IP Library Granted Patent US 10,572,098
Granted Patent B2
US 10,572,098 · App. 16/241,782 · Granted Feb 25, 2020

Sharing location information during a communication session

Inventors: Henry Bridge (Brooklyn, NY); Francis Luu (San Francisco, CA); Nathan Borror (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
G06F3/0481G06Q10/10G06Q50/01H04L65/1003H04M1/72519H04W4/029
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,572,098
App. No.
16/241,782
Granted
Feb 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving user input on a graphical user interface of a first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to a second computing device. The current location of the first computing device is accessed, and the current location is sent to one or more second computing devices, the current location being displayed in a graphical user interface of the second computing devices.

Claims (35)

1. A method comprising:

by a first computing device, establishing a group communication session between at least the first computing device, a second computing device, and a third computing device;

by the first computing device, receiving user input on a graphical user interface of the first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to the second computing device;

by the first computing device, accessing a current location of the first computing device; and

by the first computing device, sending the current location of the first computing device to the second computing device to be displayed within a graphical user interface of the second computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the location of the first computing device to the second computing device periodically, wherein the location of the first computing device is periodically updated on the graphical user interface of the second computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

ending communication of the current location of the first computing device to the second computing device within a specified time limit.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first computing device is one of a plurality of devices associated with a first user and the graphical user interface of the second computing device displays the current location of the first computing device and a communication from another of the plurality of devices associated with the first user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current location of the first computing device is displayed on the graphical user interface of the second computing device concurrently with one or more messages between the first computing device and the second computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the current location of the first computing device to the third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device is displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device at the same time as the current location of the first computing device is displayed on the graphical user interface of the second computing devices.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the current location of the first computing device to the third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device and location of the second computing device are displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface of the second computing device indicates a direction of travel of the first computing device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface of the first computing device is associated with a messaging application of the first computing device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input is further based on one or more preferences indicated by a user of the first computing device for sharing location information of the first computing device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the preferences comprise an indication to automatically share the current location of the first computing device to the second computing device when a communications session is established with the second computing device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the preferences comprise one or more frequencies for sharing the current location of the first computing device.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the preferences comprise an identification of a particular second user that is permitted to receive the current location of the first computing device.

14. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:

establish a group communication session between at least a first computing device, a second computing device, and a third computing device;

receive user input on a graphical user interface of the first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to the second computing device;

access a current location of the first computing device; and

send the current location of the first computing device to the second computing device to be displayed within a graphical user interface of the second computing device.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processors are further operable to communicate the current location of the first computing device to the second computing device periodically, wherein the current location of the first computing device is periodically updated on the graphical user interface of the second computing device.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processors are further operable to end communication of the current location of the first computing device to the second computing device within a specified time limit.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the graphical user interface of the second computing device is operable to display the current location of the first computing device concurrently with one or more messages between the first computing device and the second computing device.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein processors are further operable to communicate the current location of the first computing device to the third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device is displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device at the same time as the current location of the first computing device is displayed on the graphical user interface of the second computing devices.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processors are further operable to communicate the current location of the first computing device to the third computing device, wherein the current location of the first computing device and location the second computing device are displayed on a graphical user interface of the third computing device.

20. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

establish a group communication session between at least a first computing device, a second computing device, and a third computing device;

receive user input on a graphical user interface of the first computing device to provide location information associated with the first computing device to the second computing device;

access a current location of the first computing device; and

send the current location of the first computing device to the second computing device to be displayed within a graphical user interface of the second computing device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: BRIDGE, HENRY; LUU, FRANCIS; BORROR, NATHAN
To: FACEBOOK, INC.
Reel/Frame 066931/0510 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 20, 2021
From: FACEBOOK, INC.
To: META PLATFORMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058553/0802 →