US006456854B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`a2) United States Patent
`US 6,456,854 B1
`Chern etal.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Sep. 24, 2002
`
`
`*
`*
`
`6/2000 Voit... eeeeceeeeeeees 370/352
`6/2000 Chen et al. ..... ee 709/202
`8/2000 Hollenberg
`8/2000 Brohoff
`9/2000 Lennert
`92000 Kimoto et al.
`9/2000 Wantetal.
`10/2000 Lazaruset al.
`
`AAA
`
`6,075,783
`6,076,099
`6,091,956
`6,108,533 A
`A
`6,113,494
`61158611
`A
`6.122.520 A
`6,134,532 A
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75)
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING
`AND TRACKING MOBILE TELEPHONE
`DEVICES VIA THE INTERNET
`_VWVi
`.
`.
`Inventors: Vincent Chern; Jong Tae Chung;
`r
`;
`Dung John Dinh, all of San Diego, CA
`(US)
`(73) Assignee: Leap Wireless International, San
`:
`Diego, CA (US)
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`(*) Notice:
`
`
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35 1066867 A2—1/2001EP
`
`
`US.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 1066868 A2—1/2001EP
`EP
`1086732 Al
`3/2001
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/566,596
`EP
`1087323 Al
`3/2001
`
`
`(22) Filed:|May 8, 2000 * cited by examiner
`
`(51) Unt. C17 vacccccccccccccssssssssssessssvesseseseeeeeeen H04B 7/20
`(52) US. Che cascccccssseesneee 455/457; 455/456; 455/414;
`455/426; 455/458
`(58) Field of Search 0... eee 455/457, 458,
`455/466, 461, 456, 414, 426; 701/201,
`203, 217-219; 370/352; 340/825.36
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,479,482 A
`5,625,668 A
`5,712,899 A
`ie A
`3796,365 A
`5,797,091 A
`5848306 A
`5,852,775 A
`5,872,539 A
`5,913,170 A
`5,917,405 A *
`5,938,721 A
`7ee A
`6.026309 ‘A
`6,050,898 A
`6,055,510 A
`
`12/1995 Grimes
`4/1997 Loomisetal.
`1/1998 Pace,II
`7/1998 Janky
`8/1998 Lewis
`8/1998 Clise etal.
`12/1998 Gerace
`12/1998 Hidary
`2/1999 Mullen
`6/1999 Wortham
`6/1999 Joao weseeeeeeeseteeetenee 340/426
`8/1999 Dussell et al.
`nyJo0g a et al.
`2/2000 Moonet al.
`4/2000 Vangeet al.
`4/2000 Henricketal.
`
`Primary Examiner—Edward F. Urban
`Assistant Examiner—Marceau Milord
`(74) Avorney, Agent, or Firm—Reed Smith LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`Asystem and method for locating mobile telephone devices
`via the Web. The mobile telephone device obtains and
`provides its location to a Web server in GPS latitude and
`longitude format. The communication between the Web
`server and the mobile telephone device may be through a
`browseror through mobile originated short message service.
`‘The Webserverrecords the location information along with
`the time of receipt. Over time, the Web server may record
`several locations for a single mobile telephone device so that
`the progress of the mobile unit may be mapped. The
`:
`,
`:
`:
`f
`*
`information contained in the Web server is accessible to
`devices with Web browsing capabilities. A Web browsing
`device queries the Web server for
`location information
`pertaining to a particular mobile telephone device. The Web
`server may require authorization for such information before
`sending the location to the requesting device. The location
`information maybe sent in a text only formator as text with
`graphics, depending on the display capabilities of the
`requesting Web browsing device.
`
`13 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`WEB SERVER SENDS
`REQUESTFCR GPS.
`INFO TO MOBILC
`PHONE
`
`MOBILE PHONE
`
`ACQUIRES GPS
`
`LOCATION
`
`MOBILE PHONE
`SENDS GPS
`LOCATION TO WEB
`SERVER.
`
`
`USER SELECTS TO.
`AUTO PUBLISH MOBILE
`
`
`PHONE LOCATIONVIA
`FROM WEB SERVER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WEB SERVER
`
`RECORDS LONGITUDE,
`LATITUDE, AND TIME
`
`OF RECEIPT
`
`
` Google Exhibit 1029
`
`Google Exhibit 1029
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`

`

`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`Page 2
`
`4/2001 Publetal.
