GB2521668A

GB2521668A - Locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system

Info

Publication number: GB2521668A
Application number: GB1323102.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oleg Fedorov; Harri Kiljander; Harri Kukkonen; Igor Polyakov; Miguel Angel Rodriquez Bernaldo De Quiros
Original assignee: F Secure Oyj
Current assignee: WithSecure Oyj
Priority date: 2013-12-30
Filing date: 2013-12-30
Publication date: 2015-07-01
Also published as: GB201323102D0

Abstract

There are provided measures for enabling locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system, such as locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network of a location tracking system. Such measures could exemplarily comprise recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device, appointing the determined location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.

Description

Locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system

Field

The present invention relates to locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system. More specifically, the present invention relates to measures (including methods, apparatuses and computer program products) for enabling locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system, such as locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network of a location tracking system.

Background

In recent years, location-based services have increasingly emerged in communication systems, particularly wireless or mobile communication systems. In order to enable the provision of location-based services to devices and theirs users, the current locations of all devices participating in such location-based service are to be acquired and managed in a location tracking system, typically in a server device of such location tracking system.

In terms of locating capability, devices currently deployed in today's communication systems, particularly wireless or mobile communication systems, basically include locating-capable devices and locating-incapable devices. Locating-capable devices typically include mobile devices, such as mobile communication devices, which are capable of executing a locating application (thus enabling the communication system to determine the location thereof) and communicating in a communication system such as a mobile communication network, such communication also involving establishing a network-based connection to the server device of a location tracking system. Such locating-capable devices may for example be smart devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), or the like, which allow installing and running various applications including a location tracking application. Locating-incapable devices typically include devices, including mobile, wearable and stationary devices, which are incapable of executing a locating application (thus not enabling the communication system to determine the location thereof) and establishing a network-based connection to the server device of a location tracking system (irrespective of a potential communication capability in a communication system such as a mobile communication network). Such locating-incapable devices may for example be non-smart devices such as feature phones, hardware tags, wearable electronics such as electronic watches, or the like, which do not allow installing and running various applications including a location tracking application.

While the current locations of locating-capable devices can easily be acquired and managed in a location tracking system, it is typically infeasible to acquire and manage the current locations of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system.

The infeasibility of acquiring and managing the current locations of locating-incapable devices is particularly detrimental in a location tracking system which is designed or dedicated for tracking locations of private user groups or private social networks which may include both locating-capable devices and locating-incapable devices. Namely, in the absence of the knowledge of the current locations of locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network, a consistent location tracking for all devices in this private user group or private social network is not possible.

As an example of a use case of such location tracking system, it may be conceived that a private user group or private social network is formed by family members or close friends, wherein some family members or friends use smartphones with a location tracking application and some family members or friends use feature phones without a location tracking application. For example, small children may have feature phones that do not allow new applications to be added. Yet, it would be useful and desirable for the other family members or friends to be able to know the location of these locating-incapable devices and their users.

Accordingly, there is a demand to enable locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system, such as locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network of a location tracking system.

S u mm a ry Various exemplifying embodiments of the present invention aim at addressing at least part of the above issues and/or problems.

Various aspects of exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are set out in the appended claims.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, and issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided method comprising obtaining a notification from a locating-capable device at a server device, said notification comprising an information of a location of the locating-capable device as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to a locating-incapable device, appointing the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a memory configured to store computer program code, and a processor configured to read and execute computer program code stored in the memory, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, and issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a memory configured to store computer program code, and a processor configured to read and execute computer program code stored in the memory, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: obtaining a notification from a locating-capable device at a server device, said notification comprising an information of a location of the locating-capable device as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to a locating-incapable device, appointing the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided computer program product comprising computer-executable computer program code which, when the computer program code is executed (or run) on a computer or the program is run on a computer (e.g. a computer of an apparatus according to any one of the aforementioned apparatus-related example aspects of the present invention), is configured to cause the computer to carry out a method according to any one of the aforementioned method-related example aspects of the present invention.

