Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Archived Post

Apple patent filing involves ‘easy location sharing’ in Messages

Apple has filed for a patent (number 9,998,88) for “easy location sharing” via the Messages app on its macOS, iOS, and watchOS devices. Per the invention, an Apple device detects a location-sharing request from a first participant of a message conversation to share first participant location information with a second participant. 

The device then enables the second participant to obtain the first participant location information during a predetermined location-sharing time period. In response to detecting interaction by one of the first participant and the second participant with the message conversation during the predetermined location-sharing time period, the device extends the predetermined location-sharing time period.

In the patent filing, Apple notes that text messaging has expanded to include additional functionality, including the ability to share location information between participants in a message conversation. However, some methods for sharing location information can be, however, difficult and/or inefficient, and Apple wants to change this. 

Of course, Apple files for — and is granted — lots of patents by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Many are for inventions that never see the light of day. However, you never can tell which ones will materialize in a real product.


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Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.