Synchronized group location updates

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed in which a location update for a user is utilized as a location update for the user and one or more additional users that have been location-synchronized to the user. In general, a location update is received for a first user. One or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user are then identified. A location reported by the location update for the first user is recorded, or stored, as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user. A location-based service, such as a social location-based service, may then be provided based on the current locations of the first and one or more second users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving a location update for a first user;   identifying one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user in response to receiving the location update for the first user; and   recording a location reported in the location update for the first user as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a social location-based service based on current locations of a plurality of users comprising the first user and the one or more second users. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the location reported in the location update for the first user is a current geographic location of the first user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the location reported in the location update for the first user is a check-in location for the first user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
 receiving, from a requesting user, a request to location-synchronize the requesting user to the first user; and 
 recording the requesting user as being location-synchronized to the first user; 
 wherein identifying the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user comprises identifying the requesting user as one of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
 receiving, from the first user, a request to location-synchronize a select user to the first user; and 
 recording the select user as being location-synchronized to the first user; 
 wherein identifying the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user comprises identifying the select user as one of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
 programmatically determining that a user is to be location-synchronized to the first user; and 
 recording the user as being location-synchronized to the first user; 
 wherein identifying the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user comprises identifying the user as one of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on one or more user settings. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on one or more system-defined rules. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on current locations of the first user and the user at that time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on one or more historical locations of the first user and the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be location-synchronized to the first user based on information obtained from one or more third-party sources that is indicative of spatial proximity of the first user and the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, from a requesting user, a request to de-synchronize the requesting user from the first user; and 
 de-synchronizing the requesting user from the first user such that the requesting user is no longer location-synchronized to the first user. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, from the first user, a request to de-synchronize a select user from the first user; and 
 de-synchronizing the select user from the first user such that the select user is no longer location-synchronized to the first user. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receiving the location update for the first user:
 programmatically determining that a user is to be de-synchronized from the first user; and 
 de-synchronizing the user from the first user such that the user is no longer location-synchronized to the first user. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user after a defined amount of time has expired since the user was location-synchronized to the first user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defined amount of time is defined by the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the defined amount of time is a system-defined amount of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user at a time specified by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on one or more user settings. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on one or more system-defined rules. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on current locations of the first user and the user at that time. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on one or more historical locations of the first user and the user. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user comprises programmatically determining that the user is to be de-synchronized from the first user based on information obtained from one or more third-party sources that is indicative of spatial proximity of the first user and the user. 
     
     
         25 . A computer server comprising:
 a communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the computer server to a network; and   a controller associated with the communication interface that is adapted to:
 receive, via the communication interface, a location update for a first user; 
 identify one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user in response to receiving the location update for the first user; and 
 record a location reported in the location update for the first user as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user. 
   
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for instructing a controller of a computing device to:
 receive a location update for a first user;   identify one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user in response to receiving the location update for the first user; and   record a location reported in the location update for the first user as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user.