Exchange of location information using a wireless communication device

Abstract

Exemplary techniques for sending data packages that can include geographic information during group communication sessions between wireless telecommunication devices, such as push-to-talk communication sessions, are disclosed. In an embodiment the data packages are wirelessly transmitted by a communication device to a group communication server and then sent to other group members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented on a group communication server for exchanging location information between a first wireless device and a second wireless device, comprising:
 receiving, from the second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request, the group communication channel setup request including information that identifies the second wireless device; and   sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device by embedding the second geographical location data within a floor control message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a group communication channel setup request further comprises:
 receiving a group communication channel setup request that includes a request for the second geographical location data of the second wireless device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving first geographical location data for the first wireless device via an established group communication channel; and   sending the first geographical location data for the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the established group communication channel.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending a group communication channel setup request to the second wireless device, the group communication channel setup request including first geographical location data for the first wireless device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request comprises:
 receiving a group communication channel setup request from the second wireless device;   sending the group communication channel setup request to the first wireless device with a request for first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request;   receiving a group communication channel acknowledgement signal from the first wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel acknowledgement signal; and   sending a signal indicating that a group communication channel has been established to the second wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the signal indicating that the group communication channel has been established.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device comprises:
 receiving, via a group communication channel, the second geographical location data for the second wireless device; and   sending the second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device.   
     
     
         7 . A method for receiving on an originating wireless device location information for a target wireless device from a group communication server, comprising:
 sending a group communication channel setup request to the group communication server with information that identifies the target wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request; and   receiving target geographical location data for the target wireless device from the group communication server embedded within a floor control message.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising displaying the target geographical location data for the target wireless device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 displaying a request for originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device;   receiving input authorizing the request for the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device; and   sending the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device to the group communication server.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein sending a group communication channel setup request to the group communication server comprises sending a group communication channel setup request with originating geographical location data for the originating wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 sending a signal from the originating wireless device granting a specific target wireless device access to originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device via a group communication channel opened between the originating wireless device and the specific target wireless device,   wherein the group communication server is configured to selectively grant access to the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device during a group communication session by embedding the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device within a floor control message.   
     
     
         12 . A group communication server, comprising:
 a memory;   a server processor configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request, the group communication channel setup request including information that identifies the second wireless device; and 
 sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to a first wireless device by embedding the second geographical location data within a floor control message. 
   
     
     
         13 . The group communication server of  claim 12 , wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving a group communication channel setup request further comprises:
 receiving a group communication channel setup request that includes a request for the second geographical location data of the second wireless device.   
     
     
         14 . The group communication server of  claim 12 , wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving first geographical location data for the first wireless device via an established group communication channel; and   sending the first geographical location data for the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the established group communication channel.   
     
     
         15 . The group communication server of  claim 12 , wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 sending a group communication channel setup request to the second wireless device, the group communication channel setup request including first geographical location data for the first wireless device.   
     
     
         16 . The group communication server of  claim 12 , wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request comprises:
 receiving a group communication channel setup request from the second wireless device;   sending the group communication channel setup request to the first wireless device with a request for first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request;   receiving a group communication channel acknowledgement signal from the first wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel acknowledgement signal; and   sending a signal indicating that a group communication channel has been established to the second wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the signal indicating that the group communication channel has been established.   
     
     
         17 . The group communication server of  claim 12 , wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device comprises:
 receiving, via a group communication channel, the second geographical location data for the second wireless device; and   sending the second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device.   
     
     
         18 . A originating wireless device, comprising:
 a memory;   a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 sending a group communication channel setup request to a group communication server with information that identifies a target wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request; and 
 receiving target geographical location data for the target wireless device from the group communication server embedded within a floor control message. 
   
     
     
         19 . The originating wireless device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising displaying the target geographical location data for the target wireless device. 
     
     
         20 . The originating wireless device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 displaying a request for originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device;   receiving input authorizing the request for the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device; and   sending the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device to the group communication server.   
     
     
         21 . The originating wireless device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending a group communication channel setup request to the group communication server comprises sending a group communication channel setup request with originating geographical location data for the originating wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request. 
     
     
         22 . The originating wireless device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 sending a signal from the originating wireless device granting a specific target wireless device access to originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device via a group communication channel opened between the originating wireless device and the specific target wireless device,   wherein the group communication server is configured to selectively grant access to the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device during a group communication session by embedding the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device within a floor control message.   
     
     
         23 . A group communication server, comprising:
 means for receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request, the group communication channel setup request including information that identifies the second wireless device; and   means for sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to a first wireless device by embedding the second geographical location data within a floor control message.   
     
