SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ACTION SPOT LOCATIONS
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`RELATIVE TO THE LOCATION OF A MOBILE DEVICE
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`FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
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`[0001]
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`The subject matter herein generally relates to mobile devices, and more specifically
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`relates to a system and method for determining an action spot based on the location of a mobile
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`device.
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`BACKGROUND
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`[0002]
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`With the advent of more robust electronic systems, advancements of mobile devices
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`are becoming more prevalent. Mobile devices can provide a variety of functions including, for
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`example, telephonic, audio/video, and gaming functions. Mobile devices can include mobile
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`stations such as cellular telephones, smart telephones, portable gaming systems, portable audio
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`and video players, electronic writing or typing tablets, handheld messaging devices, personal
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`digital assistants, and handheld computers.
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`[0003]
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`Mobile devices allow users to have an integrated device which can perform a variety
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`of different tasks. For example, a mobile device can be enabled for each of or some of the
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`following functions: voice transmission (cell phones), text transmission (pagers and PDAs),
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`sending and receiving data for viewing of Internet websites, multi-media messages, videography
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`and photography. Additionally, mobile devices can include one or more applications such as a
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`map application or a navigation application for retrieving maps and directions to locations
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`relative to the mobile device.
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`1
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`BLACKBERRY 2007
`SNAP, INC. V. BLACKBERRY LIMITED
`IPR2019-00715
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`

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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0004]
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`Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example
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`only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:
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`[0005]
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`Figure 1 is an illustrative flow chart of a method for determining a mobile device's
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`current location and signifying and action spot, in accordance with an exemplary implementation
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`of the present technology;
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`[0006]
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`Figure 2
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`is an illustrative implementation of an electronic device with a map
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`displayed in accordance with the present technology;
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`[0007]
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`Figure 3 is an illustrative implementation of a graphical user interface displaying an
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`action spot within a predetermined distance from a current location of a mobile device shown in
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`Figure 2;
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`[0008]
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`Figure 4 is an illustrative implementation of a display of a mobile device signifying a
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`plurality of action spots present within the vicinity of the current location of the mobile device,
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`in accordance with the present technology;
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`[0009]
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`Figure 5 is an illustrative implementation of a graphical user interface of a mobile
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`device displaying a venue-specific map and action spots in accordance with the present
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`technology;
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`[0010]
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`Figure 6 is an illustrative implementation of a graphical user interface of a mobile
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`device displaying the documenting action associated with an action spot within a predetermined
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`distance from the current location of the mobile device;
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`[0011]
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`Figure 7 is an illustrative implementation of a graphical user interface of a mobile
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`device having a compass showing at least the distance and direction to an action spot proximate
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`to the mobile device;
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`2
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`

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`[0012]
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`Figure 8 is an illustrative implementation of a graphical user interface for
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`determining action spots that utilizes a camera viewfinder of an integrated camera of the mobile
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`device;
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`[0013]
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`Figure 9 is a block diagram representing a mobile device interacting in a
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`communication network in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present
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`technology; and
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`[0014]
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`Figure 10 is a block diagram representing the interaction between a plurality of
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`resources, a mobile device, and a processor configured to determine action spots relative to the
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`location of the mobile device in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present
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`technology.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0015]
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`For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have
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`been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In
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`addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of
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`the implementations described herein. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand
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`that the implementations described herein can be practiced without these specific details.
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`In
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`other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not
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`to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be
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`considered as limiting the scope of the implementations described herein.
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`[0016]
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`Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. The
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`word "coupled" is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening
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`components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The term "communicatively
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`coupled" is defined as connected whether directly or indirectly though intervening components,
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`is not necessarily limited to a physical connection, and allows for the transfer of data. The term
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`"mobile device" is defined as any electronic device that is capable of at least accepting
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`information entries from a user and includes the device's own power source. A "wireless
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`3
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`communication" means communication that occurs without wires usmg electromagnetic
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`radiation. The term "highlight" refers to altering the appearance of a graphical item displayed on
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`the display screen to indicate that the graphical item has been selected for execution. For
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`example, highlighting can include changing the color of the graphical item, changing the font or
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`appearance of the graphical item, applying a background color to the graphical item,
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`superimposing a block of semi-transparent color over the graphical item, placing a border around
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`the graphical item, enlarging the graphical item as compared to other graphical items proximate
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`to the highlighted graphical item, or other similar and known methods of highlighting graphical
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`items or text items display on a display screen. The term "memory" refers to transitory memory
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`and non-transitory memory. For example, non-transitory memory can be implemented as
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`Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), flash, ferromagnetic, phase(cid:173)
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`change memory, and other non-transitory memory technologies.
