Automatic Location Sharing in Mobile Instant Messaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile instant messaging users face challenges in automatically and conveniently sharing their geographical location with others, as existing methods require manual entry and frequent updates, which is burdensome, especially on mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that automatically determine the geographic coordinates of a mobile station using GPS and translate them into a text address, which is then populated into instant messaging communications, eliminating the need for user input and enabling dynamic location updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual entry of location text is used, then location information can be shared, but user burden increases and convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of location sharingVSAvoidtime for manual entry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and updates location information without requiring user input. The mobile station's client program autonomously obtains current location coordinates from network elements and translates them into text addresses, eliminating the need for manual typing and making the system self-sufficient in providing location sharing services

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures the location sharing functionality by establishing client programs that automatically connect to network elements and retrieve location data before the user needs to share their location. This preliminary setup ensures that location information is ready for immediate sharing without requiring user preparation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual status text entry is used, then location information can be distributed, but accuracy and up-to-date information deteriorate due to frequent changes requiring re-entry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of location informationVSAvoideffort for frequent updates

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic feedback loops where the client program continuously monitors location changes by periodically retrieving updated coordinates from network elements and automatically translating them into text addresses. This feedback mechanism ensures that location information remains accurate and current without requiring user intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous location tracking and updating through automated client programs that constantly retrieve current location data from network elements. This continuous operation ensures that location information is always up-to-date, eliminating the gaps and inaccuracies that occur with manual updates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If GPS and automatic location determination are used, then location accuracy improves, but device complexity and network requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of location coordinatesVSAvoidcomplexity of location determination system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses network elements as intermediaries between the mobile station and the location determination function. The client program on the mobile station communicates with network-based position determining entities that handle the complex GPS processing and coordinate translation, thereby reducing the complexity burden on the mobile device itself while maintaining high location precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows for accurate and automatic sharing of a user's location within instant messaging services, reducing user burden and ensuring up-to-date location information is shared with contacts without the need for manual typing or frequent updates.

Implementation Method 1

using information obtained via a wireless communications network, such as a global positioning system (GPS)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite signal reception and processing:

Data Source

PatentUS7826830B1Location-enabled presence for mobile IM

Publication Date: 2010.11.02 CELLCO PARTNERSHIP INC

AI summary

Instant messaging (IM) users in a wireless network are allowed to automatically set their presence status based on their geographical location. A conventional Mobile IM (MIM) client, such as a Brew application, allows an IM user to set his presence status, e.g. “Online,”“Away,” etc. This status is transmitted to the IM server which then publishes this status to other IM users. As disclosed herein, location based presence populates the device position automatically into the presence status or other IM communications. For example, selection of a menu choice <My Location> causes the disclosed MIM client to insert the street address of the current location into the presence status. The disclosed client obtains the location information by working with elements of a location based service (LBS) platform of a wireless mobile communication network, such as a location proxy server (LPS) and a position determining entity (PDE).