Live location sharing using virtual avatars

Abstract

Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by generating customized media content items based on location sensor information from users' computing devices. The media content can be generated for a variety of topics and shared with other users. For example, media content (e.g., images or video) can be generated and displayed on a user's computing device, as well as transmitted to other users via electronic communications, such as short message service (SMS) or multimedia service (MMS) texts and emails.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a first user's client computing device in communication with the system over a network, an electronic communication containing location information associated with a current location of the first user from a location sensor coupled to the first user's client computing device; 
 retrieving, from a database, avatar information for the first user; and 
 generating, based on the avatar information for the first user and the current location of the first user, a media content item comprising a map depicting an avatar of the first user at the first user's current location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores instructions for causing the system to perform operations comprising: causing the media content item to display on a display screen of the first user's client computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory further stores instructions for causing the system to perform operations comprising: causing the media content item to display on a display screen of a second user's client computing device in communication with the system over the network. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the avatar of the first user is selectable via one or more of the display screen of the first user's client computing device and the display screen of the second user's client computing device, and wherein selection of the avatar of the first user via a respective display screen causes the system to display a media content item associated with the first user on the respective display screen. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein generating the media content item includes identifying a venue associated with the first user's current location and displaying an icon on the map associated with the venue. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the icon associated with the venue is selectable via one or more of the display screen of the first user's client computing device and the display screen of the second user's client computing device, and wherein selection of the icon associated with the venue via a respective display screen causes the system to display a media content item associated with the venue on the respective display screen. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system allows access to the media content item by the second user's computing device for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system ceases displaying the avatar of the first user on the map on the display screen of the second computing device in response to one or more of: expiration of a predetermined period of time, and input from the first user, via the first computing device, to turn off sharing of the first user's location. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the avatar of the first user remains displayed on the map displayed on the display screen of the first user's computing device subsequent to the input from the first user to turn off sharing of the first user's location. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system presents an icon on the display screen of the first user's computing device to indicate the first user's location is not being shared. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the memory further stores instructions for causing the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from the client computing device of the second user, an electronic communication containing location information associated with a current location of the second user from a location sensor coupled to the second user's client computing device; and   retrieving, from the database, avatar information for the second user, wherein generating the media content item includes generating an avatar of the second user at the second user's current location on the map.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein generating the media content item includes:
 receiving, from the computing device of the first user, a granularity option; and   generating the avatar of the first user on the map within a predetermined distance of the current location of the first user based on the received granularity option.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined distance of the current location of the first user is one of: a precise location of the first user based on the location information, and a random location within a predetermined area based on the location information. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores instructions for causing the system to receive, from the first user's client computing device over the network, authorization from the first user to utilize the location information. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores instructions for causing the system to perform operations comprising: determining a current activity of the first user based on the location information, wherein generating the media content item includes depicting the avatar of the first user engaged in the current activity. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein determining the current activity of the first user includes determining a speed of the first user's client computing device based on first location information from the location sensor at a first time and second location information from the location sensor at a second time, the second time subsequent to the first time. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein generating the media content item includes:
 presenting the avatar of the first user at a first position in the media content item at the first time; and   modifying the media content item to remove the avatar of the first user in the first position in the media content item and presenting the avatar of the first user at a second position in the media content item at the second time.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein generating the media content item includes:
 determining, based on the location information, that the client computing device of the first user has not moved beyond a predetermined distance from a location for a predetermined period of time; and   in response to determining the client computing device of the first user has not moved beyond the predetermined distance from the location, modifying the media content item to remove the avatar of the first user.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer system from a first user's client computing device in communication with the computer system over a network, an electronic communication containing location information associated with a current location of the first user from a location sensor coupled to the first user's client computing device;   retrieving, by the computer system from a database, avatar information for the first user; and   generating, by the computer system based on the avatar information for the first user and the current location of the first user, a media content item comprising a map depicting an avatar of the first user at the first user's current location.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a first user's client computing device in communication with the computer system over a network, an electronic communication containing location information associated with a current location of the first user from a location sensor coupled to the first user's client computing device;   retrieving, from a database, avatar information for the first user; and   generating, based on the avatar information for the first user and the current location of the first user, a media content item comprising a map depicting an avatar of the first user at the first user's current location.