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Apple's new patent: Latitude-like native app coming to the iPhone
Unlike Latitude, Apple's method of location sharing involves sending SMSes or 'instant messages' between phones. The message would be encoded in such a way that the phone can then extract your current location. Locating sharing (abstract and diagrams here) is only part of the package -- another patent titled 'position fix indicator' focuses on ways of displaying the user's location, and the location of people that you're 'bonded' with (shown in the diagram above).
The diagram also seems to suggest a forward-facing camera, something we've long expected to see on the iPhone. It's possible the diagram is just a placeholder (it looks identical to the one used in other patents), but it could be indicative of a forward-facing camera in the iPhone 4G arriving in 2010.
Let the stalking commence!
Comments
12
Subscribe to commentsDeoWulfJan 2nd 2010 3:44PM
If that diagram suggests a forward-facing camera, it also suggests two more and a directional pad.
I'm not sure those little graphics mean much.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 2nd 2010 3:54PM
Oh I'm sure they mean something... you'd assume they would revise the diagrams used, year on year, as they produce new versions of the iPhone...!
A d-pad would be neat.
DeoWulfJan 2nd 2010 4:09PM
It doesn't fit with Apple's minimalist style, though. They can't change the iPhone's design, because everyone expects it to be that way. And it's a pretty nice design, too.
master811Jan 2nd 2010 11:20PM
Well if it is a forward facing camera, then we can finally welcome Apple to 2006 ;)
cybJan 2nd 2010 7:35PM
funny, i made an app very similar to this a month ago and it was rejected only difference was it sent messages to a central website which then would update the next times the friends opened the app...
got denied from the app store
Sebastian AnthonyJan 2nd 2010 7:43PM
Probably because you didn't own the patent... duh!
DeoWulfJan 2nd 2010 8:05PM
They don't need a reason.
NeuroJan 2nd 2010 8:17PM
Wow, that's impressive. Ever since J2ME introduced sms capture ~9 years ago, I am sure no one considered to actually pass information through SMS. This definitely deserves patent protection, at least for the next 50 years, to save all the millions spent on R'n'D of it.
Bloody patent system.
intellervJan 2nd 2010 11:48PM
well since it is using SMS I'm sure ATT is rubbing their hands with glee. What a future ripoff.
CanuckJan 3rd 2010 12:47AM
This eerily sounds like how Nokia enables users to share location by sending the location encapsulated in SMS, opens up in Nokia's own Mapping application.
Another patent infringement lawsuit.
JitarooJan 3rd 2010 7:50AM
I don't see what is new about this. I do this all the time, I open up Maps.app find my location, tap the blue dot, tap share this location, then MMS it to any of my contacts.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 3rd 2010 10:45AM
I would guess it's a 'private' message that the phones read, not the user -- you just get to see the map being updated with pretty dots and stuff.