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`[0017]
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`The term "activity" refers to an action taken by a mobile device. For example, an
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`activity can include but is not limited to a documenting action (such as a text messaging,
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`emailing, blogging, posting a message on a social networking internet site, or any other
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`documenting actions), a recording action (such as video recording, audio recording, or
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`photographing taken by a mobile device) or any other action where the mobile device is being
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`used to observe and make note of a location or an event currently occurring at the location of the
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`mobile device. The term "action spot" refers to a location or an event where at least one activity
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`is occurring relative to the current location of another mobile device.
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`[0018]
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`When mobile devices are enabled for navigational functions, mobile devices can
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`retrieve and display maps and directions to locations relative to the current location of the mobile
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`device. Typically, the maps and directions are limited in information. For example, maps are
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`limited to displaying the streets within a city. In order to find information relating to events and
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`happenings currently occurring proximate to the mobile device's present location, the user of the
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`mobile device will have to search an external resource, such as an electronic events calendar,
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`internet sites, internet calendars of individual business or event holders (stores, restaurants,
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`concert venues, bars, etc.), and compare the locations of the found events and happenings to the
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`mobile device's current location.
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`Such a process of manually researching events and
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`4
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`happenings, determining the location of the events and happenings, and comparing the location
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`of the events and happenings to the user's current location is tedious and results in user
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`frustration. Moreover, the results of the user's research of current events and happenings can be
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`incomplete and inaccurate, and the user can miss certain happenings that are close in proximity
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`to the current location of the user's mobile device.
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`[0019]
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`The present disclosure provides a system and method of determining action spot
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`locations relative to the location of a mobile device. In one implementation, a mobile device
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`includes a display and a processor module communicatively coupled to the display. The
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`processor can be configured to receive executable instructions to: determine a current location of
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`the mobile device; determine at least one action spot, within a predetermined distance from the
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`current location of the mobile device; signify the at least one action spot with a graphical item on
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`the display of the mobile device; marking the graphical item according to an activity level of the
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`at least one action spot. The activity spot can include a location relative to the current location of
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`the mobile device where at least one other mobile device has engaged in documenting action
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`within a predetermined period of time.
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`[0020]
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`Figure 1 is an illustrative implementation of a flow chart of a method 1000 for
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`determining action spots relative to the location of a mobile device. The method 1000 can be
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`implemented on any mobile device, such as a cell phone, a smart phone, a netbook, a global
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`position system (GPS) device, an electronic, table, an electronic pad, a personal digital assistant
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`(PDA), or any other similar electronic device which includes a display and a processor
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`communicatively coupled to the display. In Figure 1, a graphical user interface can be displayed
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`on the display of a mobile device (Block 1010). For example, the graphical user interface can be
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`a map, an interactive map, a graphical user interface associated with an application configured to
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`retrieve maps and directions, a graphical user interface associated with an application configured
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`to determine action spot locations, a graphical user interface of a camera application, or any
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`other similar graphical user interface where the location of the mobile device and action spots
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`relative to the location of the mobile device can be displayed.
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`5
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`[0021]
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`Data indicative of the current location of the mobile device is received (Block 1020)
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`and can be displayed on the graphical user interface.
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`In the illustrated implementation, a
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`processor of the mobile device can receive the data indicative of the current location of the
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`mobile device. In at least some implementations, the data indicative of the current location of
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`the mobile device can be received from a satellite positioning system, a communications network
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`system, a triangularization system, or any other system that allows for determining the location
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`or position of a mobile device.
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`[0022]
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`The processor can determine at least one action spot located within a predetermined
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`distance from the current location of the mobile device (Block 1030).