`6,223,291 B1
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6/2001 Elliot voices 342/457
`6,243,039 B1 *
`.
`
`6,147,598 A*11/2000 Murphyetal. ............. 340/426 6,321,091 BL * 11/2001 Holland wees 455/456
`2001/0005839 Al
`6/2001 Maenpaaet al.
`engee BL
`toeen poldue eala
`ad
`1
`1/2001
`Welling,
`Jr. et al.
`2001/0011248 Al
`8/2001 Himmeletal.
`*
`6,199,045 Bl
`3/2001 Giniker et al. occ 705/1
`2001/0013037 Al
`8/2001 Matsumoto
`6,202,023 B1 *
`3/2001 Hancocket al.
`............ 701/201
`2001/0014911 At
`8/2001 Doi et al
`6,208,866 B1
`3/2001 Rouhollahzadehetal.
`Oren al
`6,215,790 B1 *
`4/2001 Voit et al. cece 370/401
`6,216,129 B1
`4/2001 Eldering
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`112
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SPEAKER
`106
`
`TRANSCEIVER
`122
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`Ne
`
`BASE STATION
`
`100
`
`PROCESSOR
`104
`
`
`
`110 MICROPHONE
`
`
` DISPLAY
`
`MEMORY
`114
`
`
`
`108
`
`
`
`KEYPAD
`
`116
`
`POWER SOURCE
`118
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`o =—|o
`
`l
`
`DATA
`BASE
`138
`
`SERVER 136
`
`
`
` WIRELESS
`
`NETWORK
`140
`
`
`
`134
`
`HANDS FREE
`UNIT
`432
`
`POS DET
`
`WIRELESS
`HANDSET
`130
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`USER REQUESTS FEATURE
`
`202
`
`204
`
` FEATURE
`REQUIRES
`POSITION
`?
`
`YES
`
`ACQUIRE POSITION
`
`214
`
`SEND POSITION DATA
`TO HANDSET
`
`SEND REQUEST TO SERVER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SERVER LOOKS UP DATA/INFORMATION
`AND RETURNS TO HANDSET
`
`208
`
`PROVIDE INFORMATION TO USER
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 6,456,854 BI
`
`
`
` AUTHORIZED USER
`AND MAP
`
`USER SELECTS TO
`
`PUBLISH MOBILE
`
`PHONE LOCATION
`
`REQUESTS MOBILE
`PHONE LOCATION
`FROM WEB SERVER
`
`MOBILE PHONE
`
`ACQUIRES GPS
`LOCATION
`
`WEB SERVER
`RESPONDSWITH
`STREET ADDRESS
`
`MOBILE PHONE
`SENDS GPS
`LOCATION TO WEB
`SERVER
`
`FIG. 5
`
`WEB SERVER
`RECORDS LONGITUDE,
`LATITUDE, AND TIME
`OF RECEIPT
`
`FIG. 4
`
`
`
`WEB SERVER SENDS
`REQUEST FOR GPS
`INFO TO MOBILE
`PHONE
`
`MOBILE PHONE
`ACQUIRES GPS
`LOCATION
`
`MOBILE PHONE
`SENDS GPS
`LOCATION TO WEB
`SERVER
`
`WEB SERVER
`RECORDS LONGITUDE,
`LATITUDE, AND TIME
`
`USER SELECTS TO
`AUTO PUBLISH MOBILE
`PHONE LOCATION VIA
`FROM WEB SERVER
`
`OF RECEIPT
`
`
`
`SERVER 136
`
`&
`
`MOBILE
`UNIT
`100
`
`WORLD
`WIDE WEB
`180
`
`BROWSER
`DEVICE
`152
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 24, 2002
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`YAQNAS
`
`HOLVOOT
`
`YOLOA1SS
`
`OOl
`
`AW1dSI0
`
`
`
`(2)YAAISOSY
`
`
`
`YALLINSNVHLHAGHOODSY
`
`HOLSANOAY
`
`HSAIBOSYpL“
`
`(L)
`
`9El
`
`89z
`
`8Sls
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING
`AND TRACKING MOBILE TELEPHONE
`DEVICES VIA THE INTERNET
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to mobile wireless
`communications and, more particularly, relates to a system
`and method for locating and tracking mobile telephone
`devices via the Internet.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The advent of wireless personal communications devices
`has revolutionized the telecommunicalions industry.