     
         24 . The group communication server of  claim 23 , wherein means for receiving a group communication channel setup request further comprises:
 means for receiving a group communication channel setup request that includes a request for the second geographical location data of the second wireless device.   
     
     
         25 . The group communication server of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 means for receiving first geographical location data for the first wireless device via an established group communication channel; and   means for sending the first geographical location data for the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the established group communication channel.   
     
     
         26 . The group communication server of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 means for sending a group communication channel setup request to the second wireless device, the group communication channel setup request including first geographical location data for the first wireless device.   
     
     
         27 . The group communication server of  claim 23 , wherein means for receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request comprises:
 means for receiving a group communication channel setup request from the second wireless device;   means for sending the group communication channel setup request to the first wireless device with a request for first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request;   means for receiving a group communication channel acknowledgement signal from the first wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel acknowledgement signal; and   means for sending a signal indicating that a group communication channel has been established to the second wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the signal indicating that the group communication channel has been established.   
     
     
         28 . The group communication server of  claim 23 , wherein means for sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device comprises:
 means for receiving, via a group communication channel, the second geographical location data for the second wireless device; and   means for sending the second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device.   
     
     
         29 . An originating wireless device, comprising:
 means for sending a group communication channel setup request to a group communication server with information that identifies a target wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request; and   means for receiving target geographical location data for the target wireless device from the group communication server embedded within a floor control message.   
     
     
         30 . The originating wireless device of  claim 29 , further comprising means for displaying the target geographical location data for the target wireless device. 
     
     
         31 . The originating wireless device of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 means for displaying a request for originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device;   means for receiving input authorizing the request for the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device; and   means for sending the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device to the group communication server.   
     
     
         32 . The originating wireless device of  claim 29 , wherein means for sending a group communication channel setup request to the group communication server comprises means for sending a group communication channel setup request with originating geographical location data for the originating wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request. 
     
     
         33 . The originating wireless device of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 means for sending a signal from the originating wireless device granting a specific target wireless device access to originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device via a group communication channel opened between the originating wireless device and the specific target wireless device,   wherein the group communication server is configured to selectively grant access to the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device during a group communication session by embedding the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device within a floor control message.   
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory server-readable storage medium having stored thereon server-executable instructions configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request, the group communication channel setup request including information that identifies the second wireless device; and   sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to a first wireless device by embedding the second geographical location data within a floor control message.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory server-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the stored server-executable instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that receiving a group communication channel setup request further comprises:
 receiving a group communication channel setup request that includes a request for the second geographical location data of the second wireless device.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory server-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the stored server-executable instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving first geographical location data for the first wireless device via an established group communication channel; and   sending the first geographical location data for the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the established group communication channel.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory server-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the stored server-executable instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations further comprising:
 sending a group communication channel setup request to the second wireless device, the group communication channel setup request including first geographical location data for the first wireless device.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory server-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the stored server-executable instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that receiving, from a second wireless device, a group communication channel setup request comprises:
 receiving a group communication channel setup request from the second wireless device;   sending the group communication channel setup request to the first wireless device with a request for first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request;   receiving a group communication channel acknowledgement signal from the first wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the group communication channel acknowledgement signal; and   sending a signal indicating that a group communication channel has been established to the second wireless device, with the first geographical location data for the first wireless device embedded within the signal indicating that the group communication channel has been established.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory server-readable storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the stored server-executable instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that sending second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device comprises:
 receiving, via a group communication channel, the second geographical location data for the second wireless device; and   sending the second geographical location data for the second wireless device to the first wireless device.   
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause an originating wireless device processor to perform operations comprising:
 sending a group communication channel setup request to a group communication server with information that identifies a target wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request; and   receiving target geographical location data for the target wireless device from the group communication server embedded within a floor control message.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause an originating wireless device processor to perform operations further comprising displaying the target geographical location data for the target wireless device. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause an originating wireless device processor to perform operations further comprising:
 displaying a request for originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device;   receiving input authorizing the request for the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device; and   sending the originating geographical location data of the originating wireless device to the group communication server.   
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause an originating wireless device processor to perform operations such that sending a group communication channel setup request to the group communication server comprises sending a group communication channel setup request with originating geographical location data for the originating wireless device embedded within the group communication channel setup request. 
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause an originating wireless device processor to perform operations further comprising:
 sending a signal from the originating wireless device granting a specific target wireless device access to originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device via a group communication channel opened between the originating wireless device and the specific target wireless device,   wherein the group communication server is configured to selectively grant access to the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device during a group communication session by embedding the originating geographical location data from the originating wireless device within a floor control message.