Future Apple iPhones could share current location during a call

Το να μοιράζεστε την τοποθεσία σας με μια επαφή σας μπορεί να είναι τόσο εύκολο όσο είναι το άγγιγμα ενός κουμπιού σε μελλοντικό firmware update, σύμφωνα με την καινούρια πατέντα της Apple που βγήκε στην επιφάνεια αυτή την εβδομάδα.

While the assisted GPS in the iPhone currently allows users to view their own location through the integrated Maps application, the described addition would make it simple and easy to share that data with someone else. The location data could be quickly shared with a person who is currently connected with a phone call, or with someone who was recently sent a text message.

The system would also allow users to actively send their location to another person, or to allow a user to request the location data of the other person, which would then require approval for security purposes. The information would be valuable to friends who are trying to meet, but do not know the whereabouts of each other.

“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 reads. “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 notes that the invention would not require any modifications to existing cell phone network infrastructure, as long as both handsets feature a device-to-device location awareness application running while the user is in the midst of a phone call.

The location sharing system could also have a stored list of “trusted users,” who could access someone’s current location by default. This would bypass the user approval necessary with traditional users.

Once permission is received, the phone would automatically display a map with a marker noting the current location of the other device. The map would be wide enough to also show the user’s own location, and could provide the distance between the two, along with directions.

via AppleInsider