`Cellular, personal communications services (“PCS”) and
`other services provide wireless personal communicationsto
`businesses and individuals at home, in the office, on the
`road, and to any other location the wireless network can
`reach. Wireless telephone subscribers no longer must use
`public telephones along the road or wait until returning to
`the homeor office to check messagesor to return important
`business calls. Instead, wireless subscribers can carry out
`day-to-day business from the privacy of an automobile, from
`a remote job site, while walking along the airport concourse,
`and anywhereelse that a personal communications signal is 2
`accessible.
`
`Thus, it is no surprise that since the introduction of the
`cellular telephone service, the number of wireless telephone
`subscribers has increased steadily. Today, there are a stag-
`gering number of wireless telephone subscribers whose
`ranks are growing rapidly. In fact, many households have
`multiple wireless telephones in addition to their conven-
`tional land lineservices.
`
`With a market of this size, there is fierce competition
`among hardware manufacturers and service providers. In an
`attempt
`to lure customers, most providers offer handsets
`with desirable featuresor attributes such as small size, light
`weight, longer battery life, speed dial, and the like. Many
`recent additions to the marketplace include multi-functional
`handsets that even provide pocket organizer functions inte-
`grated into the wireless handset. Most manufacturers,
`however, are still scrambling to add new features to their
`communications devices to snare a portion of this booming
`market.
`
`One way in which new features are added to wireless
`communication devicesis by integrating the devices into the
`Web. Such integration allows the countless services avail-
`able through the Web to be extended to wireless communi-
`cations devices. Moreover, some mobile telephones have the
`ability to determine their own location, such as through use
`of GPS. The present
`invention takes advantage of this
`intriguing combination of location self-determination and
`connectivity to the Web.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed toward a system and
`method for locating and tracking mobile telephone devices
`via the Internet.
`In general, a mobile telephone device
`publishesits location to a server computer that is connected
`to the World Wide Web (“Web”). Subsequently, the infor-
`mation about the location of the mobile telephone device is
`available from the Web server. In this fashion, the location
`of a mobile telephone device can be obtained through the
`Internet.
`
`More specifically, the mobile telephone device can pub-
`lish its location either manually or automatically. In the
`
`30
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`50
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`2
`manual publication process, the user takes a specific action
`to cause the mobile telephone device to publish its location.
`Once the user has manually instructed the mobile telephone
`device to publish its location, the device acquires its GPS
`location, establishes a communications link with the Web
`server and provides its location to the Web server.
`Altematively, the user’s action could instruct the mobile
`telephone device to automatically publishits location. In this
`embodiment, once the user has instructed the mobile tele-
`phone device to automatically publish its location,
`the
`mobile telephone device periodically acquires its GPS loca-
`tion and then establishes a communications link with the
`
`Web server and provides its location to the server. This
`periodic communication continues until
`the mobile tele-
`phonedeviceis instructed to discontinue automatic publish-
`ing of its location.
`In another embodiment of the automatic publishing
`process,
`the Web server periodically queries the mobile
`telephone device. To do so, the Web server sends a message
`to the mobile telephone device requesting the device’s
`location. When the mobile telephone device reccives the
`request, it responds by acquiring its GPS location and then
`sending the location to the server.
`These and other aspects and embodiments of the present
`invention will be apparent
`in the following description,
`claims and drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The details of the present invention,both asto its structure
`and operation, can best be understood in reference to the
`accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
`refer to like parts, and in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication
`device.
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication
`system according to the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for requesting infor-
`mation across a wireless network according to the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for supplying a Web
`server with the location of a mobile telephone device
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for supplying the
`location of a mobile telephone device to an authorized user
`of a Web browser according to the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for a Web server to
`automatically determine the location of a mobile telephone
`device according to the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a wireless communication
`system that connects wireless communications devices and
`other browser capable devices to the Web, according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a wireless communication
`system according to the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`1. Example Environment
`Before describing the invention in detail, an example
`environmentin which the invention can be implemented will
`be described. One example environment is a handset or
`communication device operating within a wireless commu-
`nication network suchas, for example, a cellular, GSM, PCS
`or radio communication network. One example wireless
`communication device (handset) 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1.
