Personal location code
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for receiving a request from a requester to locate a user. The request identifies a personal location code (PLC) for the user. It is determined if the request is allowed based on the PLC. If the request is allowed, the current location of the user is obtained based on the location of one or more devices associated with the user. The current location of the device is then provided to the requester.
1. A method of controlling access to location information, comprising:
receiving, at a location server, a location request to locate a target device, said location request comprising a unique personal location code (PLC) that is distinct from identification information associated with a requesting device and distinct from identification information associated with said target device;
determining if a schedule allows use of said unique received PLC at a time of said receiving;
if said unique PLC is determined to be a valid PLC, obtaining a current location of said target device; and
providing said current location of said target device to said requesting device.
2. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if said current location of said target device is private.
3. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if said current location of said target device is in a set of approved locations.
4. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if said unique received PLC has expired.
5. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if said unique received PLC is valid.
6. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
limiting said current location of said target device to a predetermined granularity.
7. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
limiting said current location of said target device to a predetermined description.
8. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one of charging and debiting an account associated with said unique received PLC for said request.
9. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining location for at least two target devices.
10. A method of controlling access to location information, comprising:
receiving a unique personal location code (PLC) from a requesting device issuing a location request, said received unique PLC being distinct from identification information associated with said requesting device and distinct from identification information associated with a target device;
determining if a schedule allows use of said unique received PLC at a time of said receiving;
sending said location request for a current location of said target device to a user device locator service, said location request identifying said received unique PLC; and
if said received unique PLC is determined to be a valid PLC, providing a response from said user device locator service including said current location of said target device to said requesting device.
11. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 10 , further comprising:
tracking said current location of said target device over time.
12. The method of controlling access to location information according to claim 10 , further comprising:
tracking a time at said current location for said target device.
13. Apparatus for controlling access to location information, comprising:
means for receiving, at a location server, a location request to locate a target device, said location request comprising a unique personal location code (PLC) that is distinct from identification information associated with a requesting device and distinct from identification information associated with said target device;
means for determining if a schedule allows use of said unique received PLC at a time of said receiving;
means for obtaining a current location of said target device if said received unique PLC is determined to be a valid PLC; and
means for providing said current location of said target device to said requesting device.
14. Apparatus for controlling access to location information, comprising:
means for receiving a unique personal location code (PLC) from a requesting device issuing a location request, said received unique PLC that is distinct from identification information associated with said requesting device and distinct from identification information associated with a target device;
means for determining if a schedule allows use of said unique received PLC at a time of said receiving;
means for sending said location request for a current location of said target device to a user device locator service, said location request identifying said received unique PLC; and
means for providing a response, from said user device locator service, including said current location of said target device to said requesting device, if said received unique PLC is determined to be a valid PLC.