IP Library Granted Patent US 8,717,231
Granted Patent B1
US 8,717,231 · App. 12/902,042 · Granted May 6, 2014

Position privacy in an electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,717,231
App. No.
12/902,042
Granted
May 6, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A privacy enhancement device for electronic device such as a cellular telephone. The privacy enhancement device may include a jammer which may produces false information, e.g. false information indicative of pseudo ranges. In addition, the navigation information used on the position detecting device may be locally stored versions of dynamically changing information. The navigation operation may be carried out using a Web service.

Claims (49)

1. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting information indicative of a current location of the apparatus;

means for determining the current location based, at least in part, on the detected information;

means for transmitting current location information;

means for enabling a privacy mode, wherein the current location information is prevented from being transmitted in response to the privacy mode being enabled; and

means for communicating in the privacy mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile communication device, and wherein the mobile communication device is configured to communicate while the transmission of the current location information is being prevented.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the means for enabling further comprises means for disabling the privacy mode, and wherein the mobile communication device is configured to communicate while the current location information is being transmitted.

4. A memory device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

detecting information indicative of a current location of a mobile communication device;

determining the current location based, at least in part, on the detected information;

transmitting current location information;

enabling a privacy mode associated with the mobile communication device; and

preventing the current location information from being transmitted in response to the privacy mode being enabled, wherein the mobile communication device is able to communicate in the privacy mode.

5. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the mobile communication device is able to communicate while the current location information is prevented from being transmitted.

6. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise:

sending the detected information over a network; and

receiving a response over the network which includes additional information associated with the detected information, wherein said determining the current location comprises determining the current location based, at least in part, on the additional information.

7. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the detected information is sent over the network at intervals set by a distance of movement of the mobile communication device.

8. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the additional information comprises global positioning system (GPS) information and simulated GPS information.

9. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the additional information comprises mapping information and points of interest.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting information comprises means for identifying an emergency situation, and wherein the current location of the apparatus is determined in response to identifying the emergency situation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for identifying an emergency situation, wherein said means for detecting comprises means for detecting the information indicative of the current location of the apparatus in response to identifying the emergency situation.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for detecting positional information associated with the apparatus, and wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining the current location based on both the positional information and the detected information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said means for detecting positional information is configured to receive information from a non-satellite source indicative of global positioning information that provides simulated information indicative of global positioning information.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for detecting global positioning system (GPS) information associated with the apparatus, wherein the detected information comprises non-GPS information, and wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining the current location based on both the GPS information and the non-GPS information.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting information comprises means for identifying an emergency situation, and wherein the current location information is prevented from being transmitted prior to detecting the emergency situation.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detected information comprises map information.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detected information comprises points of interest.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

means for storing the current location of the apparatus, wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining a new location of the apparatus; and

means for displaying navigational instructions from the new location to the current location.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said means for displaying comprises means for displaying the navigational instructions in response to receiving a user input.

20. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a mobile communication device, information indicative of a current location of the mobile communication device;

determining, by the mobile communication device, the current location based, at least in part, on the detected information;

transmitting, by the mobile communication device, current location information;

enabling, by the mobile communication device, a privacy mode associated with the mobile communication device; and

preventing, by the mobile communication device, the current location information from being transmitted in response to the privacy mode being enabled, wherein the mobile communication device is able to communicate in the privacy mode.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

sending the detected information over a network; and

receiving a response over the network which includes additional information associated with the detected information, wherein said determining the current location further comprises determining the current location based on the additional information.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising identifying an emergency situation, wherein the current location of the apparatus is determined in response to identifying the emergency situation.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising detecting positional information associated with the mobile communication device, wherein the current location is determined based on both the positional information and the detected information indicative of the current location.

24. The method of claim 20 , further comprising detecting global positioning system (GPS) information associated with the mobile communication device, wherein the detected information comprises non-GPS information, and wherein the current location is determined based on both the GPS information and the non-GPS information.

25. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

storing the current location of the mobile communication device;

determining a new location of the mobile communication device; and

displaying navigational instructions from the new location to the current position location.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 138 LLC
To: NORTHSTAR SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 054666/0104 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2020
From: GULA CONSULTING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 138 LLC
Reel/Frame 051412/0726 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 18, 2015
From: PLATT TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LLC
To: GULA CONSULTING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 037328/0060 →
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 22, 2011
From: HARRIS, SCOTT C.
To: VIRGINIA INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 027438/0011 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2011
From: VIRGINIA INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: PLATT TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LLC
Reel/Frame 026175/0061 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2011
From: HARRIS, SCOTT C
To: VIRGINIA INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 026012/0357 →