The computer program product may comprise or may be embodied as a (tangible and/or non-transitory) computer-readable (storage) medium or the like, on which the computer-executable computer program code is stored, and/or the program is directly loadable into an internal memory of the computer or a processor thereof.

Further developments and/or modifications of the aforementioned example aspects of the present invention are set out herein with reference to the drawings and exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

By way of exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system is enabled, such as locating of locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network of a location tracking system.

Brief descrirtion of the drawings In the following, the present invention will be described in greater detail by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a system arrangement according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of a method operable at a locating-capable device according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of a method operable at a server device according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, Figure 4 shows a diagram illustrating a first example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, Figure 5 shows a diagram illustrating a second example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, Figure 6 shows a diagram illustrating a third example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, Figure 7 shows a diagram illustrating a fourth example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a structure of apparatuses according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, and Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a structure of apparatuses according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description of drawings and embodiments

The present invention is described herein with reference to particular non-limiting examples and to what are presently considered to be conceivable embodiments of the present invention. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is by no means limited to these examples, and may be more broadly applied.

Hereinafter, various exemplifying embodiments and implementations of the present invention and its aspects are described using several variants and/or alternatives. It is generally noted that, according to certain needs and constraints, all of the described variants and/or alternatives may be provided alone or in any conceivable combination (also including combinations of individual features of the various variants and/or alternatives). In this description, the words "comprising" and "including" should be understood as not limiting the described exemplifying embodiments and implementations to consist of only those features that have been mentioned, and such exemplifying embodiments and implementations may also contain features, structures, units, modules etc. that have not been specifically mentioned.

In the drawings, it is noted that lines/arrows interconnecting individual blocks or entities are generally meant to illustrate an operational coupling there-between, which may be a physical and/or logical coupling, which on the one hand is implementation-independent (e.g. wired or wireless) and on the other hand may also comprise an arbitrary number of intermediary functional blocks or entities not shown.

According to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, in general terms, there are provided measures and mechanisms for enabling locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system, such as locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network of a location tracking system.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a system arrangement according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are based on a system arrangement in which a certain number of locating-capable devices (LCD, LCD') 1 are connected/communicating or, at least, connectable/communicable to/with a server device (5) 4 via a network 3, a locating-incapable device (LID) 2 is connected/communicating or, at least, connectable/communicable to/with at least one of the locating-capable devices (LCD, LCD') 1 via a device-to-device (D2D) link, and another locating-incapable device (LID') 2 is present without being connected/communicating or, at least, connectable/communicable to/with

S

at least one of the locating-capable devices (LCD, LCD') 1 via a device-to-device (D2D) link.

As mentioned above, locating-capable devices typically include mobile devices, such as mobile communication devices, which are capable of executing a location tracking application (thus enabling the communication system to determine the location thereof) and communicating in a communication system such as a mobile communication network, such communication also involving establishing a network-based connection to the server device of a location tracking system. Such locating-capable devices may for example be smart devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), or the like, which allow installing and running various applications including a location tracking application. The network 3 for establishing a connection between locating-capable devices and a server device may be any kind of communication network, including the Internet, an intranet or any other kind of communication network.

As mentioned above, locating-incapable devices typically include devices, including mobile, wearable and stationary devices, which are incapable of executing a locating application (thus not enabling the communication system to determine the location thereof) and establishing a network-based connection to the server device of a location tracking system (irrespective of a potential communication capability in a communication system such as a mobile communication network). Such locating-incapable devices may for example be non-smart devices such as feature phones, hardware tags, wearable electronics such as electronic watches, or the like, which do not allow installing and running various applications including a location tracking application. The device-to-device communication with one or more locating-capable devices may be accomplished via any conceivable short-range communication technology or proximity-based service (ProSe), including e.g. Bluetooth, WiFi, radio frequency identification (REID), or the like.

