Publishing location for a limited time

摘要

A method and user device for limiting a time for which location data sharing is enabled for a user device of a data sharing group, the data sharing group comprising at least two user devices inclusive of the user device, each user device of the data sharing group configured to store data shared by user devices of the data sharing group on the respective user device and to maintain a list of the user devices in the data sharing group. The method comprises receiving an instruction through a user interface on the user device indicating that location data sharing is to be enabled for a limited time period after which location sharing is to be disabled, obtaining location data for the user device during the limited time period; and sending the location data to at least one other user device of the sharing group during the limited time period.

主权项

1. A user device comprising:
an output interface for transmitting data to at least one other user device; a user interface configured to receive an instruction to enable periodic location data sharing of location data for the user device for a limited length of time after which location sharing is to be disabled; and a location sharing module configured to: during the limited length of time, periodically provide location data for the user device to the output interface to be transmitted to the at least one other user device; and outside the limited length of time, cease to periodically provide location data for the user device to the output interface; wherein the instruction to enable periodic location data sharing of location data for the user device for a limited length of time defines a bounded length of time starting from a time at which the instruction is received; and wherein periodically providing location data for the user device to the output interface comprises:
periodically sending a single message to a relay or router for independent distribution to the at least one other user device without the location data being retained by a server, the single message containing the location data and addresses of the at least one other user device, wherein the user device subsequently receives from the relay or router a delivery acknowledgment when each of the at least one other user device receives the single message.