Techniques for performing geo location among multiple GPS enabled communication devices
Techniques are disclosed for tracking location data among a plurality of communication devices communicable with a communication server. A plurality of communication devices may be linked into a group. The communication server may receive location data for each of the plurality of communication devices and calculate a distance and heading data between each of the plurality of communication devices. This data may be distributed to each of the plurality of communication devices in the group. A first communication device in the group may include a ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a microphone, and a speaker but lack a display screen. The first communication device may receive the location, distance, and heading data from the communication server while also determining its own orientation via a magnometer. The first communication device may calculate a heading offset between its orientation and a second communication device. The first communication device may then display the directional heading of the second communication device in relation to itself using the LEDs.
1. A method of tracking location data among a plurality of communication devices communicable with a communication server, comprising:
in the communication server:
linking a plurality of communication devices into a group, at least one of the communication devices lacking a display screen;
receiving location data for each of the plurality of communication devices;
calculating distance and heading data between each of the plurality of communication devices;
sending the location, distance, and heading data from each of the plurality of communication devices in the group to the other communication devices; and
in a first communication device including a ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a microphone, and a speaker but lacking a display screen:
receiving the location, distance, and heading data between the first communication device lacking a display screen and at least a second communication device in the group;
determining the orientation of the first communication device lacking a display screen;
calculating a heading offset between the orientation of the first communication device lacking a display screen and the second communication device; and
displaying the directional heading of the second communication device in relation to the first communication device using the LEDs.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
in the first communication device:
receiving a request to audibly output the distance to the second communication device; and
audibly outputting the distance using a speaker component.
3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
in the first communication device:
receiving a request to audibly output the heading to the second communication device; and
audibly outputting the heading using a speaker component.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location data is received from a GPS component on each of the plurality of communication devices.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the orientation of the first communication device lacking a display screen comprises:
obtaining data from a magnometer within the first communication device; and
converting the magnometer data to compass data.
6. A communication system configured to track location data among a plurality of communication devices communicable with a communication server, comprising:
a communication server comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
link a plurality of communication devices into a group, at least one of the communication devices lacking a display screen;
receive location data for each of the plurality of communication devices;
calculate distance and heading data between each of the plurality of communication devices; and
send the location, distance, and heading data from each of the plurality of communication devices in the group to the other communication devices;
a first communication device including a ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a microphone, and a speaker but lacking a display screen comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
receive the location, distance, and heading data between the first communication device lacking a display screen and at least a second communication device in the group;
determine the orientation of the first communication device lacking a display screen;
calculate a heading offset between the orientation of the first communication device lacking a display screen and the second communication device; and
display the directional heading of the second communication device in relation to the first communication device using the LEDs.
7. The communication system of claim 6 , the first communication device comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
receive a request to audibly output the distance to the second communication device; and
audibly output the distance using a speaker component.
8. The communication system of claim 6 , the first communication device comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
receive a request to audibly output the heading to the second communication device; and
audibly output the heading using a speaker component.
9. The communication system of claim 6 , wherein the location data is received from a GPS component on each of the plurality of communication devices.
10. The communication system of claim 6 , the first communication device comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
obtain data from a magnometer; and
convert the magnometer data to compass data.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that when executed enable processing circuitry to execute instructions to track location data among a plurality of communication devices communicable with a communication server, the instructions to:
link a plurality of communication devices into a group;
receive location data for each of the plurality of communication devices;
calculate distance and heading data between each of the plurality of communication devices;
send the location, distance, and heading data from each of the plurality of communication devices in the group to the other communication devices;
receive the location, distance, and heading data between a first communication device and at least a second communication device in the group, the first communication device including a ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a microphone, and a speaker but lacking a display screen;
determine the orientation of the first communication device;
calculate a heading offset between the orientation of the first communication device and the second communication device; and
display, on the first communication device, the directional heading of the second communication device in relation to the first communication device using the LEDs.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of instructions that when executed enable processing circuitry to:
receive a request to audibly output the distance to the second communication device; and
audibly output the distance using a speaker component.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of instructions that when executed enable processing circuitry to:
receive a request to audibly output the heading to the second communication device; and
audibly output the heading using a speaker component.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the location data is received from a GPS component on each of the plurality of communication devices.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of instructions that when executed enable processing circuitry to:
obtain data from a magnometer on the first communication device; and
convert the magnometer data to compass data.