In view of Figure 1, it may be assumed that the locating-capable devices (LCD, LCD') 1, the locating-incapable devices (LID, LID') 2 and the server device 4 belong to a location tracking system, wherein the server device 4 manages the location tracking system (i.e. the registered users and their locations) e.g. in a database. Specifically, it may be assumed that the locating-capable devices (LCD, LCD') 1 and the locating-incapable devices (LID, LID') 2 belong to a private group or private social network of such location tracking system.

For implementing such location tracking system, a corresponding application may be installed and executed on the locating-capable devices 1 (yet, due to its lacking capability, not on the locating-incapable devices 2).

Such application should be capable of determining the location of a device on which it is installed and executed, and establishing a network-based connection to the server device managing the location tracking system.

Herein, the location of a device may comprise a geographical position (e.g. based on GPS coordinates), a predefined place or site (e.g. a geographical or network-related position defined as "home", "work", "school", etc.), or a combination thereof (e.g. a specific position within a predefined place or site). For example, such application could be the Lokki application by F-Secure Corporation.

When the Lokki application is used as an example of a designated location software application, connected Lokki-registered smartphones can for example communicate with non-connected Lokki-registered devices, such as feature phones or hardware tags, over Bluetooth 4.0 or some similar short-range communication technology or proximity-based service. With the Lokki application, family members or close friends can be invited, and it can be shown when they are in predefined places of real life, like home, school, work or beach, and when they are nearby a current location.

It is noted that the number of respective elements and connections/communications shown in Figure 1 is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the present invention. For example, another number of (more or less than two) locating-capable devices may be involved in a network-based connection with the server device, another number of (more than one) locating-incapable device may be involved in a short-range device-to-device communication with one or more locating-capable devices, and another number of (more than one) server device may be involved in a network-based connection with the locating-capable devices and managing a location tracking system.

Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of a method operable at a locating-capable device according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention. The thus illustrated method may be operable at or by a locating-capable device 1, as described in connection with Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2, a method operable at a locating-capable device according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present invention comprises an operation (5210) of recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device, e.g. LID 2, in the proximity of the locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, an operation (5220) of determining a location of the locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, andan operation (5230) of issuing a notification from the locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, to a server device, e.g. 5 4, wherein the notification comprises an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device.

According to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, the reference to the locating-incapable device in the issued notification may be an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-incapable device or an identifier of the locating-capable device. In the former case, the location-capable device assigns the determined location as the current location of both itself and the recognized location-incapable device, and provides an information about such assignment to the server device. In the latter case, the location-capable device assigns the determined location as the current location of itself but not as the current location of the recognized location-incapable device, and provides an information about such assignment as well as identifier of the location-incapable device to the server device.

It is noted that the presence recognition operation and the location determination operation may be carried out in the illustrated sequence, but may equally be carried out in a different sequence or (at least partly) simultaneous/parallel with each other. Further, it is noted that the location determination operation may be carried out on the basis of a predefined scheme (i.e. irrespective of the presence recognition operation), such as on a periodical basis or in response to predefined event-related or time-related triggers, or upon recognition of the presence of the locating-incapable device. Still further, it is noted that the location notification operation may be carried out commonly for both devices (i.e. by way of a single notification of the determined location as the current location of both the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device) or separately for each device (i.e. by way of a notification of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a separate notification of the determined location as the current location of the locating-incapable device).

Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of a method operable at a server device according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention. The thus illustrated method may be operable at or by a server device 4, as described in connection with Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 3, a method operable at a server device according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present invention comprises an operation (5310) of obtaining a notification from a locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, wherein the notification comprises an information of a location of the locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, as the current location of the locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, and a reference to a locating-incapable device, e.g. LID 2, an operation (5320) of appointing (or setting) the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and an operation (5330) of updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device, e.g. S 4, with the current location of the locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, and the current location of the locating-incapable device, e.g. LID 2.

