Systems and methods for mobile communication integration

Abstract

A mobile application for integrating a location sharing event with a messaging platform such as a text messaging or email platform allows users to be prompted about location sharing when at least a part of the message includes location or time information. In one embodiment, the mobile application takes the form of an integrated location sharing application that parses the message to discern the relevant location or time information. The application may also provide a notification of a future event and may optionally generate a location sharing event based on the notification. In another embodiment, the application permits interactive route sharing between at least two computing devices.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 causing a map to be displayed by a first computing device;   generating a route from a first point to a second point based on an approximate route indicated by a user of the first computing device,
 wherein the approximate route specifies an entire route between the first point and the second point; and 
 wherein generating the route is performed, at least in part, by automatically adjusting a portion of the approximate route to more closely conform to aspects of the map; and 
   causing an indication of the generated route to be sent to a second computing device in conjunction with a textual message,
 wherein sending the generated route and the textual message causes the second computing device to display the generated route in conjunction with the textual message. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein the second computing device displays a second map based on the indication of the generated route;   wherein revisions to the route are indicated through interactions with the second map to generate a revised route;   wherein the second computing device sends an indication of the revised route to the first computing device; and   wherein the method further comprises causing the first computing device to display a second version of the map based on the indication of the revised route.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein the second computing device displays a second map based on the indication of the generated route;   wherein revisions to the route are indicated through interactions with the second map to generate a revised route;   wherein the second computing device sends an indication of the revised route to the first computing device and sends a second textual message to the first computing device; and   wherein the method further comprises:
 causing the first computing device to display a second version of the map based on the indication of the revised route; and 
 causing the first computing device to display the second textual message in association with the second version of the map. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a message from the second computing device indicating acceptance of the route. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the map by the first computing device includes displaying location data imported from a social network data source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising causing the route to be displayed in conjunction with the textual message. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving route revisions from the second computing device; and 
 causing the first computing device to display a second version of the map which includes the route revisions. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the approximate route is indicated by a user, at least in part, by the user tracing a portion of the approximate route in relation to the map. 
     
     
         9 . A computing system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
 displaying a map; 
 generating a route from a first position to a second position based on an approximate route indicated by a user,
 wherein the approximate route specifies an entire route between the first position and the second position; and 
 wherein generating the route is performed, at least in part, by automatically adjusting a portion of the approximate route to more closely conform to characteristics of the map; and 
 
 sending an indication of the generated route to a second computing system in conjunction with a textual message,
 wherein sending the generated route and the textual message causes the second computing system to display the generated route. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 9 :
 wherein the second computing system displays a second map based on the indication of the generated route;   wherein revisions to the route are indicated through interactions with the second map to generate a revised route;   wherein the second computing system sends an indication of the revised route to the computing system; and   wherein the operations further comprise displaying a second version of the map based on the indication of the revised route.   
     
     
         11 . The computing system of  claim 9 :
 wherein the second computing system displays a second map based on the indication of the generated route;   wherein revisions to the route are indicated through interactions with the second map to generate a revised route;   wherein the second computing system sends an indication of the revised route to the computing system and sends a second textual message to the computing system; and   wherein the operations further comprise:
 displaying a second version of the map based on the indication of the revised route; and 
 displaying the second textual message in association with the second version of the map. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a message from the second computing system indicating acceptance of the route. 
     
     
         13 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein displaying the map by the computing system includes displaying location data imported from a social network. 
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise displaying the route in conjunction with the textual message. 
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving route revisions from the second computing system; and   displaying a second version of the map which includes the route revisions.   
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the approximate route is indicated by a user, at least in part, by the user tracing a portion of the approximate route in relation to the map. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 identifying an incoming text message received from a second computing system;   parsing the incoming text message into message portions;   comparing the message portions to trigger portions;   based on the comparing, determining that at least one of the message portions match at least one of the trigger portions;   in response to the determining, providing a location sharing prompt;   receiving input specifying acceptance of the location sharing prompt; and   in response to the input specifying acceptance of the location sharing prompt, causing indications of one or more locations associated with the computing system to be shared with the second computing system.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the incoming text message is received via a location sharing application with an integrated messaging portion. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein determining that at least one of the message portions match at least one of the trigger portions comprises identifying whether any of the least one of the message portions include words referencing location. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 ,
 wherein providing a location sharing prompt comprises sending a link to a third computing system; and   wherein the input specifying acceptance of the location sharing prompt is received via a user of the third computing system activating the link.