IP Library Granted Patent US 8,571,572
Granted Patent B2
US 8,571,572 · App. 12/514,700 · Granted Oct 29, 2013

System and method for providing friend's location information

Inventor: Jong Kook Han (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,571,572
App. No.
12/514,700
Granted
Oct 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of providing friend location information is provided. More particularly, when a friend appears in a region desired by a user, it is possible to track a travel route of the friend and display for the user a map where the travel route is marked and thereby enable the user to understand preferred places of the friend.

Claims (34)

1. A system for providing friend location information, the system comprising:

a friend information receiving unit configured to receive from a user a mobile phone number of a friend;

a region selection unit configured to receive from the user a selection of a region to verify a travel route of the friend;

a location information receiving unit configured to receive the friend location information based on the mobile phone number of the friend;

a location information storage unit configured to store in a database the travel route of the friend in the region when a location of the friend is included in the region; and

a location information provider configured to provide the user with a map of the region by referring to the database, wherein the map of the region includes the travel route of the friend,

wherein the location information storage unit stores in the database the travel route of the friend in the region when the location of the friend is included in the region by verifying the location of the friend for each predetermined period,

wherein the location information storage unit stores the travel route of the friend in the database only when the friend is in close proximity to the user or when the friend is becoming separated from the user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location information provider provides the user with current location information of the friend.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location information receiving unit further comprises:

a distance calculation unit configured to receive user location information and calculate a distance between the friend and the user by referring to the user location information and the friend location information.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the location information provider provides the user with the calculated distance between the friend and the user.

5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:

a setup receiving unit configured to receive from the user an approach notification setup,

wherein the location information provider determines whether the calculated distance between the friend and the user is within a predetermined distance and informs the user of an approach of the friend when the approach notification setup is received.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the location information provider transmits a short message service (SMS) message to a mobile phone of the user to inform that the friend is approaching the user.

7. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:

a setup receiving unit configured to receive from the user a separation notification setup,

wherein the location information provider determines whether the calculated distance between the friend and the user is beyond a predetermined distance and informs the user of separation from the friend when the separation notification setup is received.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the location information provider transmits an SMS message to a mobile phone of the user to inform that the friend is becoming separated from the user.

9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the location information storage unit stores the travel route of the friend when the calculated distance between the friend and the user is within a predetermined distance.

10. The system of claim 3 , wherein the location information storage unit stores in the database the travel route of the friend when the calculated distance between the friend and the user is beyond a predetermined distance.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period is input from the user.

12. A method of providing friend location information, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a mobile phone number of a friend;

receiving from the user a selection of a region to verify a travel route of the friend;

receiving the friend location information based on the mobile phone number of the friend;

storing in a database the travel route of the friend in the region when a location of the friend is included in the region; and

providing the user with a map of the region by referring to the database wherein the map of the region includes the travel route of the friend,

wherein the travel route of the friend in the region is stored in the database when the location of the friend is included in the region by verifying the location of the friend for each predetermined period,

wherein the travel route of the friend in the region is stored only when the friend is in close proximity to the user or when the friend is becoming separated from the user.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing the user with current location information of the friend.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing the method according to claims 12 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: THINKWARE SYSTEMS CORP.
To: CLAIRPATH, LLC
Reel/Frame 072984/0445 →
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PATENT EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 18, 2013
From: THINKWARE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 030831/0009 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2009
From: HAN, JONG KOOK
To: THINKWARE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022679/0575 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2006-0112110 · Nov 14, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100062794A1 · Mar 11, 2010