Visual representation of contact location

Abstract

A method for visually representing information on a display of a portable electronic device includes receiving location coordinates from at least one other portable electronic device, plotting a visual identifier on a map and displaying the map on the display of the portable electronic device. The position of the visual identifier corresponds to the location coordinates received from the at least one other portable electronic device, which correspond to an actual location of the at least one other portable electronic device. The appearance of the visual identifier is selected to depict the status of the user of the at least one other portable electronic device.

1 . A method for visually representing information on a display of a portable electronic device of a first user, said method comprising: 
 receiving location coordinates from at least one other portable electronic device, a user associated with said at least one other portable electronic device being a member of a list of contacts of said first user;    plotting a visual identifier on a map and displaying said map on said display of said portable electronic device of said first user, a position of said visual identifier corresponding to said location coordinates received from said at least one other portable electronic device;    receiving a status of said user of said at least one other portable electronic device; and    wherein said location coordinates correspond to an actual location of said at least one other portable electronic device.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said location coordinates are determined using Global Positioning System technology.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said map is generated using mapping software.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said visual identifier is selected to depict said status of said user of said at least one other portable electronic device.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said status of said user is selected from the group consisting of: busy, not available, typing and available.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said visual identifier is an avatar that is unique to said user.  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein focusing on said visual identifier launches a window displaying contact information associated with said user of said at least one other portable electronic device.  
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a distance between said portable electronic device of said first user and said at least one other portable electronic device is unlimited.  
   
   
       9 . A method for visually representing information on a display of a portable electronic device comprising: 
 receiving location coordinates from at least one other portable electronic device;    receiving status information from said at least one other portable electronic device;    displaying a map on a display of said portable electronic device;    displaying a visual identifier on said map, said location of said visual identifier corresponding to said location coordinates; and    wherein an appearance of said visual identifier is selected to depict a status of said at least one other portable electronic device.    
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said location coordinates and said status information are continuously updated.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said status of said user is selected from the group consisting of: busy, not available, typing and available.  
   
   
       12 . A portable electronic device comprising: 
 a processor for receiving location coordinates and status information from at least one other portable electronic device, said location coordinates and said status information being continuously updated;    a display for displaying a visual identifier on a map, a location of said visual identifier corresponding to said location coordinates; and    wherein an appearance of said visual identifier is selected to depict a status of said at least one other portable electronic device.    
   
   
       13 . A portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said location coordinates are determined using Global Positioning System technology.  
   
   
       14 . A portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said status information corresponds to a user status is selected from the group consisting of: busy, not available, typing and available.  
   
   
       15 . A portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said visual identifier is an avatar that is unique to a user of said at least one other portable electronic device.