System and method for monitoring locations of mobile devices

Abstract

A method of identifying mobile computing devices includes sending a request from a first mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device for the location of the second mobile computing device, and receiving the location of the second mobile computing device at the first mobile computing device. The method further includes providing a notification to one of the first and second mobile computing devices based upon the location of the second mobile computing device.

1 . A method of identifying mobile computing devices, comprising:
 sending a request from a first mobile computing device to a second mobile computing device for the location of the second mobile computing device;   receiving the location of the second mobile computing device at the first mobile computing device; and   providing a notification to one of the first and second mobile computing devices based upon the location of the second mobile computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the notification is based further upon availability data indicative of an availability status of the second mobile computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sending a request for the availability data for the second mobile computing device; and   receiving the availability data at the first mobile computing device from the second mobile computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving the availability data from a server separate from the first and second mobile computing devices.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the notification comprises displaying a map indicating the geographic location of the second mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the notification further comprises providing the availability data of the second mobile computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the availability data of the second mobile computing device is based upon electronic calendar data stored on the second mobile computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is one of an email, a phone call, and a text message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request is sent over a cellular communications network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the notification is based further upon permission data indicative of a permission status of the second mobile computing device defined by a user of the second mobile computing device 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first mobile computing device is a handheld computing device. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; and   a processing circuit configured to run an application, the application configured to send a request to a mobile computing device for the location of the mobile computing device, receive the location of the mobile computing device, and provide a notification based upon the location of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the application is configured to provide the notification based further upon availability data indicative of an availability status for the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the notification comprises a geographic map indicating the location of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the notification further comprises an indication of the availability data of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a second notification to the mobile computing device upon receipt of the location of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the second notification is one of a wireless phone call, a text message, and an email. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to provide the notification based further upon permission data indicative of a permission status for the mobile computing device defined by a user of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         20 . A method of identifying mobile computing devices, comprising:
 requesting location and availability data for a first mobile computing device; and   receiving the location data for the first mobile computing device based upon the availability data of the first mobile computing device;   wherein the availability data is indicative of an availability status of the first mobile computing device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 providing a notification to a second mobile computing device based upon the availability data.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 providing the availability data for the first mobile computing device on a display of the second mobile computing device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 sending a wireless communication from the second mobile computing device to the first mobile computing device based upon the availability data.