US 8,554,875 B1 · Communicating future locations in a social network

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed which include receiving, from a user operating a user interface on a computing device, an indication of a first future date; identifying one or more friends of the user, for each of the one or more friends, gathering future trip information from the social network, determining based on the gathered trip information, whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the first future date, displaying a geographic map on the user interface including displaying a friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the first future date, and dynamically updating the friend representations respectively on the geographic map based on a third future date received.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims30

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from a user operating a user interface on a computing device, an indication of a first future date;
identifying one or more friends of the user, wherein the user and the one or more friends are directly connected in a social network;
for each of the one or more friends, gathering future trip information from the social network, the future trip information including respective second future dates and corresponding future locations indicating respective physical locations of each of the one or more friends at the respective second future dates;
determining, with the computing device, based on the gathered future trip information, whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the first future date, comprising:
if one or more friends are going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the first future date:
displaying a geographic map on the user interface including a friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the first future date, on the geographic map, wherein the friend representation includes at least one of an indication of a number of local friends that live at the future location, or an indication of a number of visiting friends at the future location on the first future date;
and
if one or more friends are not going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the first future date:
displaying the geographic map without any friend representations;
and
receiving, from the user, a third future date;
dynamically updating the friend representations respectively on the geographic map based on the third future date received, including:
determining whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the third future date;
and
if one or more friends are going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the one second future date that matches the third future date:
displaying a geographic map on the user interface the friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the third future date, on the geographic map;
and
if one or more friends are not going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the third future date:
displaying the geographic map without any friend representations.

16 more elements

A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a user operating a user interface on a computing device, an indication of a first future date;
identifying one or more friends of the user, wherein the user and the one or more friends are directly connected in a social network;
for each of the one or more friends, gathering future trip information from the social network, the future trip information including respective second future dates and corresponding future locations indicating respective physical locations of each of the one or more friends at the respective second future dates;
determining, with the computing device, based on the gathered future trip information, whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the first future date, comprising:
if one or more friends are going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the first future date:
displaying a geographic map on the user interface including a friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the first future date, on the geographic map, wherein the friend representation includes at least one of an indication of a number of local friends that live at the future location, or an indication of a number of visiting friends at the future location on the first future date;
and
if one or more friends are not going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the first future date:
displaying the geographic map without any friend representations;
and
receiving, from the user, a third future date;
dynamically updating the friend representations respectively on the geographic map based on the third future date received, including:
determining whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the third future date;
and
if one or more friends are going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the one second future date that matches the third future date:
displaying a geographic map on the user interface the friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the third future date, on the geographic map;
and
if one or more friends are not going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the third future date:
displaying the geographic map without any friend representations.

17 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon said execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a user operating a user interface on a computing device, an indication of a first future date;
identifying one or more friends of the user, wherein the user and the one or more friends are directly connected in a social network;
for each of the one or more friends, gathering future trip information from the social network, the future trip information including respective second future dates and corresponding future locations indicating respective physical locations of each of the one or more friends at the respective second future dates;
determining, with the computing device, based on the gathered future trip information, whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the first future date, comprising:
if one or more friends are going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the first future date:
displaying a geographic map on the user interface including a friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the first future date, on the geographic map, wherein the friend representation includes at least one of an indication of a number of local friends that live at the future location, or an indication of a number of visiting friends at the future location on the first future date;
and
if one or more friends are not going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the first future date:
displaying the geographic map without any friend representations;
receiving, from the user, a third future date;
dynamically updating the friend representations respectively on the geographic map based on the third future date received, including:
determining whether each of the one or more friends are going to be physically present at the future locations on one of the second future dates that matches the third future date;
and
if one or more friends are going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the one second future date that matches the third future date:
displaying a geographic map on the user interface the friend representation corresponding to each of the respective future locations where one or more friends are going to be physically present on the third future date, on the geographic map;
and
if one or more friends are not going to be physically present at the one or more future locations on the second future date that matches the third future date:
displaying the geographic map without any friend representations.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description16,182 words

Summary523 words

#This disclosure relates generally to geographical information systems and social and professional networking.

#Some web and mobile applications provide information about a current location of a user. This allows a user to share his or her location with friends. However, a user has to ask friends where they will be in the future or ask if they are attending an event. If multiple friends are involved, it can be a hassle for each friend to respond to multiple inquiries about future travel plans. Any data about future plans are fragmented across various applications. A user can also forget what a friend has said about his or her future plans. Plans can change.

#Furthermore, some “friends” may be individuals that do not share a close relationship with the user or they may be old friends or brief acquaintances. A user may be interested in meeting up with such a person that happens to be or plans to be in the same city, location, or at the same event. However, the user may be uncomfortable bothering that person with a direct query about whether they plan to be in a city on a certain future day or days.

Brief description of the drawings27 figures

#Embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a system for communicating future location information.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a system for communicating future location information.

Detailed description15,323 words

#Current applications do not allow users to share their future locations with their entire friend and professional network all in one place. Currently, in order to know whether a users' friends are planning to be in the same location at the same time, a user must obtain that information from his or her friends by direct communication (e.g., in person, phone, email, or text), or by viewing fragmented information on various applications. A user would then often have to wait for a response, collect that information and store it in a singular place such as a calendar. Only then could the user coherently and visually see if any of his or her friends had coinciding travel plans (or event plans).

#A system will be described that allows friends to share where they will be in the future so that other friends can plan to join them. A date sometime in the future may be entered or selected using graphic user interface tools of an application. Geographical locations of friends are then displayed for the chosen future date. The representations of these geographical locations may be displayed on a map, including on a geographical information system (GIS) map. A geographical location may include a city, a section of a city, a suburb of a city, a rural area, a vacation destination, a park, a place of a scheduled event or any other definable location. In some cases, city sections or nearby cities and towns can be associated with a major or larger city, area, or location. These locations may be annotated to show how many friends are either local or visiting or attending event(s) on the future date(s). A geographical location name may be altered to convey that the pin represents a broader metro area (e.g., Minneapolis-St. Paul), or a popular way of referencing the city (e.g., “SF”). Geographical locations of events, such as sports, concerts, conferences, and festivals, are also displayed on the map and associated with both the actual city an event occurs in, and the nearest major city.

#A user may create a named trip for a location on a future date. Friends can learn of the trip and join it. Information about upcoming events that friends are attending may be displayed or communicated. Friends can join an event and plan to meet up at the event. Friends can also suggest that other friends join the trip or event.

Facts

Application

13/572,875Filed 13 Aug 2012

Granted

8 Oct 2013

Term ends

13 Aug 2032

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

G06Q 10/42
Business processes related to social networking or social networking services: determination of affinities or common interests between users
H04L 67/52
Network services: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial
H04L
Digital communication

Description16,182 words

Summary523 words

#This disclosure relates generally to geographical information systems and social and professional networking.

Brief description of the drawings27 figures

#Embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a system for communicating future location information.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a system for communicating future location information.

Detailed description15,323 words

Communicating future locations in a social network

Life of this patent

Communicating future locations in a social network

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims30

Description16,182 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description16,182 words