`
`

`

`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`3
`the present
`Wireless communication devices embodying,
`invention, however, can be implementedin various configu-
`rations and architectures. Implementation of the invention is
`not dependent on any particular device architecture or
`communication network. In the following description, the
`descriptors “wireless communication device”, “wireless
`handsct”, “mobile telephone device”, and thelike all refer to
`a communication device operating within a wireless net-
`work.
`
`Handset 100 includes processor 104, speaker 106, display
`108, keypad 110, transceiver 122, memory 114, microphone
`116, power source 118 and antenna 120. Handset 100 is
`typically a mobile unit such as a handheld cellular phone or
`an integrated vehicle phone. It is configured to communicate
`with other communications devices suchas base station 112.
`Basestation 112 is located within a geographic area known
`as a “cell” and handles communications for all mobile units
`within the cell.
`Processor 104 directs the overall operation of handset
`100. A computer program or set of instructions is Lypically
`coded or otherwise implemented on the processor to enable
`the processor to carry out the device operation. As will be
`described in more detail below, an Internet or World Wide
`Web(“Web”) browser may be coded into the processor and
`used as the operating system for handset 100. Memory 114
`interfaces with processor 104 and may store program code
`and provide storage space for data useful in executing the
`program code and carrying out handset functions. Memory
`114 may be implemented as Read Only Memory (“ROM”),
`Random Access Memory (“RAM”) or as any other conve-
`nient memory format. The features and functionality of the
`invention described below may be implemented using
`hardware, software or a combination of hardware and soft-
`ware. If implemented as software, the software may run on
`processor 104 or be stored in memory114.
`Transceiver 122 includes a transmitter that
`
`transmits
`
`voice and data information via antenna 120 to a recipient
`communication device (such as base station 112), and a
`receiver that receives voice and data information from a
`transmitting communication device (such as base station
`112). User interface features include speaker 106, display
`108, keypad 110 and microphone 116. Microphone 116
`accepts voice or other audio information from the user and
`converts this information into electrical signals that can be
`transmitted by transceiver 122. Likewise, speaker 106 con-
`verts electrical signals received by transceiver 122 into
`audio information that can be heard by a user of device 100.
`Display 108 displays information such as call information,
`keypad entry information, signal presence and strength
`information, battery life information, and other useful infor-
`mation. Display 108 prefcrably takes the form of a liquid
`crystal display (“LCD”), which has low power consumption
`characteristics, but could also be implemented as a light
`emitting diode (“LED”) display or any other appropriate
`visual indicator. Keypad 110 typically includes an alphanu-
`meric keypad and special function keys. It may be backlit to
`permit viewing of the keys in low light or dark conditions.
`A flip panel (not shown) may conceal all or a portion of
`keypad 110.
`Power source 118 provides power to device 100. It may
`be implemented with rechargeable batteries, such as NiCad
`or NiMHrechargeable batteries, or with any other suitable
`powersource.
`2. Wireless Services Through a Web Server
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless commu-
`nication system according to the present
`invention. The
`communication system provides information to a wireless
`
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`4
`handset based on the location of the device. It includes a
`wireless handset 130 and a hands-free unit 132 incorporating
`a position determination system 134. Handset 130 can be
`implemented in a configuration similar to that of handset
`100 of FIG. 1, or in any other device configuration that is
`capable of communicating with remote locations via a
`wircless communication medium. In the description below,
`“handset” refers to any communication device capable of
`communicating with other devices via a wireless medium.
`Hands-free unit 132 is optionally provided to allow the
`user of handset 130 to communicate in a hands-free mode.
`Hands-free unit 132 may include a microphone and speaker
`to provide handset 130 with speakerphone-like capabilities.
`Such capabilities are particularly desirable where handset
`130 is utilized in an automobile or other mobile situation. In
`one implementation, hands-free unit 132 is configured
`according to conventional industry standards for a “hands-
`free kit”.
`As mentioned above, hands-free unit 132 is preferably
`equipped with a position determination system 134 that
`determines the location of hands-free unit 132 and handset
`
`130. Position determination system 134 could also be
`directly incorporated into handset 130. System 134 deter-
`mines location in terms of parameters such as latitude,
`longitude, height, speed of travel, and other useful location
`or position parameters.