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`In at least one
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`implementation, the at least one action spot can be determined as a location where at least one
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`other mobile device has engaged in a documenting action within a predetermined period of time
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`from the time the mobile device arrived at the current location of the mobile device. For
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`example, the processor can determine the at least one action spot as the location where at least
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`one other mobile device is composing an email, composing a text message, messaging on an
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`instant messenger application, posting messages, pictures, or videos on a social networking site,
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`posting on a virtual posting mechanism, or any other similar documenting action. Alternatively,
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`the at least one action spot can be determined based on at least one other mobile device
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`performing a recording action, such as video recording, audio recording, or photographing,
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`within a predetermined distance from the current location of the mobile device.
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`In another
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`implementation, the at least one action spot can be determined by monitoring the number of data
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`packet transmissions occurring within a particular geographical area or the number of data
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`packets being transmitted from at least one other mobile device. In yet other implementations,
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`the at least action spot can be the location where at least one other mobile device has
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`documented, recorded, accounted, chronicled, or otherwise has taken note of a location or a
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`current happening occurring at the location.
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`[0023]
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`The at least one action spot is signified on the graphical user interface (Block 1040).
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`For example, the processor can execute instructions to display the at least one action spot on the
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`graphical user interface as a graphical item such as an icon, a picture, a text representation, a
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`drawing, an image, a symbol, or any other graphical item that is representative of the at least one
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`6
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`action spot. The at least one action spot can also be displayed relative to the current location of
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`the mobile device. The processor can determine the level of activity at the at least one action
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`spot and can provide an indication of the activity of the level at the at least one action spot on the
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`graphical user interface (Block 1050). With a graphical indication of the action spots and
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`activity levels associated with the action spots, a user can review information related to current
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`happenings within the vicinity of the user's mobile device. Additionally, information relating to
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`the popularity of and the current event occurring within the vicinity surrounding or associated
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`with the current position of mobile devices is readily available to the mobile device without
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`having to use an external device or a manual search engine, such as an internet search engine.
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`[0024]
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`Exemplary implementations of the method 1000 for determining action spot
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`locations relative to the location of a mobile device will be described in relation to Figures 2-8.
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`[0025]
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`Figure 2 is exemplary implementation of the system and method of determining an
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`action spot location implemented on a mobile device that is a mobile communication device.
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`The mobile device 100 includes a housing which encases internal components of the device,
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`such as a microprocessor 110 (shown in Figure 9), a printed circuit board (not shown), and other
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`operational components. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other operational
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`components can be included in the mobile device 100, but the present disclosure will not discuss
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`such operational components in detail for the sake of brevity. The present disclosure provides
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`details as to the components utilized in the implementation of the system and method of
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`determining an action spot location on a mobile device.
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`[0026]
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`The mobile device 100 includes a display screen 102 for displaying graphical user-
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`interfaces associated with applications programmed on the mobile device 100. The display
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`screen 102 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, a light emitting diode (LED) screen, on
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`organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen, an active-matrix organic light emitting diode
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`(AMOLED) screen, a nanocrystal display, a nanotube display, a touch-sensitive display screen,
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`or any display screen on which graphical or visual elements can be displayed. Above the display
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`screen 102 is a speaker 106 for emitting sound from the mobile device 100. Below the display
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`screen 102 is a navigation tool 103. The navigation tool 103 can be an omnidirectional pad, a
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`7
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`jogball, a trackball, an omnidirectional joystick, a scroll wheel, an optical navigation tool, an
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`optical trackball, or any other navigation tool. Below the navigation tool 103 is a keyboard 104
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`having a plurality of keys 105. In the illustrated implementation, each key 105 of the keyboard
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`104 bears at least one of an alphabetic, numeric, symbolic, or functional indicia. The indicia
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`signify the data input to be input upon actuation of the key 105 bearing the indicia. In Figure 2,
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`the keyboard 104 is a reduced keyboard, where at least one key 105 is associated with more than
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`one alphabetic indicia.
