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, said method comprising:
 receiving location coordinates from at least one other portable electronic device;   receiving a status of a user of said at least one other portable electronic device, said status being sent from said at least one other portable device;   displaying a map on said display of said portable electronic device, a position of a visual identifier displayed on said map corresponding to said location coordinates received from said at least one other portable electronic device; and   displaying said status of the user of said at least one other portable electronic device on said display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said location coordinates are determined using Global Positioning System technology. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said map is generated using mapping software. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of displaying said status on said display comprises selecting, modifying or arranging said visual identifier to depict said status of said user of said at least one other portable electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein an appearance of the visual identifier is selected, modified or arranged to depict said status. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said status comprises any of: busy, not available, typing or available. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said visual identifier is an avatar that is unique to the user of the at least one other portable electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein focussing on said visual identifier launches a window displaying contact information associated with the user of said at least one other portable electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between said portable electronic device and said at least one other portable electronic device is unlimited. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a user associated with said at least one other portable electronic device is a member of a list of contacts of a first user of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said location coordinates and said status are continuously updated. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said location coordinates correspond to an actual location of said at least one other portable electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 a processor for receiving location coordinates and status information of a user of at least one other portable electronic device, said location coordinates and status information being sent from said at least one other portable electronic device;   a display for displaying a visual identifier on a map, a location of said visual identifier corresponding to said location coordinates; and   wherein the processor is arranged to select, modify or arrange said visual identifier to depict a status of the user of said at least one other portable electronic device according to the received status information.   
     
     
         14 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is arranged to select, modify or arrange an appearance of the visual identifier to depict said status of said at least one other portable electronic device according to the received status information. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein said device is arranged to receive location coordinates that are determined using Global Positioning System technology. 
     
     
         16 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein said device is arranged to receive continuously updated location coordinates and said status information. 
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein said device is arranged to receive status information corresponding to a user status comprising any of: busy, not available, typing or available. 
     
     
         18 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein said device is arranged to use as a visual identifier an avatar that is unique to the user of said at least one other portable electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product, for a portable electronic device having a processor and a display, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program code adapted to be executable on said processor to implement a method of visually representing information on said display, the method comprising:
 receiving location coordinates from at least one other portable electronic device;   receiving a status of a user of said at least one other portable electronic device, said status being sent from said at least one other portable device;   displaying a map on said display of said portable electronic device, a position of a visual identifier displayed on said map corresponding to said location coordinates received from said at least one other portable electronic device; and   displaying said status of the user of said at least one other portable electronic device on said display.