A new Apple patent application made available this week could allow future iPhone users to share locations with each other, according to AppleInsider.
The assisted GPS that's already in the iPhone allows users to view their own location through the Maps app, but the new addition could make it much more easier to be able to share that information with someone else. If the person is connected with a phone call, the location data could then be shared quickly with someone else, or with someone who was recently sent a text message.
The new feature would also give users the capability to send their location to another person, or allow a user to request the location data of the other person, and it would then require approval for security purposes.
"During an ongoing call, the second user may be prompted (by the second device) to authorize release of her current location information to the requesting first user," the application read. "Once authorization has been obtained (e.g., by the second user actuating a virtual or physical 'OK' button of the second device), the second device composes and sends a message to the first device that contains its current location information."
The application also noted that the invention would not require adjustments to any current cell phone network infrastructure, just so long as both handsets feature a device-to-device awareness app running while the user is in a phone call.
If you're still skeptical of sharing all this information with others, the location sharing system would also have a stored list of "trusted users," who could see someone's location by default, by passing the user approval process.
Then, once the permission is granted, the phone would then proceed to display a map containing a marker noting the current location of the other user's device.
Image courtesy of Gizmodo
winthropp
February 06, 2010 at 10:18pm
This is really great!! Now it will be easy for parents to keep track of their children. Advanced Acai
parkview84capt
February 04, 2010 at 6:38pm
Just downloaded "Family Tracker" to my wife's and my i-phones last week and happy to say, it works great and exactly as the article claims as a possibility in the future. Once downloaded one picks contacts they wish to locate during setup. A ping is sent to the selected iphone and once authorization is granted, their position comes up on google maps. One drawback though is that a ping must be authorized each and every time you want an update. I love my wife and the intent is not to check up on her, I don't have to, but what about the scenario of an accident or other circumstances where the party you're trying to get a fix on can't authorize your ping for reasons beyond their control?? It's a dangerous and scary world out there.
parkview84capt
February 04, 2010 at 6:37pm
Just downloaded "Family Tracker" to my wife's and my i-phones last week and happy to say, it works great and exactly as the article claims as a possibility in the future. Once downloaded one picks contacts they wish to locate during setup. A ping is sent to the selected iphone and once authorization is granted, their position comes up on google maps. One drawback though is that a ping must be authorized each and every time you want an update. I love my wife and the intent is not to check up on her, I don't have to, but what about the scenario of an accident or other circumstances where the party you're trying to get a fix on can't authorize your ping for reasons beyond their control?? It's a dangerous and scary world out there.
SpaceTrucker
February 04, 2010 at 12:54pm
I've been awaiting something like this for a long time, it's been many a time the wife has called and asked me to give her directions when she didn't even know where she was at, something like this would go a long ways in being able to help her find her way around...
