Electronic Device Group Location Tracking with Social Network Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile terminals do not provide location information services for group members or route guidance integrated with social network services, limiting their functionality in providing collective location tracking and navigation.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a communication unit and a controller that periodically transmits location information to a location service server, forms groups, sends participation requests, and displays member locations on a map, while also setting joint or passage destinations and managing group information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If location services are integrated with social network services to provide group location tracking, then user convenience and group management capability are improved, but device complexity and system integration requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsystem integration requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines location-based services with social network services into an integrated system. The electronic device communicates with both location information service servers and social network service servers, merging these previously separate functionalities into a unified group management application that tracks locations and manages social groups simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic device is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a location tracking device and a social network client. The same device communicates with location servers to obtain position data and with social network servers to manage group memberships, making the device universally applicable for both navigation and social coordination purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If real-time location information is periodically transmitted and displayed for multiple group members, then collective location tracking capability is improved, but communication bandwidth and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation information availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic transmission of location information rather than continuous real-time streaming. The electronic device periodically obtains its location from the location information service server and transmits this updated position to group members, reducing communication frequency while maintaining useful location tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

Each electronic device independently manages its own location information acquisition and transmission. The device autonomously communicates with the location service server to obtain position data and automatically transmits this information to relevant group members through the social network service, without requiring centralized coordination for each location update.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If group formation and management features are added to location services, then functionality and versatility are improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidprocessing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides group management functionality into distinct operational segments: group formation, member addition, location tracking, and information display. Each segment is handled as a separate functional module that communicates through standardized interfaces, allowing the complex overall system to be managed through simpler, modular components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The social network service server acts as an intermediary that handles complex group management operations. Instead of the electronic device directly managing all group formation and member coordination logic, the device communicates group management requests through the social network service infrastructure, which processes and coordinates these operations centrally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250039124A1Electronic device, server, and control method and location information providing method for the electronic device

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 THINKWARE

AI summary

A first electronic device of the present invention comprises at least one communication circuitry, at least one display, at least one memory configured to store instructions, and at least one processor operatively coupled with the at least one communication circuitry and the at least one display. The processor is configured to (1) access to a first server for a navigation service through an application for the navigation service linked with a first account for accessing to a second server, (2) receive a user input through the application, (3) transmit, via the first server to a second electronic device of a second user that is authenticated through the application linked with a second account for accessing to the second server, a message, (4) periodically transmit, via the first server to the second electronic device, information, and (5) display a positional relationship between the two electronic devices over an electronic map.