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`In an alternative implementation, the keyboard 104 can be a full
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`keyboard having each key 105 associated with an alphabetic indicia. The indicia on the keys 122
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`of the keyboard 104 are arranged in a QWERTY keyboard layout 107; however, one of ordinary
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`skill in the art will appreciate that the keyboard layout 107 can be an AZERTY layout, a
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`QWERTZ layout, a DVORAK layout, a pinyin Chinese keyboard layout, or any other keyboard
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`layout that allows a user to input alphabetic, numeric, symbolic, and functional indicia. The keys
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`105 can be press-actuable keys, touch-sensitive keys, capacitive keys, or any other similar key
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`that allows for the input of data to a processor of the mobile device upon user-engagement with
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`the key 105.
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`[0027]
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`In the illustrated implementation of Figure 2, a graphical user interface 206 in the
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`form of a map is displayed on the display screen 102. The map 206 can be a representation of
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`the vicinity surrounding the current location of the mobile device 100.
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`In at least one
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`implementation, the map 206 can be displayed in response the selection and execution of a map
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`application, a navigation application, an application for determining action spots, or any other
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`similar application that provides directions, maps, and information relating to geographical
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`locations on the mobile device 100. In an alternative implementation, a graphical user interface
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`such as a dialogue box can be displayed in response to the launching of an application for
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`determining action spots.
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`In another implementation, an interactive map can be displayed
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`allowing the user of the mobile device 100 to select graphical items, manipulate the map, or
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`otherwise alter the map displayed on the mobile device 100.
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`[0028]
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`Figure 3 an exemplary implementation of a graphical user interface associated with a
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`system for determining an action spot relative to the location of a mobile device. More
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`specifically, Figure 3 illustrates a screenshot of a graphical user interface 206 displayed on the
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`8
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`display 102 of a mobile device 100 that is an interactive map. In the illustrated implementation,
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`the map 206 can be displayed after an application configured to determine action spots has been
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`selected and launched. The map 206 can include graphical representations 308 of venues,
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`locations, monuments, buildings, streets, lakes, and other locational landmarks representing the
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`vicinity and area surrounding the current location of the mobile device 100.
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`[0029]
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`Upon selection and execution of an application to display the map 206, a processor
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`110 (shown in Figure 9) can execute instructions to determine the current location of the mobile
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`device 100 by retrieving positional data at a position module 101 (shown in Figure 9)
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`communicatively coupled to the processor 110. The position module 101 can gather the
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`positional data from a GPS system, a triangularization system, a communications network
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`system, or any other system that can determine the position of a mobile device. The current
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`location 302 of the mobile device 100 is identified on the map 206 by a graphical item. In Figure
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`3, the current location 302 of the mobile device 100 is identified by a graphical item that is a star.
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`In alternative implementations, the current location 302 can a graphical item that is a circle, a
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`square, or any other shape, an human-shaped icon, a text representation, a picture or photo, or
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`any other graphical or textual item that signifies the current location 302 of the mobile device
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`100.
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`[0030]
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`The processor 110 can determine whether there are action spots 304, 306 relative to
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`the current location 302 of the mobile device 100 and signify the action spots 304, 306 on the
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`map 206. In the illustrated implementation, the processor 110 identifies two action spots with a
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`predetermined distance from the current location 302 of the mobile device 100. The action spots
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`304, 306 are signified on the map 206 by graphical items that are clouds. However, one of
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`ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the graphical items can be any other shape, a picture,
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`any graphical item, a textual representation, a symbolic representation, or any other graphical
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`representation that signifies the presence of an action spot within a predetermined distance from
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`the current location 302 of the mobile device 100.
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`[0031]
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`Also illustrated in Figure 3, the action spots 304, 306 can have different sizes to
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`indicate the level of activity associated with the action spot 304, 306. For example, the larger in
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`9
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`size the graphical item is compared to other graphical items representing action spots, the more
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`activity is occurring at the location identified by the graphical item. In the specific
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`implementation in Figure 3, the graphical item associated with action spot 304 proximate to the
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`lake is larger than the graphical item associated with action spot 306 proximate to the venue
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`entitled Celebrity Court. The larger graphical item associated with action spot 304 can indicate
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`that more documenting activity has occurred at the lake than at the Celebrity Court, and thus, the
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`action spot 304 is a more active, a more popular, or a more lively location than action spot 306.
