Apparatus and systems for providing location-based services within a wireless network
View Patent ↗A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality for location-based services, and includes both server and client/mobile device apparatuses. One apparatus includes a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device. A computer is coupled to the data store and is configured to receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device. The computer is configured to receive a change location privileges request, and to update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. Other apparatuses provide additional structures and functions.
1. A communications device comprising:
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
adding a friend to a friends list on the communications device; and
responsive to adding the friend to the friends list, when a privacy setting comprises a first setting, receiving:
an indication of a location of the friend; and
an image, obtained from a public profile, of the friend.
2. The communications device of claim 1 , wherein:
the location comprises a geographical location.
3. The communications device of claim 1 , wherein:
the location is indicated on a map.
4. The communications device of claim 1 , wherein:
the indication of the location further comprises a message.
5. The communications device of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
receiving directions to the location.
6. The communications device of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
communicating with the friend via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.
7. The communications device of claim 1 , wherein:
the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.
8. The communications device of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
removing the friend from the friends list.
9. The communications device of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
adding a second friend to the friends list on the communications device; and
responsive to adding the second friend to the friends list, when a privacy setting of the second friend is a first setting, receiving an indication of a location of the second friend.
10. The communications device of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
searching, via the communications device, for a place near the location.
11. The communications device of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
receiving, via the communications device, directions to a place near the location.
12. The communications device of claim 1 , wherein:
the location is determined in accordance with at least one of:
geo-coding;
reverse geo-coding;
proximity searching;
routing;
map generation;
a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site in which the friend is located;
Or GPS.
13. The communications device of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
removing the friend from the friends list on the communications device responsive to the friend removing permission to be on the friends list.
14. A communications device comprising:
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
receiving, via the communications device, a request to at least one of:
be a friend; or
share a location; and
responsive to receiving the request, when a privacy setting is a first privacy setting, providing:
an indication of a current location of the communications device;
and
an image, obtained from a public profile, of an individual associated with the device.
15. The communications device of claim 14 , wherein:
the request is representative of a request from a specific requester; and
the privacy setting is associated with the specific requester.
16. The communications device of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, via the communications device, a second request from a specific requester to at least one of:
be a friend of the specific requester; or
share a location with the specific requester; and
responsive to receiving the second request, when a privacy setting associated with the specific requester is a first privacy setting, providing an indication of a current location of the communications device.
17. The communications device of claim 14 , wherein:
the current location represents a geographical location.
18. The communications device of claim 14 , wherein:
the current location is provided in a format allowing the current location to be indicated on a map.
19. The communications device of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a message.
20. The communications device of claim 14 , wherein:
the communications device comprises a wireless communications device.
21. The communications device of claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
communicating with a device from which the request was sent via at least one of SMS, email, IM, SMPP, WAP, or a phone call.
22. The communications device of claim 14 , wherein:
an indication of the current location of the communications device is provided; and
the current location is utilized to determine directions to the current location.
23. The communications device of claim 14 , wherein:
an indication of the current location of the communications device is provided; and
the current location is utilized to determine directions to a place near the current location.
24. The communications device of claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
responsive to receiving the request to be a friend, adding a requester of the request to a friends list on the communications device.
25. The communications device of claim 14 , wherein:
the current location is determined in accordance with at least one of:
geo-coding;
reverse geo-coding;
proximity searching;
routing;
map generation;
a latitude and longitude associated with a cell site within which the communications device is located; or
GPS.
26. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
adding a friend to a friends list; and
responsive to adding the friend to the friends list, when a privacy setting comprises a first setting, receiving:
an indication of a location of the friend; and
an image, obtained from a public profile, of the friend.