmitting the updated location information when the respective criteria is met.

Claims (148)

1 . A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:

initiating communication with a first communication network;

after initiating communication with the first communication network:

determining that respective criteria is met; and

in response to determining that the respective criteria is met, automatically, without user input, transmitting updated location information that indicates an updated location of the computer system, wherein the updated location information is accessible to devices other than the computer system; and

forgoing providing an option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via a second communication network;

after automatically transmitting the updated location information based on the respective criteria being met, detecting that the first communication network is unavailable;

in response to detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

enabling the computer system to update location information via the second communication network that is different from the first communication network, wherein the second communication network is a non-terrestrial wireless communication network; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective criteria is met, forgoing automatically transmitting updated location information; and

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable, providing an option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

2 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

in accordance with a determination that a predetermined time period since the first communication network was available has elapsed, displaying a notification that the computer system is enabled to update location information via the second communication network.

3 . The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined time period is a period of time since the computer system was enabled to communicate via the first communication network.

4 . The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined time period is a period of time since the computer system was enabled to make updated location information accessible to devices other than the computer system.

5 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

after a first predetermined time period since the first communication network was available has elapsed, providing the option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

after a second predetermined time period since the first communication network was available has elapsed, wherein the second predetermined time period is greater than the first predetermined time period, displaying a notification that the option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network is available.

6 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

detecting a request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in response to detecting the request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network, initiating a process for transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network, wherein the process for transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network includes displaying a prompt for a user to take an action to connect to the second communication network.

7 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

detecting a first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in response to detecting the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network:

in accordance with a determination that a set of manual update criteria is met, transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in accordance with a determination that the set of manual update criteria is not met, forgoing transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

8 . The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable and after detecting the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network:

detecting a second request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in response to detecting the second request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network:

in accordance with a determination that an amount of time between the second request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network and the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network meets a time threshold, transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in accordance with a determination that the amount of time between the second request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network and the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network does not meet the time threshold, forgoing transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

9 . The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

in response to detecting that the first communication network is unavailable and after detecting the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network:

detecting a second request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in response to detecting the second request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network:

in accordance with a determination that an amount of time between the second request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network and the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network does not meet a time threshold, providing a notification that updated location information of the computer system will not be transmitted.

10 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying a location-status indicator that corresponds to updated location information, including:

in accordance with a determination that the location-status indicator corresponds to updated location information that was transmitted via the first communication network, displaying the location-status indicator with a first visual appearance; and

in accordance with a determination that the location-status indicator corresponds to updated location information that was transmitted via the second communication network, displaying the location-status indicator with a second visual appearance that is different from the first visual appearance.

11 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein displaying the location-status indicator with the second visual appearance includes displaying an image of a satellite.

12 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying an update-status indicator that indicates a time at which updated location information was transmitted.

13 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after initiating communication with the first communication network, displaying a map; and

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable to the computer system, forgoing display of the map.

14 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable, transmitting, via the second communication network, updated location information that is accessible to devices other than the computer system.

15 . The computer system of claim 14 , wherein transmitting, via the second communication network, updated location information that is accessible to devices other than the computer system is performed automatically without user input.

16 . The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying an option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

detecting a set of one or more inputs that includes a selection of the option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network,

wherein transmitting, via the second communication network, updated location information that is accessible to devices other than the computer system is performed in response to detecting the set of one or more inputs that includes a selection of the option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

17 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

in response to a determination that a predefined action has been successfully performed, displaying a message that indicates that the predefined action has been successfully performed.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a computer system, the one or more programs including instructions for:

initiating communication with a first communication network;

after initiating communication with the first communication network:

determining that respective criteria is met; and

forgoing providing an option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via a second communication network;

after automatically transmitting the updated location information based on the respective criteria being met, detecting that the first communication network is unavailable;

in response to detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

in accordance with a determination that the respective criteria is met, forgoing automatically transmitting updated location information; and

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable, providing an option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

19 . A method, comprising:

at a computer system:

initiating communication with a first communication network;

after initiating communication with the first communication network:

determining that respective criteria is met; and

forgoing providing an option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via a second communication network;

after automatically transmitting the updated location information based on the respective criteria being met, detecting that the first communication network is unavailable;

in response to detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

in accordance with a determination that the respective criteria is met, forgoing automatically transmitting updated location information; and

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable, providing an option to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

20 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the respective criteria includes a criterion that is selected from the group consisting of: a first criterion that is met when a user of the computer system approves a recipient to receive location information, a second criterion that is met when a location-sharing mode is active, a third criterion that is met when a selectable-location sharing option is selected, a fourth criterion that is met when a predetermined amount of movement of the computer system is detected, a fifth criterion that is met when a predetermined time threshold has passed since last transmitting the updated location information, a sixth criterion that is met when an external device requests the updated location information, and a combination thereof.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

23 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

detecting a request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

24 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

detecting a first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in response to detecting the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network:

in accordance with a determination that a set of manual update criteria is met, transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in accordance with a determination that the set of manual update criteria is not met, forgoing transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

25 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying a location-status indicator that corresponds to updated location information, including:

26 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

displaying an update-status indicator that indicates a time at which updated location information was transmitted.

27 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after initiating communication with the first communication network, displaying a map; and

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable to the computer system, forgoing display of the map.

28 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

29 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

in response to a determination that a predefined action has been successfully performed, displaying a message that indicates that the predefined action has been successfully performed.

30 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the respective criteria includes a criterion that is selected from the group consisting of: a first criterion that is met when a user of the computer system approves a recipient to receive location information, a second criterion that is met when a location-sharing mode is active, a third criterion that is met when a selectable-location sharing option is selected, a fourth criterion that is met when a predetermined amount of movement of the computer system is detected, a fifth criterion that is met when a predetermined time threshold has passed since last transmitting the updated location information, a sixth criterion that is met when an external device requests the updated location information, and a combination thereof.

31 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

32 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

33 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

detecting a request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

34 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable:

detecting a first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in response to detecting the first request to transmit updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network:

in accordance with a determination that a set of manual update criteria is met, transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network; and

in accordance with a determination that the set of manual update criteria is not met, forgoing transmitting updated location information of the computer system via the second communication network.

35 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

displaying a location-status indicator that corresponds to updated location information, including:

36 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

displaying an update-status indicator that indicates a time at which updated location information was transmitted.

37 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

after initiating communication with the first communication network, displaying a map; and

after detecting that the first communication network is unavailable to the computer system, forgoing display of the map.

38 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

39 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

in response to a determination that a predefined action has been successfully performed, displaying a message that indicates that the predefined action has been successfully performed.

40 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the respective criteria includes a criterion that is selected from the group consisting of: a first criterion that is met when a user of the computer system approves a recipient to receive location information, a second criterion that is met when a location-sharing mode is active, a third criterion that is met when a selectable-location sharing option is selected, a fourth criterion that is met when a predetermined amount of movement of the computer system is detected, a fifth criterion that is met when a predetermined time threshold has passed since last transmitting the updated location information, a sixth criterion that is met when an external device requests the updated location information, and a combination thereof.