US 9,756,476 B2 · Efficient resource usage for location sharing in computer networks

Abstract

A location sharing system and related processes across computer networks are provided that efficiently utilize resources by adjusting location determination techniques at client devices. A rule-based architecture including user-based heuristics facilitates location determination that is accurate while optimizing resource consumption. Current interest in or other behavior associated with a target user or requesting user can be used in selecting a location determination protocol at the client device. An accurate portrayal of a user's location can be provided efficiently by correlating interest to utilize more accurate but larger resource-intensive components when interest is higher and to utilize less accurate but lower resource-intensive components when interest is lower.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of sharing location information between computing devices, comprising:

receiving at a server first tracking information and first location information from a first client device, the first location information being obtained using a first location protocol;
receiving at the server second location information and second tracking information from a second client device, the second tracking information indicating a set of users being tracked at the second client device;
accessing profile information for the set of users and determining that the first client device is associated with a user in the set of users being tracked at the second client device;
sending at least a portion of the second tracking information to the first client device to initiate a location determination protocol change at the first client device;
and
receiving from the first client device location information obtained at the first client device using a second location protocol, the second location protocol having a higher accuracy than the first location protocol.

3 more elements

A location sharing system, comprising:

at least one storage device;
at least one location server in communication with the at least one storage device, the at least one location server is configured to:
receive and store location information and tracking information associated with a plurality of subscribers;
determine from the tracking information that a first subscriber has requested location information for a second subscriber;
determine a client device associated with the second subscriber;
and
send at least a portion of the tracking information to the client device associated with the second subscriber to facilitate a change in location determination protocol based on the tracking information indicating that the first subscriber has requested location information for the second subscriber.

4 more elements

A method of location sharing between mobile computing devices, the method comprising:

associating each of a plurality of users with at least one of a plurality of mobile devices, the plurality of users including a first user associated with a first mobile device and a second user associated with a second mobile device;
determining whether information has been received from any of the plurality of mobile devices indicating that a current location of the first user or a current location of the second user is being used at one of the plurality of mobile devices;
in response to receiving information indicating that a current location of the first user is being used, determining location information of the first mobile device at a first accuracy level;
and
in response to not receiving information indicating that a current location of the second user is being used, determining location information of the second mobile device at a second accuracy level, the first accuracy level being higher than the second accuracy level.

2 more elements

One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on the one or more processor readable storage devices, the processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of location sharing, the method comprising:

receiving and storing at a location server location information and tracking information associated with a plurality of subscribers;
determining from the tracking information that a first subscriber has requested location information for a second subscriber;
determining a client device associated with the second subscriber;
and
sending at least a portion of the tracking information to the client device associated with the second subscriber to facilitate a change in location determination protocol based on the tracking information indicating that the first subscriber has requested location information for the second subscriber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Efficient resource usage for location sharing in computer networks

Life of this patent

Efficient resource usage for location sharing in computer networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17