`In one implementation, position
`determination system 134 uses the Global Positioning Sys-
`tem (“GPS”) or differential GPS, the operation of which is
`well knownto those of ordinary skill in the art. Alternative
`position determination systems, such as triangulation
`systems, may also be used.
`Handset 130 preferably includes both a voice and data
`interface, particularly where position determination system
`134 is incorporated in hands-free unit 132. The voice
`interface provides hands-free operation and speakerphone-
`like capabilities. The data interface allows location infor-
`mation obtained by system 134 to be provided to handset
`130 for transmission over wireless network 140.
`Handset 130 communicates with other entities via wire-
`less network 140. Network 140 is typically comprised of a
`plurality of base stations that provide relay points for
`communication. Network 140 may be a cellular, PCS, GSM,
`or any other wireless communication network. In addition to
`conventional communication with other wired or wireless
`communication devices, as shown in FIG. 2, network 140
`permits communication between handset 130 and data
`server(s) 136. When a user requests information, handset
`130 provides the location of the handset to server 136 across
`wireless network 140. Server 136 retrieves relevant infor-
`
`mation from an associated database 138 and conveys the
`information to handsct 130 over wircless network 140. The
`
`information may be displayed on the handset display or
`audibly rendered via speech synthesis or prerecordedscripts.
`Although the type of information stored in database 138 is
`virtually limitless, several example applications are pro-
`vided for illustrative purposes.
`In one example application, driving directions to a des-
`tination address are provided to handset 130. The handset
`user requests driving directions to the destination, and the
`handset relays the request
`to server 136 over wireless
`network 140. At the ime of the request, the handset location
`is also provided to server 136 to provide a starting point for
`the directions. Using the handset location and the destination
`address, server 136 calculates a route and compiles driving,
`directions. The driving directions are transmitted to handset
`130 over network 140 and are displayed or audibly rendered
`to the user. In addition to textual driving directions, a map
`
`

`

`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`5
`showing, the route may be displayed on the handset display.
`Options such as the shortest possible route, interstate route,
`safest route, most scenic route, etc. may be provided. The
`user’s choice of options will dictate the route calculation.
`The options may be stored locally and prompts or scripts
`generated in the memory of handset 130. Alternatively, the
`options, prompts and scripts maybe stored at server 136 and
`provided to the user via network 140.
`Another example application locates particular types of
`businessesor services in the user’s location. Restaurants, gas
`stations, hotels and other businesses or services near the
`user’s location can be identified and provided to the user.
`Again, the user requests the business or service type vocally
`or via keypad entry. The request is communicated to server
`136 over wireless network 140, along with the user’s current
`location as determined by the position determination system
`134. Server 136, based on the handset location and user
`request, retrieves and returns relevant information to handset
`130 over network 140.
`Parameter limits orfilters may be implemented to refine
`the request and selections returned. The user may sel a
`locationfilter, for example, that requires returned selections
`be within a certain maximum numberof miles of the user’s
`
`current location. If the user is seeking a restaurant, the user
`may request or be prompted to select parameters that refine
`the search results. These parameters may include cuisine
`type (e.g., Italian, French, American, etc.), restaurant type
`(e.g., fast food, casual dining, formal, etc.), price range and
`so on. Additionally, for restaurants, gas stations, motels and
`other businesses, the uscr may identify a preferred national
`or regional chain. Alternatively, the user may have a pref-
`erences profile stored in the Web server 136 that contains
`this information.
`As noted above, the search may be refined (the query
`narrowed) on the user’s owninitiative or based on system
`prompts. If the user simply requests a nearby restaurant, for
`example, server 136 may prompt the user with questions
`about parameters such as those described above.
`Alternatively,
`to conserve bandwidth over network 140,
`prompts can bestored locally and made by handset 130 (or
`hands-free unit 132) before the requestis sent to server 136.
`In this embodiment, updated scripts and/or prompts may be
`downloaded from server 136 to handset 130. Preferably,
`memory-intensive data such as establishment
`locations,
`driving directions, etc. are stored in database 138 to mini-
`mize the amount of memory required in handset 130. The
`precise distribution of data storage among these devices will
`be influenced by factors such as available bandwidth,
`memory costs and airtime costs.