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`The level of activity associated with the action spot 304, 306 can also be represented by varying
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`the colors of the graphical items representing the action spots 304, 306. For example, a graphical
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`item that is yellow can represent a moderate amount of documenting action; while a graphical
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`item of green represents a large amount of documenting action, and thus an increased likelihood
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`that the action spot associated with a green graphical item is a more happening location, a more
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`popular location, or a location where a large number of people have gathered to witness and
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`document a current event or happening. In other words, the indication of the level of activity
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`includes coloring the graphical item in accordance with a range of activity occurring at the at
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`least one action spot, 304, 306.
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`[0032]
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`The implementation of the present technology illustrated in Figure 3 illustrates the
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`results of the processor's 110 determination of action spots 304, 306, where the action spots 304,
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`306 based on locations where at least one other mobile device has engaged in documenting
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`action within a specific period of time. Reference will now be made with respect to Figure 10 in
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`regards to the processor's 110 determination of the action spots 304, 306. Figure 10 is a block
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`diagram of the processor's 110 interaction and communication with the mobile device 100 and a
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`plurality of resources from which the process 110 can retrieve data representative of
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`documenting actions occurring within a predetermined distance from the mo bile device 100. In
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`at least one implementation, the processor 110 can retrieve the data from a resource 1110, 1130,
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`1140 configured to monitor the documenting actions of mobile devices within a predefined
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`geographical location. For example, the resource can be an external server 1110 of the
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`communications network provider of the mobile device 100. The external server 1110 can
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`monitor the documenting actions of other mobile devices 1120 on the same communications
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`network provider as the mobile device 100 and transmit data to the mobile device 100 indicative
`10
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`of action spots located within a predetermined distance from the current location 302 of the
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`mobile device 100. For example, the server 1110 can monitor and log where other mobile
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`devices 1120 are capturing images, capturing videos, or transmitting messages, such as text
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`messages, instant messages, virtual posts, or any combination thereof, and identify the locations
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`as action spots. The server 1110 can also monitor the number of images, videos, messages, and
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`posts being captured or transmitted at various locations to determine the level of documenting
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`activity occurring at the various actions spots based on at least one of the aforementioned
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`monitored activities. In at least one implementation, the processor 110 can transmit the current
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`location 302 of the mobile device 100 to the server 1110, and a second processor (not shown)
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`coupled to the server 1110 can determine which action spots are proximate to or in the same
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`vicinity as the current location 302 of the mobile device 100. The server 1110 can also transmit
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`the action spot locations and levels of activity of the processor 110 of the mobile device 100 for
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`display on the graphical user interface of the mobile device 100.
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`[0033]
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`In at least another implementation, the external server 1110 can monitor the
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`transmission of data packets by other mobile devices 1120 within a predetermined distance from
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`the mobile device 100. The locations of where the data packet transmissions originate can
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`indicate an action spot. The amount a data packet transmissions can identify the level of activity
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`associated the action spot. For example, the more number of data packet transmissions
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`originating at a particular location, the more activity is associated with the action spot, as the
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`number of data packet transmissions can signify the number of other mobile devices 1120
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`transmitting data packets that are representative of documenting actions at a particular location.
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`Alternatively, the larger the size of the data packet transmissions originating at an action spot, the
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`higher the level of activity associated with the action spot, as large sizes of data packet
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`transmissions can signify the type of documenting activity occurring at the action spot (for
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`example, posting or emailing a video recording and posting or emailing a photo).
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`[0034]
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`In an alternative implementation, the resource can be an internet site 1130. The
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`internet site 1130 can monitor and log documenting activity occurring in geographical locations.
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`The processor 110 of the mobile device 100 can request data from the internet site 1130 relating
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`to the locations of documenting actions occurring relative to the current location 302 of the
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`11
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`mobile device 100 as well as the amount of activity or amount of documenting actions associated
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`with the retrieved actions.
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`[0035]
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`In another alternative implementation, the resource can be a third-party server 1140
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`configured to monitor and log postings such as internet postings and social network postings,
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`posted on virtual posting mechanisms 1150. Virtual posting mechanisms 1150 can also include
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`postings on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, an internet biogs, local newspaper message boards,
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`local news station message boards, or any other virtual posting forum where current events and
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`happenings can be posted. The third-party server 1140 can monitor and log the location of where
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`such internet postings and social network postings originate and the amount of postings to
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`determine. The processor 110 can transmit the current location 302 of the mobile device 100 to
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`the third-party server 1140 and request data from the third-party server 1140 that is indicative of
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`action spots relative to the current location 302 of the mobile device 100. For example, the third(cid:173)
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`party server 1140 can determine that a location within a predetermined distance from the current
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`location 302 of the mobile device 100 is an action spot based on the number of message board
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`posting and video postings occurring at the location within a predetermined distance from the
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`current location 302 of the mobile device 100.
