System for Providing Location-Based Services in a Wireless Network, such as Locating Individuals and Coordinating Meetings

Abstract

A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality to obtain a request from a first mobile device for a meeting with a person associated with a second mobile device. The system automatically determines locations of the first and second mobile devices, and automatically provides information to at least the first or second mobile device regarding a meeting location based at least in part on the determined location of the first or second mobile device. The system can determine a local time, or time zone, of the first or second mobile devices. Further, with one or a minimum number of menu choices, a user of a mobile device may readily receive a location of a user or another mobile device.

1 - 57 . (canceled)  
   
   
       58 . A computer-readable medium whose contents cause at least one telecommunication mobile device to perform a method to receive location-based services from at least one telecommunications server, the method comprising: at the telecommunications mobile device, providing to the telecommunications server a request to locate a friend from a list of friends associated with a user of the telecommunications mobile device, wherein providing the request requires, from a main menu provided on the telecommunications mobile device, at most two menu choices from the user of the telecommunications mobile device; and at the telecommunications mobile device, receiving and displaying to the user a location of another telecommunications mobile device associated with the friend based on the provided request to locate the friend.  
   
   
       59 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 58  wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory of the telecommunications mobile device.  
   
   
       60 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 58  wherein the computer-readable medium is a logical node in a computer network receiving the contents.  
   
   
       61 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 58  wherein the computer-readable medium is a computer-readable disk.  
   
   
       62 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 58  wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium carrying a generated data signal containing the contents.  
   
   
       63 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 58  wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory of a computer system.  
   
   
       64 . An apparatus for locating a mobile device, comprising: means for initiating a locate friends application; means for displaying a list of friends; means for selecting a friend to find, responsive to the means for displaying; and means, responsive to the means for selecting the friend, for receiving an approximate street address location of a mobile device associated with the friend.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising: means for coordinating a meeting with the friend based at least in part on the received street address.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising: means for receiving textual directions to the street address; and means for converting the textual directions to audible directions.  
   
   
       67 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising: means for providing categories of points of interest, wherein the categories of points of interest include meeting places, healthcare related places and public points of interest.  
   
   
       68 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising: means for providing a text message to the mobile device associated with the friend that another entity is attempting to locate the friend.  
   
   
       69 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , further comprising: means for providing categories of service, wherein the categories of service include governmental services, healthcare-related services, travel services, financial services, and locations associated with at least some of the services.  
   
   
       70 . A method of determining a time parameter associated with a mobile device, comprising: locating a geographical location of the mobile device; and obtaining a time zone or local time of the mobile device based at least in part on the location.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising: coordinating a meeting between the mobile device and another mobile device based at least in part on the time zone or local time.  
   
   
       72 . A location based service configured to perform the steps of: 
 obtaining a request from a first mobile device for a meeting with a person associated with a second mobile device;    automatically determining locations of the first or second mobile devices; and    automatically providing information to at least the first or second mobile device regarding a meeting location based at least in part on the determined location of the first or second mobile device.    
   
   
       73 . The service of  claim 72  further configured to perform the steps of: 
 receiving a request for a meeting at an approximate equidistant midpoint between the current locations of the first and second mobile devices; and    indicating to the first mobile device: 
 a list of options of midpoint neighborhoods or cities;  
 that the first and second mobile devices are in a same city or neighborhood; or  
 that the first and second mobile devices are nearby or in a same cell site.  
   
   
   
       74 . A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause at least one telecommunications device to perform a method to receive location-based services from at least one telecommunications server, the method comprising: at the telecommunications mobile device, providing to the telecommunications server a request to locate a friend from a list of friends associated with a user of the telecommunications mobile device, wherein providing the request requires, from a main menu provided on the telecommunications mobile device, at most two menu choices from the user of the telecommunications mobile device; and at the telecommunications mobile device, receiving and displaying to the user a location of another telecommunications mobile device associated with the friend based on the provided request to locate the friend.  
   
   
       75 . A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a series of instructions which cause at least one telecommunications server to perform a method to provide location-based services to at least one telecommunications mobile device, the method comprising: at the telecommunications server, receiving from the telecommunications mobile device a request to locate a telecommunications device associated with a friend from a list of friends associated with a user of the telecommunications mobile device; and at the telecommunications server, providing the user with a location of another telecommunications mobile device associated with the friend based on the received request to locate the friend.  
   
   
       76 . A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave representing a program for causing a telecommunications system that provides wireless telecommunications services to a plurality of mobile devices to execute: 
 obtaining a request from a first mobile device for a meeting with a person associated with a second mobile device;    automatically determining locations of the first or second mobile devices; and    automatically providing information to a least the first or second mobile device regarding a meeting location based at least in part on the determined location of the first or second mobile device.