# US 2019/0173832 A1 · Electronic device, server, and control method and location information providing method for the electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0173832 A1 - Document ID: US20190173832A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/274,400 - Filed: 2019-02-13 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-21 - Assignees: Thinkwaresystems Corp - Applicants: Thinkwaresystems Corp. - Inventors: Hyun Joong YU; Jun Sik KIM; Won Jun HEO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190173832A1 ## CPC - H04L 51/52: for supporting social networking services - H04L 51/222: using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Provided is an electronic device which periodically transmits current location information to the location information service providing server in case of executing grouping applications, produces group including at least one member, selected by a user, of address list information received from the location information service providing server, requests messages requesting group participation to the member included in the group through the social network service providing server in case of generating predetermined events, and periodically receives the location information from the member accepting the group participation and displays the received location information on a map. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a communication unit communicating with a server; and a controller periodically transmitting location information to the server through the communication unit when executing a grouping application, producing a group including at least one member and a user, requesting a group participation request to the at least one member included in the group through the server, and periodically receiving the location information from the at least one member who accepts the group participation request and the user, wherein group members comprise the at least one member and the user, wherein the controller sets a first destination of the group and displays first location indicators of the group members on a map and second location indicators of the group members on a first straight-line visual representation based on the location information respectively when the first destination of the group is set, wherein the map and the first straight-line visual representation are displayed on a screen, wherein the first destination is a common destination that each of the group members heads for, wherein the second location indicators of the group members are displayed in proportion to distances or remaining moving time from each of the group members to the first destination on the first straight-line visual representation, wherein positions of the second location indicators on the first straight-line visual representation are changed according to the distances between the first destination and each of the group members or the remaining moving time of each of the group members to the first destination, and wherein the controller sets one end of the first straight-line visual representation as the common destination, and displays a location indicator, among the second location indicators of the group members, corresponding to a group member located farthest away from the common destination or corresponding to a group member with the longest remaining moving time to the first destination at the farthest from the one end of the first straight-line visual representation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the controller displays at least one of starting locations and real time locations of the group members with respect to the first destination onto the first straight-line visual representation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least two members of the group members selected by the controller set a stop location as a second destination, and the controller displays third location indicators of the at least two members of the group members in proportion to distances from each of the at least two members of the group members to the second destination on a second straight-line visual representation on the screen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the controller displays routes from a current location of one of the group members to the first destination upon a receipt of a route search request for the first destination of the group, and displays locations of the group members upon a receipt of a request from one of the group members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the controller sets a time limit receiving the location information of the group members, in real time updates the location information of the group members during the time limit, and displays the updated location information on the map and the first straight-line visual representation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein, after lapse of the time limit, the controller ends to provide the location information of the group members and stores group information including member information and name of the group. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein upon reset of the first destination and the time limit, the controller re-transmits the group participation request to the at least one member included in the group through the server together with generation of predetermined events, using the stored group information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined events include at least one of selection of the user or a lapse of a predetermined time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides detail information including at least one of a latest access time to the server, average speed, and latest location information for the group members upon receipt of a request. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, upon receipt of a request and on adding or deleting the group members after producing the group, the controller in real time displays the first location indicators and the second location indicators of the one who has newly accepted the group participation request on the map and the first straight-line visual representation, respectively or discontinues to display the first location indicators and the second location indicators of the one who has been deleted from the group member on the map and the first straight-line visual representation respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, on producing a plurality of groups, the controller produces a plurality of widgets displaying schematic information of the plurality of groups, wherein each of the plurality of widgets displays at least one of names, personnel of the at least one member, and the time limit of the plurality of groups, and the plurality of widgets are displayed on one screen. ### Claim 12 A server comprising: a communication unit communicating with at least one electronic device; and a controller requesting a group participation request and location information to a second electronic device upon receipt of a request of group production from a first electronic device, and transmitting the location information of the second electronic device to the first electronic device upon receipt of the location information from the second electronic device, wherein group members comprise the at least one member and the user, wherein the controller sets a first destination of the group and displays first location indicators of the group members on a map and second location indicators of the group members on a first straight-line visual representation based on the location information respectively when the first destination of the group is set, wherein the map and the first straight-line visual representation are displayed on a screen, wherein the first destination is a common destination that each of the group members heads for, wherein the second location indicators of the group members are displayed in proportion to distances or remaining moving time from each of the group members to the first destination on the first straight-line visual representation, wherein positions of the second location indicators on the first straight-line visual representation are changed according to the distances between the first destination and each of the group members or the remaining moving time of each of the group members to the first destination, and wherein the controller sets one end of the first straight-line visual representation as the common destination, and displays a location indicator, among the second location indicators of the group members, corresponding to a group member located farthest away from the common destination or corresponding to a group member with the longest remaining moving time to the first destination at the farthest from the one end of the first straight-line visual representation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The server according to claim 12, wherein the controller provides a widget displaying detail information of the group including names, personnel of the group members, and a time limit of the group to the first electronic device, and the controller controls to change and display the time limit of the widget according to lapse of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The server according to claim 12, wherein the controller matches information for the group with information of the first electronic device and manages the matched information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The server according to claim 12, wherein the controller displays the second location indicators of the second electronic device to the first destination of the group on the first straight-line visual representation during the time limit. ### Claim 16 A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising: executing grouping applications; producing a group including at least one member selected by a user; transmitting a group participation request to the at least one member included in the group through a server; and receiving location information from the at least one member who accepts the group participation request and the user, wherein group members comprise the at least one member and the user, wherein the controller sets a first destination of the group and displays first location indicators of the group members on a map and second location indicators of the group members on a first straight-line visual representation based on the location information respectively when the first destination of the group is set, wherein the map and the first straight-line visual representation are displayed on a screen, wherein the first destination is a common destination that each of the group members heads for, wherein the second location indicators of the group members are displayed in proportion to distances or remaining moving time from each of the group members to the first destination on the first straight-line visual representation, and wherein positions of the second location indicators on the first straight-line visual representation are changed according to the distances between the first destination and each of the group members or the remaining moving time of each of the group members to the first destination, and wherein the controller sets one end of the first straight-line visual representation as the common destination, and displays a location indicator, among the second location indicators of the group members, corresponding to a group member located farthest away from the common destination or corresponding to a group member with the longest remaining moving time to the first destination at the farthest from the one end of the first straight-line visual representation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 16, wherein a step of receiving the location information further comprises periodically receiving the location information of the group members from the server, and displaying the first location indicators and the second location indicators based on the location information received therefrom. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 16, further comprising a step setting the first destination and a time limit of the group. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 17, wherein a step of periodically receiving the location information further comprises simultaneously displaying at least one of starting locations and real time locations of the group members for the first destination on the first straight-line visual representation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 18, further comprising: selecting at least two members of the group members to set a stop location information as a second destination; and displaying third location indicators of the at least two members of the group members in proportion to distances from each of the at least two members of the group members to the second destination on a second straight-line visual representation on the screen.