# US 8,787,932 B2 · Personalized location information for mobile devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,932 B2 - Document ID: US8787932B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/615,254 - Filed: 2012-09-13 - Published: 2013-03-21 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-11 - Assignees: Facebook, Inc. - Applicants: Jennifer Granito; Alexander Franco - Inventors: Jennifer Granito; Alexander Franco - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787932B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - H04L 51/043: using or handling presence information - H04L 51/58: Message adaptation for wireless communication - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements - G01S 5/0072: {Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract Providing location information on a mobile device includes receiving signals from external devices. Each signal includes information that specifies a geographic location for the external device that has provided the signal. A geographic location for the mobile device is calculated by using the information contained in each of the received signals. A representation of the geographic location of the mobile device is generated. The representation of the geographic location is included within an electronic message that provides information describing a user of the mobile device to other users of an electronic communications system. The electronic message is transmitted to another device to provide an indication of the geographic location for the user to one of the other users of the electronic communications system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: determining a geographic location of a mobile device associated with a user of a system; determining, using at least one processor, a representation associated with the geographic location using a directory comprising non-user defined representations, the representation of the geographic location being descriptive of the geographic location; and associating the determined representation with an electronic message intended for one or more co-users of the system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the directory comprises one or more names of locations at or near the geographic location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising: receiving one or more names for one or more geographic locations from one or more users of the system; and storing the one or more names in the directory. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the geographic location comprises latitude and longitude coordinates. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising determining an address corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising using the address to determine the representation associated with the geographic location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining a plurality of representations associated with the geographic location of the mobile device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising: providing the plurality of representations associated with the geographic location to the user; receiving, at the mobile device, a selection of the representation from the plurality of representations associated with the geographic location from the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising determining names of locations within a predetermined distance of the geographic location of the mobile device to include in the plurality of representations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending the electronic message and the representation associated with the geographic location to a server associated with the system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message entered on the mobile device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising adding the representation associated with the geographic location to an aggregation of one or more representations of geographic locations at which the mobile device was previously located. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising adding the electronic message and the representation associated with the geographic location to an aggregation of one or more electronic message associated with the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: generating a map showing the geographic location of the mobile device; and providing, via the mobile device, the map in connection with the plurality of representations associated with the geographic location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising indicating a location of the mobile device on the map. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining a representation associated with the geographic location comprises automatically identifying the representation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising prompting the user, via the mobile device, for a confirmation that the representation of the geographic location is accurate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein associating the representation with an electronic message intended for one or more co-users of the system comprises adding the representation to the electronic message. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform steps comprising: determining a geographic location of a mobile device associated with a user of a system; determining a representation associated with the geographic location based on a directory comprising non-user defined representations, the representation of the geographic location being descriptive of the geographic location; and associating the determined representation of the geographic location with an electronic message intended for one or more co-users of the system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the directory comprises one or more names of locations associated with the geographic location. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the names were previously provided by users of the system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to determine a plurality of representations associated with the geographic location of the mobile device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, further comprising determining names of locations within a predetermined distance of the geographic location of the mobile device to include in the plurality of representations. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 24, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: generate a user interface comprising the plurality of representations for display on the mobile device; and receive a selection of the representation of the geographic location from the user via the user interface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: generate a map showing the geographic location of the mobile device; and include the map in the user interface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to indicate a location of the mobile device on the map. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to send the electronic message and the representation associated with the geographic location to a server associated with the system. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to add the electronic message and the representation of the geographic location to an aggregation of one or more electronic message associated with the user. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to add the representation to an aggregation of one or more representations of geographic locations at which the mobile device was previously located. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein determining a representation associated with the geographic location comprises automatically identifying the representation. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 31, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to prompt the user for a confirmation that the representation of the geographic location is accurate. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message entered on the mobile device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone. ### Claim 35 (depends on 20) The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 20, wherein associating the representation with an electronic message intended for one or more co-users of the system comprises adding the representation to the electronic message. ### Claim 36 A method comprising: determining a geographic location of a mobile device associated with a user of a communications system; determining, using at least one processor, a plurality of representations associated with the geographic location, the plurality of representations comprising one or more non-user defined representations; receiving, at the of device, a user selection of a representation from the plurality of representations; and associating the selected representation of the geographic location with an electronic message intended for one or more co-users of the communications system. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising: detecting a change in the geographic location of the mobile device; determining an updated geographic location of the mobile device; and identifying a representation of the updated geographic location of the mobile device. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising prompting the user for a confirmation that the representation of the updated geographic location is accurate. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising enabling presentation of the plurality of representations to the user. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method as recited in claim 39, further comprising: generating a map showing the geographic location of the mobile device; and enabling presentation of the map in connection with the plurality of representations. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising accessing a directory server to determine the plurality of representations associated with the geographic location. ### Claim 42 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising accessing a common name repository storing one or more representations associated with the geographic location, the one or more representations being provided by one or more users of the communications system. ### Claim 43 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising sending the electronic message to the one or more co-users of the communications system. ### Claim 44 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising including the electronic message in an information feed associated with the user. ### Claim 45 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone. ### Claim 46 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message entered on the mobile device. ### Claim 47 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising: receiving a comment regarding the representation of the geographic location of the mobile device from a first co-user of the communications system; and associating the comment with the electronic message. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method as recited in claim 47, further comprising enabling one or more additional co-users of the communications system to access the electronic message and the comment. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The method as recited in claim 48, wherein enabling one or more additional co-users of the communications system to access to the electronic message and the comment comprises storing the electronic message and the comment in an information feed associated with the user, the information feed being accessible by the one or more additional co-users. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The method as recited in claim 48, wherein enabling one or more additional co-users of the communications system to access the electronic message and the comment comprises sending the electronic message and the comment to one or more devices associated with the one or more additional co-users. ### Claim 51 (depends on 36) The method as recited in claim 36, further comprising determining a default representation of the geographic location. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The method as recited in claim 51, wherein determining a default representation of the geographic location comprises identifying a representation previously selected by the user for the geographic location. ### Claim 53 A mobile device comprising: one or more processors; a non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and one or more instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: determine a geographic location of the mobile device, the mobile device being associated with a user of a communications system; determine a plurality of representations of the geographic location, the plurality of representations comprising one or more non-user defined representations; receive a user selection of a representation from the plurality of representations; and include the selected representation of the geographic location in an electronic message intended for one or more co-users of the communications system. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The mobile device as recited in claim 53, further comprising a global positioning system receiver configured to receive signals from multiple global positing satellites. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The mobile device as recited in claim 54, further comprising one or more instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine the geographic location using one or more signals from one or more of the multiple global positing satellites. ### Claim 56 (depends on 53) The mobile device as recited in claim 53, further comprising one or more instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: detect a change in the geographic location of the mobile device; determine an updated geographic location of the mobile device; and automatically identify a representation of the updated geographic location of the mobile device. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The mobile device as recited in claim 56, further comprising one or more instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the user for a confirmation that the representation of the updated geographic location is accurate. ### Claim 58 (depends on 54) The mobile device as recited in claim 54, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to generate a user interface comprising the plurality of representations associated with the geographic location of the mobile device. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The mobile device as recited in claim 58, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: generate a map showing the geographic location of the mobile device; and include the map in user interface. ### Claim 60 (depends on 58) The mobile device as recited in claim 58, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to access a directory server to determine the plurality of representations associated with the geographic location. ### Claim 61 (depends on 58) The mobile device as recited in claim 58, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to send the electronic message to the one or more co-users of the communications system. ### Claim 62 (depends on 58) The mobile device as recited in claim 58, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to include the electronic message in an information feed associated with the user. ### Claim 63 (depends on 58) The mobile device as recited in claim 58, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive a comment regarding the representation of the geographic location of the mobile device from a first co-user of the communications system; and associate the comment with the electronic message. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The mobile device as recited in claim 63, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to store the electronic message and the comment in an information feed associated with the user, the information feed being accessible to the one or more additional co-users. ### Claim 65 (depends on 63) The mobile device as recited in claim 63, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to send the electronic message and the comment to one or more devices associated with the one or more additional co-users. ### Claim 66 (depends on 58) The mobile device as recited in claim 58, further comprising one or more additional instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium that when executed, by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine a default representation of the geographic location. ### Claim 67 (depends on 58) The mobile device as recited in claim 58, wherein determining a default representation of the geographic location comprises identifying a representation previously selected by the user for the geographic location. ### Claim 68 (depends on 53) The mobile device as recited in claim 53, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone. ### Claim 69 (depends on 53) The mobile device as recited in claim 53, wherein the electronic message comprises an instant message.