`A method for requesting information across network 140
`is illustrated in FIG. 3. In step 202, a user initiates a request
`for information. In step 204, the system determines whether
`the request requires the handset location or position. If
`position information is required, the method proceeds from
`step 204 to step 212, where system 134 acquires the position
`of handset 130. If system 134is situated in hands-free unit
`132, unit 132 provides the position data to handset 130 for
`transmission to server 136 over wireless network 140 (step
`214). If position information is not required, the method
`proceeds from step 204 directly to step 206.
`In step 206, handset 130 sends the request to server 136
`via wireless network 140. The request includes any position
`data acquired in steps 212-214. In step 208, server 136
`retrieves the data or information requested from database
`138 and communicates the data to handset 130 over network
`140. In step 210, the data is displayed or providedto the user.
`As described above, scripts or prompts may be provided
`to the userto refine the information request.If the scripts or
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`6
`prompts are stored in database 138 (as opposed to local
`storage in handset 130), they are retrieved by server 136 in
`step 208 and provided to the user in step 210. The user’s
`answers to the prompts are sent by handset 130 to server
`136, which uses the refined information to retrieve addi-
`tional data or information from database 138, or to further
`refine the uscr’s query. This potentially repetitive process is
`illustrated in FIG. 3 by flow line 222 and the repetition of
`steps 202, 206 and 208.
`3. Locating Wireless Mobile Phones via the Internet
`FIG. 4 depicts a process for supplying a Web server with
`location information from a mobile telephone device. A user
`of the mobile telephone initiates this process by making an
`appropriate selection to publish the mobile phone location
`(step 220). In one embodiment, a browser residing on the
`phone is used to make this selection. The browser may be
`part of a user interface that allowsa user to navigate through
`the functionality of the device. In this example, the user
`navigates to the option for publishing the mobile telephone
`device location and selects that service.
`After the user initiates the location publishing service, the
`mobile telephone acquires its location information (step
`222). In one embodiment, the mobile telephone is equipped
`with a GPS location module that obtains the GPS location of
`
`the mobile telephone. This information is passed from the
`GPS module to the mobile telephone browser. The mobile
`telephone then sends the GPS information to the Web server
`(step 224).
`Uponreceipt of the location information from the mobile
`telephone,
`the Web server records the GPS information
`(latitude and longitude) and the time of receipt (step 226).
`This information is stored by the Web server along with any
`previous sets of GPS information pertaining to that mobile
`telephone. If the user sends location information every ten
`minutes for one hour, for example, the Web server would
`have six sets of longitude, latitude, and time of receipt for
`that specific mobile telephone. This information may sub-
`sequently be used to map the traveling progress of the
`mobile telephone.
`As shownbyrecursive line 228, the mobile telephone can
`be configured to automatically and continuously send its
`location information to the Web server. The time interval
`between transmissions from the mobile telephoneis prefer-
`ably configurable by the user. In this embodiment, the user
`navigates through the browser on the mobile unit and selects
`an option for automatically publishing location information.
`In addition, the user selects the desired time interval. Similar
`to the manual publishing process,
`the mobile telephone
`acquires its location information and sendsthat information
`to the Web server. After the user-specified period elapses, the
`mobile unit re-acquires its location information and sends
`that information to the Web server. The Web server receives
`and records the information (longitude and latitude) along
`with the time that it was received.
`
`Information provided to and stored by the server in the
`mannerdescribed above mayalso be provided to authorized
`users who want to know the location of a particular mobile
`telephone (FIG. 5). An authorized user requests the location
`of a mobile telephone from the Web server(step 230).
`In one embodiment, after connecting to the Web server
`using a Web browser utility application,
`the Web server
`displays an authorization screen that requires the requesting
`party to enter a valid user name and password combination.
`The Web server validates the entered name and password by
`comparing them to records of authorized users in a database
`maintained on the server. If validation succeeds, the server
`releases the location information to the requesting party.
`
`

`

`US 6,456,854 B1
`
`7
`is merely one description of a
`This example, of course,
`process to validate use of computer related services. Alter-
`native validation methods will be knownto those of ordinary
`skill in the art.
