Opt-in and time limited bi-directional real-time location sharing

A method for opt-in and time limited bi-directional location sharing between a group of devices associated with a group of participants, said method comprising:

• receiving, at a server, a connection request from a first device from the group of devices to share information between the first device and other devices of the group of devices, wherein the shared information includes messages and meta-data;
• providing, from the server, the connection request to the other devices of the group of devices, said participants being known to each other or known as users in a same group, the information including at least locations of the devices, the request providing the participants of the other devices with a choice to accept or deny the connection request;
• if the connection request is accepted by any device of the group of devices, said method further comprises:
• bi-directionally sharing locations of the first device and any of the other devices that have accepted the request by the server for a first predetermined period of time,
• determining, at the server, if a command to terminate the connection was received by any participant at any time during the first predetermined period of time,
• determining, at the server, if the first device and any other device that has accepted the request are within a predetermined distance of each other, and
• if it is determined that the first device and a device that has accepted the request are within a predetermined distance of each other, allowing the connection to be terminated at the server based on a command from one of the participants associated with the first device and the device within the predetermined distance prior to the end of the first predetermined period of time;
• and
• if the connection request is not accepted, caching the connection request at the server and attempting the connection request periodically until the connection is established or a connection request duration time limit is reached at which point the connection request is canceled;
• wherein messages exchanged between the devices are deleted from the devices after the connection is terminated and after a second predetermined time period has elapsed;
• and
• wherein the messages exchanged between the devices are reloaded onto the devices if the connection is reestablished before a third period of time has elapsed.

A system for opt-in and time limited bi-directional location sharing between a first device associated with a first participant and a second device associated with a second participant, said system comprising:

• a server adapted to:
• receive, from the first device, a connection request to share information between the first and second devices, said first and second participants being known to each other or known as users in a group, the information including at least locations of the first and second devices, wherein the shared information includes messages and meta-data;
• transmit the connection request to the second device, the request providing the second participant with a choice to accept or deny the connection request;
• determine if the connection request is accepted by the second device, and if accepted:
• provide bi-directional sharing of locations of the first and second devices for a first predetermined period of time,
• accept a command to terminate the connection by either participant at any time during the first predetermined period of time,
• determine if the first and second devices are within a predetermined distance of each other, and
• if it is determined that the first and second devices are within a predetermined distance of each other, allowing the connection to be terminated by the participants prior to the end of the first predetermined period of time;
• and
• determine if the connection request is not accepted, if the request is not accepted, cache the connection request and attempt the connection request periodically until the connection is established or a connection request duration time limit is reached at which point the connection request is canceled;
• wherein messages exchanged between the first and second devices are deleted from the first and second devices after the connection is terminated and after a second predetermined time period has elapsed;
• and
• wherein the messages exchanged between the first and second devices are reloaded onto the first and second devices if the connection is reestablished before a third period of time has elapsed.

A first mobile device, said first mobile device executing an application program to perform a method for opt-in and time limited bi-directional location sharing between said first mobile device and a second mobile device, said first mobile device being associated with a first participant, said second mobile device being associated with a second participant, said executing application program causing said first mobile device to:

• receive, from said second mobile device, a connection request to share information with said second mobile device, the first and second participants being known to each other or known as users in a group, the information including at least locations of said first and second mobile devices, the request providing the first participant with a choice to accept or deny the connection request, wherein the shared information includes messages and meta-data;
• input a user response to the request;
• transmit the user response to an external device adapted to create a connection between said first and second mobile devices;
• if the connection request is accepted:
• receive at least a location of said second mobile device for a first predetermined period of time,
• transmit at least a location of said mobile device to said second mobile device for a first predetermined period of time,
• display a map on a display area of said first mobile device,
• generate and display graphical indicators corresponding to the locations of said first and second mobile devices on the map,
• accept a command to terminate the connection by either participant at any time during the first predetermined period of time,
• determine if said first mobile device and said second mobile device are within a predetermined distance of each other, and
• if it is determined that said first and second mobile devices are within a predetermined distance of each other, allowing the connection to be terminated prior to the end of the first predetermined period of time;
• wherein messages exchanged between the first and second mobile devices are deleted from the first and second mobile devices after the connection is terminated and after a second predetermined time period has elapsed;
• and
• wherein the messages exchanged between the first and second mobile devices are reloaded onto the first and second mobile devices if the connection is reestablished before a third period of time has elapsed.