Palm Files for Location-Sharing Patent 22
GoRumors noticed a Palm Patent filing titled, creatively enough, "Notification on mobile device based on location of other mobile device," which basically describes exactly what the patent is for:
The processing circuit is configured to receive user input from the user input device indicative of a request to associate the stored data with a second mobile computing device, to receive an indication that the second mobile computing device is proximate to the mobile computing device, and to provide a notification to the user via the output device based on the indication.
Sure, we can hack together Google Latitude if we want, but wouldn't it give you a warmer, fuzzier feeling to know that a fellow Palm lover is nearby, not just another Googler? As Engadget notes, the patent also includes location-based reminders. Hopefully it all of those features will mean that the dream of our hero, Roger McNamee dream of super-location-reminders can come true.
Thanks to everybody who sent this in!
22 Comments
hope so 1st
Sounds like Palm's version of Blackberry Messenger, which would be a bonus.
If you think about it, BM is one hell of a marketing scheme. Just like subscription email services.
Go Palm, GO!
cool, wonder what this is for?
@hollabak009: Swing..........and a Miss!
What is this for? The ability to share music or files with a palm owner near you -- doesn't bluetooth do that? I skimmed through the patent and didn't see any useful applications of this 'technology' other then maybe invasion of privacy. If you want to share a task list with someone write a php page on a server that everyone can access. User defined names for maps? Does any of this deserve a patent?
I hate software patents. If this goes through, GeoStrings could find itself infringing.
Software is built too much on the idea of layers. You use one layer to build the next. Software patents make it so that someone who has a good idea (who depended on a million really good ideas before him) can prevent the use of that ideas by others. Ignoring the free use of previous ideas that came before him and upon which he depends.
It'd be one thing if software patents actually were productive. But they're destructive:
http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/patents_as_property...
Parts 1 & 3 are informative, too.
http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/patents_as_property...
http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/patents_as_property...
Considering GeoStrings has already been accepted into the catalog, I think it'll be alright. And Palm was aware of the project before I even started working on it in October.
I think it would be awesome if palm created something like bbm...
A lot of my friends from school would never shatter the thought of leaving there precious blackberry and whenever I ask why they say bbm.
My opinion on blackberry is good phone with a boring os.
I think that more people would consider palm if they had there own "bbm"
Do we really need another BBM-type function??? AIM, Yahoo Messenger, gTalk, SMS, MMS, etc. isn't enough? What's the use of Palm having their own proprietary messenger app? Think about it, it's not going to be inter-operable with BBM, whereas, the options that Palm does have are universal.
I second having a PALM Messenger.....You want to attract to all customers and if that feature will attract more y not!!!!! I also agree a lot of friends of mine will not leave BB for that reason!! They should build their own!!! Palm make it happen
BBM only works with Blackberries. Why would anyone want Palm's messenger to work only with Palm? Wouldn't it be better to have something that's cross-platform? Like what we ALREADY have? Your Palm, even if it had it's very own messenger, will have to use what it already has to send a message to someone with a blackberry, or any other device for that matter. The only situation that a 'Palm Messenger' would be of any use if you only had friends with Palms.
Is that the Pre2/Preo in the graphic?
Back with the sexy rigid antenna!
uh no... its actually an older palm device.
lol!
if Palm wants to experiment with augmented reality (not necessarily for the above) we're gonna need a compass on this baby soon...
I could see why many people would want this but me personally, I don't want my friends and family knowing where I'm at 24/7 but the driving past a market/milk idea is a good one.
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My app GeoStrings, which is available in the app catalog, already provides location-based reminders. So you can already do this today!
For those of us who have had the beloved Treo/Centro phones, this almost sounds like 21st century beaming... except relative positioning of a fellow Pre user, store, theatre, etc.
One of the things that I love about my TREO phone is that I could INSTANTLY beam files, contacts, pictures, etc. to another TREO phone... don't have to compose an email add attachment and send, all you have to do is select file and beam it.
Does this mean that one day they may bring back beaming? I know iphone has the feature, but Palm had it first. That would be so cool if they bring that back.
Yeah beaming is cool. I've never been surre that it was faster than bluetooth though. Is it, does anyone know?
Just a reminder, all US patent applications sit in limbo in the USPTO for 18 months before they are able to be viewed and searched on the web. That would mean Palm filed this application at least 18 months ago, so the graphics are most likely just that of a Treo.
I would love to see this implemented!
Also, i agree with @mu7efcer. Most software patents are detrimental to the industry.
Ha, the Treos in the diagram, how quaintly 2003. :P
Perhaps another intent of this is to tie it in to the reminder that you can place on a contact. The intent behind the reminder is that you want to wait to tell something in a verbal conversation; when you are on a phone call. But with the proximity thing you could get a reminder as you are approaching each other walking down the hall.
I didn't see anything here to indicate sharing of files, only notification that another device is nearby.
Another potential use is if you could post a personal profile & if you were near another person of similar interests you could text each other. Just a thought. Could enhance the "singles" bar of the future.
All it sounds like to me is that it will tell you there's another Pre (presumably one you've already partnered with, nearby, and approximately where that device is.
If that's the case, there's a ton of prior art. I can't see this as a legitimate patent, but the way the PTO works these days is they grant almost every patent and then let companies fight it out in court.