`In one embodiment, a requesting party gains access to a
`Web server 136 via a browserresiding on a mobile telephone
`device 100 (FIG. 7). Using the browscr, the requesting party
`navigates to and selects an option for retrieving location
`information. Device 100 then connects to a server 136
`connected to Web 150 via wireless network 140. The
`
`requesting party enters the required authorization informa-
`tion and a uniqueidentifier of the specific mobile telephone
`device whose location is desired. In one embodiment, the
`unique identifier is the telephone number for that device.
`The Webserver 136 responds with the street address of the
`mobile telephone and the time that the mobile unit reported
`being at that location (step 232). Alternatively, and depend-
`ing on the display capabilities of the mobile telephone, Web
`server 136 may respond with the street address, time, and a
`map with the mobile telephone’s location noted on the map.
`In another embodiment, the requesting user connects to
`server 136 by using a browser device 152 that is connected
`to Web 150 via direct connect, modem, cellular modem,
`cable modem, or any other connection device known in the
`art. Browser capable devices include, but are not limitedto,
`cellular devices, personal computers, screen telephones,
`television sets, electronic gaming devices, and any other
`devices with the capability to connect to the Web with a
`browsing utility.
`The map provided by Webserver 136 can be supplied by
`a third party service, accessible via the Web 150. One
`well-known online supplier of maps and directions,
`for
`example, is MapQuest, Inc., located on the Web at www-
`-mapquest.com. Therefore,
`in this example, MapQuest
`would supply the map to the Web server 136. The Web
`server 136 marksthe location of the mobile telephone device
`on the map. Uponreceiving the request, the Web server 136
`delivers the marked map to the requesting party.
`In a
`preferred embodiment,
`the map is marked with several
`locations of the mobile unit, representing the mobile unit’s
`progress over time.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for automatically
`sending location information from a mobile telephone
`device to a Webserver. In step 240, the user of the mobile
`telephone device navigates through the mobile unit’s
`browser and selects an option for automatically publishing
`its location. In one implementation, the user may choose to
`have Webserver 136 periodically query the mobile unit for
`updated location information. Alternatively, the user may
`choase to have the mobile unit 100 periodically send its
`location to Web server 136, as previously described above
`with reference to step 228. In step 242, Web server 136 sends
`a request for GPS information to the mobile telephone
`device. The mobile unit then acquires its GPS location (step
`244) using any of several methodsthat are well known in the
`art. After acquiring its GPS location information,
`in step
`246, the mobile telephone device sends the GPS information
`to Web server 136. When server 136 receives the location
`information, it records the longitude, latitude, and the time
`of receipt (step 248).
`FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless communication system that
`connects wireless communications devices and other
`browser capable devices to the Web. Mobile unit 100 is
`shown, as in FIG. 2, connected to the Web 150 via wireless
`communications network 140. Also connected to the Web is
`browser device 152. Browser device 152 may be a personal
`computer, personal communication device, pager,
`
`8
`television, screen phone, personal digital assistant, or any
`other device with the capability to connect to Web 150 using
`a browser-based utility. The connection between browser
`device 152 and Web 150 may be any suitable connection
`including, but not limited to, direct connections, wireless
`network connections, cellular modem connections, standard
`modem connections, cable modem connections, digital or
`analog connections, andsatellite connections.
`FIG. 8 depicts a wireless communications system accord-
`ing to the present invention, including a mobile telephone
`device 100, Web server 136 and browser device 152. Mobile
`telephone device 100 first sends its GPS location to Web
`server 136. To do so, mobile telephone device 100 employs
`a selector 260, a locator 262 and a sender 264. First, selector
`260 allows the user to choose to send GPS information to
`Web server 136. After this selection is made, locator 262
`obtains the GPS location of the mobile telephone 100. Next,
`sender 264 sends that information to Web server 136. This
`
`communication preferably takes place over a wireless net-
`work 140.
`Web server 136 has a first receiver 266 that receives the
`GPS location information from mobile unit 100. Recorder
`
`268 stores the latitude and longitude information received
`from mobile unit 100, as well as the time that the GPS
`information was received.
`
`Browser device 152 may be connected to Web server 136
`through a standard network connection, through the global
`Internet, or through the Web. Alternatively, it may be con-
`nected to Web server 136 through wireless communications
`network 140. Browser device 152 uses requester 270 to send
`a query to first r