Systems and methods for determining texting locations and network coverage

Abstract

A system utilizing an Adventure Rescue Locator app and a Buddy app allows an adventurer to communicate his or her location throughout an adventure. The ARL app can provide quick and simple check-in messages that transmit location and other information and build a database of known “good” locations from which an adventurer is able to communicate via text, as well as known “not good” locations. The apps can share such information with a wide user-base, thus making the location information available to others. The app can serve to display the adventurer's check-in locations on a map; alert that the adventurer has an adventure in progress; keep track of the time the adventurer is planning on returning home and alert if the Adventurer fails to arrive; auto-confirm check-in texts with the ARL app; etc.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 initiating a check in operation at a device, wherein:
 the check in operation comprises one or more check in attempts; and 
 each check in attempt of the one or more check in attempts comprises forming 
   a communication and transmitting the communication;   monitoring whether the device is in cell coverage during the check in operation; and   in response to monitoring that the device is in cell coverage at a time that the check in operation is initiated, in response to monitoring that the device enters cell coverage during the check in operation, or a combination thereof, performing a check in attempt of the one or more check in attempts.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the communication comprises a location of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining whether the check in attempt is successful. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, in response to monitoring that the device is not within cell coverage during the check in operation, providing information on a display of the device indicating that the check in operation is in progress and that the device is waiting to enter cell coverage to perform additional check in attempts of the one or more check in attempts. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, in response to monitoring that the device is not within cell coverage during the check in operation, entering a power saving mode until the device enters cell coverage. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the check in operation is initiated by a user selection. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the check in operation is initiated automatically by the device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, in response to monitoring that the device leaves cell coverage during the check in operation, providing information on a display of the device indicating that the check in operation is in progress and that the device is waiting to enter cell coverage to perform additional check in attempts of the one or more check in attempts. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, in response to monitoring that the device is within cell coverage during the check in procedure, determining whether the check in attempt completed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining whether global positioning system information corresponding to at least one check in attempt of the one or more check in attempts is old, inaccurate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, in response to the global positioning system information being old, inaccurate, or the combination thereof, waiting for improved global positioning system information and initiating another check in attempt of the one or more check in attempts. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, in response to the check in attempt being completed, determining whether the device has moved beyond a threshold distance from a location indicated by the check in attempt. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in response to the device moving beyond the threshold distance from the location indicated by the check in attempt, performing another check in attempt of the one or more check in attempts with updated location information. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting information indicating an age of information of at least one check in attempt of the one or more check in attempts, an accuracy of the information, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the check in operation is initiated in response to a predetermined time period elapsing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the check in operation is initiated in response to a predetermined distance being traveled. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the check in operation is initiated in response to the device being within a predetermined distance of a location previously having a successful transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising saving information indicating locations having a false negative transmission. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 providing a distance on a display of a device indicating the distance from a current location to a location previously having a successful transmission sent;   updating the distance on the display of the device as the device moves relative to the location; and   transmitting a message in response to the device being within a predetermined distance of the location.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising providing an indicator of a quality of texting at the location. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the quality comprises a rate of success, a rate of failure, a number of successes, a number of false negatives, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising displaying on the display of the device a plurality of locations previously having a successful transmission sent. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising displaying on the display of the device a plurality of distances, wherein each distance of the plurality of distances comprises the distance from the current location to a respective location of a plurality of locations previously having a successful transmission sent. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising receiving a selection of a location of the plurality of locations. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further providing an indicator of a quality of texting for each location of the plurality of locations.