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`[0036]
`
`Returning to the illustrated implementation of Figure 3, although not shown, in at
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`least one implementation, options relating to the determination and display of action spots can be
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`configured by the user of the mobile device 100. For example, a user can configure options via a
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`dialog box or a setup screen. A few examples of options are presented, but other can be
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`included. In one implementation, the user of the mobile device 100 can manually set or define
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`the predetermined distance from the current location 302 of the mobile device 100 from which to
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`determine the presence of an action spot relative to the mobile device 100.
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`In at least one
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`implementation, the predetermined distance can be predefined by a software application
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`developer, the server provider, the manufacturer of the mobile device 100, or the communication
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`network service provider. The predetermined distance can be within five blocks, ten blocks, ten
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`yards, one hundred yard, one hundred feet, thirty feet, ten meters, fifteen meters, five miles, ten
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`miles, twelve miles, twenty miles, or any other distance from the current location 302 of the
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`mobile device 100.
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`In another implementation, the user can also manually set or define the
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`12
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`predetermined period of time from which to determine the presence of an action spot relative to
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`the current location 302 of the mobile device 100.
`
`In at least one implementation the
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`predetermined period of time can be preset by a software application developer, the server
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`provider, the manufacturer of the mobile device 100, or the communication network service
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`provider. The period of time can be within the last hour, the last twelve hours, the last twenty(cid:173)
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`four hours, the last thirty minutes, or any other time period that is measured from the time the
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`mobile device 100 arrived at the current location 302.
`
`[0037]
`
`Figure 4 is screenshot of an alternative implementation of a system and method for
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`determining action spots relative to a mobile device. The screenshot illustrated in Figure 4 is
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`similar to the screenshot in Figure 3 in that Figure 4 is a graphical user interface that is a map
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`206 displayed on the display screen of a mobile device 100. The map 206 also displays the
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`current location 302 of the mobile device 100. Figure 4 differs from Figure 3 in that more action
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`spots 402, 404, 406, 408, 410 are signified on the map 206, and the graphical items representing
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`the action spots 402, 404, 406, 408, 410 include additional information relative to the action
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`spots. In Figure 4, the action spots 402, 404, 406, 408, 410 include activity icons indicative of
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`the type of activity occurring at the action spots 402, 404, 406, 408, 410.
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`[0038]
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`For example, the activity icon associated with action item 402 is balloons, which can
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`be indicative of a party occurring at the action spot 402. That a party is taking place at the action
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`spot 402 can be determined by a processor 110 of the mobile device 100 or by a third-party
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`server that receives data from postings, electronic calendar events, message board forums, or any
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`other source in which at least a portion of the subject or text body includes a recitation that the
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`location of a party is the location associated with action spot 402.
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`[0039]
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`The activity icon associated with action spots 404 and 406 is a camera, which can
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`indicate that at least one other mobile device is capturing photographs at the locations associated
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`with action spots 404 and 406. In the implementation illustrated in Figure 4, the activity icon of
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`action spot 406 includes two cameras, while the activity icon of action spot 404 includes one
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`camera. The multiple camera activity icon associated with action spot 406 can indicate that more
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`mobile devices are capturing photographs at action spot 406 than at action spot 404.
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`13
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`Alternatively, the two camera activity icon associated with action spot 406 can be shown if more
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`than a predetermined number of mobile devices are capturing photographs, for example five.
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`The single camera activity icon associated with action spot 404 can indicate that at least one but
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`less than the predetermined number of mobile devices are capturing photographs. Additionally, a
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`three camera activity icon (not shown) can indicate more than a second predetermined number of
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`mobile devices are capturing photographs, for example ten. Additionally, the camera activity
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`icon can vary between other camera activity icons to indicate a different in the