According to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, the reference to the locating-incapable device in the obtained notification may be an information of the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device or an identifier of the locating-capable device. In the former case, an assignment of the informed location as the current location of both the location-capable device and the location-incapable device is made by the location-capable device, and such assignment for both devices is received in the notification. Accordingly, based on such assignment, the server device may directly appoint (or set) the thus informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device, without requiring any further assignment. In the latter case, an assignment of the informed location as the current location of only the location-capable device is made by the location-capable device, and such assignment for the location-capable device together with an identifier of the location-incapable device is received in the notification. Accordingly, based on such assignment and identifier, the server device may assign the informed location to the location-incapable device as well, thereby appointing (or setting) the thus informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device.

In the following, example procedures according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the system arrangement of Figure 1.

It is to be noted that the thus exemplified procedures are equally applicable, whether or not locating-capable devices (e.g. LCD, LCD') 1 and locating-capable devices (e.g. LID, LID') 2 belong to a private group or private social network of such location tracking system.

Figure 4 shows a diagram illustrating a first example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

In step S401, LCD 1 determines its own location using its locating capability based on the installed location tracking application. Based thereon, LCD 1 notifies its determined location as the current location of LCD 1 to the server device 4 in step 5402, e.g. by issuing a notification comprising a corresponding information on the current location of LCD 1, possibly together with an identifier of LCD 1. Then, the server device 4 obtains this notification and updates its database of the location tracking system with the current location of LCD 1 in step 5403. For identification purposes, the notification may comprise an identifier of LCD 1, or the server device 4 may otherwise recognize that the notification originates from and relates to LCD 1.

In step 5404, LCD 1 detects the proximity of LID 2 via short-range D2D communication. That is, LCD 1 detects some device in its proximity (i.e. the coverage/service range of a short-range communication technology or proximity-based service), and that the detected device is a locating-incapable device of the same location tracking system or the same private group or private social network as LCD 1. In this regard, LCD 1 may also detect an identifier of LID 2. Thereby, LCD 1 recognizes the presence of LID 2 in its proximity in step S405. Such detection and recognition may be based on some knowledge of devices (and/or their identifiers) belonging to the same location tracking system and/or the same private (user) group or private social network as LCD 1, which may be held in a memory or database of LCD 1.

Thereupon, LCD 1 assigns its own location to LID 2, wherein its own location previously determined in step 5401 (e.g. on the basis of a predefined scheme) may be used or, optionally, its own location may be newly determined in step S406 (upon recognition of the presence of LID 2).

Based thereon, LCD 1 notifies its determined location as the current location of LID 2 to the server device 4 in step S407, e.g. by issuing a notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of LCD 1 and, as a reference to LID 2, an information of the determined location as the current location of LID 2. Then, the server device 4 obtains this notification, appoints (or sets) in step 5408 the informed location as the current location of LID 2 on the basis of the reference, i.e. the corresponding information, in the notification, and updates its database of the location tracking system with the current location of LID 2 in step 5409.

For identification purposes, the notification may comprise an identifier of LID 2, or the server device 4 may otherwise recognize that the notification relates to LID 2.

As noted above, when the LCD 1 does not assign its own location to LID 2, the notification comprises, besides an information of the determined location as the current location of LCD 1, a reference to LCD 2 e.g. in the form of an identifier of LCD 2. Then, the server device 4 obtains this notification, appoints (or sets) in step 5408 the informed location as the current location of LID 2 on the basis of the reference, i.e. the corresponding identifier, in the notification (e.g. the identifier of LID 2), and updates its database of the location tracking system with the current location of LID 2 in step 5409. Accordingly, the server device assigns the current location of LCD 1 to LID 2.

Figure 5 shows a diagram illustrating a second example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

In step 5501, LCD 1 determines its own location using its locating capability based on the installed location tracking application. Based thereon, LCD 1 notifies its determined location as the current location of LCD 1 to the server device 4 in step 5502, e.g. by issuing a notification comprising a corresponding information on the current location of LCD 1, possibly together with an identifier of LCD 1. Then, the server device 4 obtains this notification and updates its database of the location tracking system with the current location of LCD 1 in step 5503. For identification purposes, the notification may comprise an identifier of LCD 1, or the server device 4 may otherwise recognize that the notification originates from and relates to LCD 1.

