Secure and private location sharing for location-aware mobile communication devices

1. A location-aware mobile communication device system comprising:

a registration device allowing a first user and second user to register for a location sharing service using a respective location-aware mobile device;

a configuration device allowing the first user to invite the second user to establish a trusted relationship on a server computer coupled to each of the first and second user;

a location sharing device displaying a location of the first user on the mobile device of the second user, when the trusted relationship has been established, and the first user has enabled location display of the first user's respective mobile device on the mobile device of the second user;

wherein the registration device transmits a validation message at random intervals during use of the location sharing service by a targeted user any time after registration of the targeted user, wherein the validation message alerts the targeted user that the location sharing feature of the user's respective mobile device is enabled, and requesting a text message back affirming continued enablement of the location sharing feature.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the configuration device transmits a text message from the first user to the second user, and wherein the text message contains an invitation message.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein acceptance of the invitation message by the second user establishes the trusted relationship on the server computer, and wherein rejection of the invitation message disables location-sharing of the second user's mobile device to the first.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein enabling the location sharing function causes the display of a location icon on a mobile communication device of the particular user, the location icon indicating a position of the user relative to a scalable map displayed on the mobile communication device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the location of the registered user is updated on the scalable map by updated location information determined by a global positioning system device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein a series of messages comprises a first welcome message to the targeted user followed by a plurality of subsequent messages including alternate messages that require a text response from the targeted user.

7. A method comprising:

determining the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a first user within an area;

displaying a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device;

establishing a trusted friend relationship between the first user and a second user upon an invitation request from the first user; and

transmitting a validation message to the first user and the second user, the validation message including an alert that the location sharing feature is enabled, and requiring an affirmative response from each of the first user and second user to continue to enable the location sharing feature.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the data element related to the second user comprises the phone number of the second user.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the network is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone network, the Internet, and a WiFi network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the location is provided by display of a location icon, and wherein the location icon is configured to indicate an actual location of the displayed user or an obfuscated location of the displayed user within the region displayed on a scalable map.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the obfuscated region is selected from the group consisting of a gridblock region, a city, and a zipcode.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising a graphical user interface component displaying a number of security and privacy parameters to enable direct configuration of a privacy preferences directly by the user or network operator.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein certain of the privacy parameters comprise one or more sub-parameters, and wherein the privacy parameters and any associated sub- parameters are displayed in a menu structure on at least one of: a location-aware cellular telephone, a personal computer operated by the first user, and a server computer coupled to the location-aware cellular telephone over a network and operated by a network operator.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the misuse of the trusted friend relationship is selected from the group consisting of: non-use of the location sharing feature by one of the first user and second user, and repeated rejections of invitations by one of the first user and second user.

15. A method comprising:

determining the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a first user within an area;

displaying a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device;

establishing a trusted friend relationship between the first user and a second user upon an invitation request from the first user; and

transmitting a validation message to the first user and the second user, the validation message including an alert that the location sharing feature is enabled, and requiring an affirmative response from each of the first user and second user to continue to enable the location sharing feature, wherein the location is provided by display of a location icon, and wherein the location icon is configured to indicate an actual location of the displayed user or an obfuscated location of the displayed user within the area displayed on a scalable map.