Tagging a location by pairing devices
View Patent ↗A method of tagging a location using a mobile device entails obtaining position data for a current location of the mobile device, detecting a proximity of another device using a short-range wireless interface, and automatically storing the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the other device. The proximity detector may comprise a near field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth® transceiver or another short-range wireless technology that may be employed to detect the proximity of another device. This technology enables two devices to store a current location to facilitate a subsequent rendezvous back at that same location.
1. A method, performed by a first mobile device, of tagging a location, the method comprising:
obtaining, by the first mobile device, position data for a current location of the first mobile device;
detecting a proximity of a second mobile device using a short-range wireless interface; and
storing the position data for the current location of the first mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the second mobile device without transmitting the position data.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving user input to request a route for returning to a previously tagged location; and
displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising displaying a compass indicating a direction to the previously tagged location.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein obtaining the position data comprises generating the position data using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver on the first mobile device.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein detecting the proximity of the second mobile device comprises using a near field communication (NFC) interface as a proximity detector.
6. A first mobile device for tagging a location, the first mobile device comprising:
a short-range proximity detector for detecting a proximity of a second mobile device;
a positioning system for generating position data for a current location of the first mobile device; and
a processor operatively connected to a memory for storing the position data for the current location of the first mobile device in response to a detection event of the proximity detector, wherein the position data is not shared with any other device.
7. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the short-range proximity detector comprises a near field communication (NFC) interface.
8. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising:
a user input device for receiving user input requesting a route back to a previously tagged location; and
a display for displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.
9. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a magnetometer for determining a direction and wherein the display further comprises a compass showing the direction back to the previously tagged location.
10. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the short-range proximity detector comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.
11. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:
a user input device for receiving user input requesting a route back to a previously tagged location; and
a display for displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.
12. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a magnetometer for determining a direction and wherein the display further comprises a compass showing the direction back to the previously tagged location.
13. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:
a user input device for receiving user input requesting a route back to a previously tagged location; and
a display for displaying the route for returning to the previously tagged location.
14. The first mobile device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a magnetometer for determining a direction and wherein the display further comprises a compass showing the direction back to the previously tagged location.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a first mobile device causes the first mobile device to:
obtain position data for a current location of the first mobile device;
detect a proximity of a second mobile device using a short-range wireless interface; and
store the position data for the current location of the first mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the second mobile device without transmitting the position data.
16. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15 wherein the code is further configured to instruct the processor to interact with a near field communication (NFC) interface as the proximity detector.