Method and apparatus for sending, retrieving, and planning location relevant information
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sending and retrieving location relevant information to a user by selecting and designating a point of interest that is displayed on a graphical user interface and sending the location information associated with that point of interest to a receiver that is also selected using the graphical user interface. The location relevant information may also include mapped routes, waypoints, geo-fenced areas, moving vehicles etc. Updated location relevant information may also be continuously sent to the user while generating updated mapping information on the graphical user interface. The present invention may be practiced by using communication devices such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistance, in-vehicle navigation systems, or a mobile telephone.
1. A method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system, comprising:
establishing a text message window on a first wireless phone;
activating, at said first wireless phone a request for location information relating to a second wireless phone in response to user input at a graphical user interface (GUI);
receiving, at said first wireless phone, authorized location information relating to said second wireless phone; and
transferring, from said first wireless phone, said location information of said first wireless phone to said second wireless phone over said text messaging system in response user input corresponding to a drag-and-drop of a first icon of said first wireless phone onto a second icon of said second wireless phone in said GUI.
2. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 1 , wherein said location information of said first wireless phone comprises:
a navigation route based on a current location of said second wireless device.
3. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2 , wherein said navigation route includes:
a current location of said first wireless device.
4. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2 , wherein said navigation route comprises:
a route origin; and
a route destination.
5. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2 , wherein said navigation route comprises:
a route origin;
a route destination; and
all turn points.
6. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2 , wherein said navigation route comprises:
a route origin;
a route destination;
all turn points; and
a map database identifier.
7. The method of enabling a first wireless phone to graphically transmit location information of said first wireless phone to a second wireless phone over a text messaging system according to claim 2 , wherein said navigation route comprises:
a route origin;
a route destination;
all turn points; and
user preferences.
8. A first wireless phone comprising:
a display to provide user output;
a non-transitory memory to store machine readable instructions; and
one or more processors to access the memory and execute the machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions comprising a text message system comprising:
an active text message window on said display of said first wireless phone;
a virtual button in a graphical user interface (GUI) of said text message system to activate a request communication for location information relating to a second wireless phone in response to actuation of said virtual button, wherein said GUI provides output via said display;
wherein said text messaging system:
receives authorized location information relating to said second wireless phone in response to said request communication;
displays a first graphical icon of said first wireless phone in said GUI;
displays a second graphical icon of said second wireless phone in said GUI; and
transmits location information relating to said first wireless phone, to said second wireless phone, upon user-cursored overlap of said first graphical icon onto said second graphical icon in said GUI.
9. The first wireless phone of claim 8 , wherein said request communication is transmitted to said second wireless phone.
10. The first wireless phone of claim 8 , wherein said request communication is transmitted to a physical network positioning server.
11. The first wireless phone of claim 8 , wherein said location information relating to said first wireless phone comprises:
a navigation route based on a current location of said second wireless device.
12. The first wireless phone of claim 11 , wherein said navigation route includes:
a current location of said first wireless device.
13. The first wireless phone of claim 11 , wherein said navigation route includes:
a route origin; and
a route destination.
14. The first wireless phone of claim 11 , wherein said navigation route includes:
a route origin;
a route destination; and
all turn points.
15. The first wireless phone of claim 11 , wherein said navigation route includes:
a route origin;
a route destination; all turn points; and
a map database identifier.
16. The first wireless phone of claim 11 , wherein said navigation route includes:
a route origin;
a route destination; all turn points; and
user preferences.