In step 5504, LID 2 issues a notification of the proximity of LID 2 and LCD 1 obtains this notification of the proximity of LID 2 via short-range D2D communication. That is, LCD 1 notices some device in its proximity (i.e. the coverage/service range of a short-range communication technology or proximity-based service), and that the identified device is a locating-incapable device of the same location tracking system or the same private group or private social network as LCD 1. In this regard, LCD 1 may also notice an identifier of LID 2 which is contained in the obtained notification of the proximity of LID 2. Thereby, LCD 1 recognizes the presence of LID 2 in its proximity in step 5505. Such detection and recognition may be based on some knowledge of devices (and/or their identifiers) belonging to the same location tracking system and/or the same private (user) group or private social network as LCD 1, which may be held in a memory or database of LCD 1.

Thereupon, LCD 1 assigns its own location to LID 2, wherein its own location previously determined in step 5501 (e.g. on the basis of a predefined scheme) may be used or, optionally, its own location may be newly determined in step 5506 (upon recognition of the presence of LID 2).

Based thereon, LCD 1 notifies its determined location as the current location of LID 2 to the server device 4 in step S507, e.g. by issuing a notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of LCD 1 and, as a reference to LID 2, an information of the determined location as the current location of LID 2. Then, the server device 4 obtains this notification, appoints (or sets) in step 5508 the informed location as the current location of LID 2 on the basis of the reference, i.e. the corresponding information, in the notification, and updates its database of the location tracking system with the current location of LID 2 in step 5509.

As noted above, when the LCD 1 does not assign its own location to LID 2, the notification comprises, besides an information of the determined location as the current location of LCD 1, a reference to LCD 2 e.g. in the form of an identifier of LCD 2. Then, the server device 4 obtains this notification, appoints (or sets) in step 5508 the informed location as the current location of LID 2 on the basis of the reference, i.e. the corresponding identifier, in the notification (e.g. the identifier of LID 2), and updates its database of the location tracking system with the current location of LID 2 in step 5509. Accordingly, the server device assigns the current location of LCD 1 to LID 2.

In the above-described example procedures of Figures 4 and 5, it is exemplarily assumed that LCD 1 and LID 2 belong to the same private (user) group or private social network. Yet, as mentioned above, exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are not restricted to the case that LCD 1 and LID 2 belong to the same private (user) group or private social network. Accordingly, LID 1 may also recognize presence of LID 2 in its proximity, and notify a reference to LID 2 towards 5 4 when LCD 1 and LID 2 do not belong to the same private (user) group or private social network. Namely, LID 1 may generally notify references (e.g. a current location information or an identifier) of any one or more LCDs 2 irrespective of their relationship in terms of the non-/ belonging to a common private (user) group or private social network.

In the above-described example procedures of Figures 4 and 5, it is exemplarily assumed that separate notifications of the current location of LCD 1 and LID 2 are used, while it is equally feasible that a single notification of the current location of both LCD 1 and LID 2 is used in step 5407/5507 (wherein the notification in step 5402/5502 may be omitted). In such case, the server device updates its database of the location tracking system with the current location of LCD 1 and the current location of LID 2 in step 5409 of Figure 4 or step 5509 of Figure 5.

In the location updating operations in the above-described example procedures of Figures 4 and 5, the server device may differentiate between the handling, managing or recording of the current location of a locating-capable device and a locating-incapable device, e.g. in terms of accuracy.

For example, the server device may assign some accuracy or reliability measure to each location in the database. Based thereon, it may be denoted that the current location of locating-capable devices is more accurate/reliable than the current location of locating-incapable devices (as these are only known to be in some proximity range around a respective locating-capable device). Also, the accuracies or reliabilities of locating-capable devices may be different from each other, e.g. due to different locating capabilities or technologies of individual devices, and such differences may also be denoted e.g. by such accuracy or reliability measure.

Figure 6 shows a diagram illustrating a third example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

The example procedure of Figure 6 basically comprises a process of management of the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof (in steps S601 to 5603) and, based thereon, a subsequent process of device locating in the location tracking system or the private group or private social network thereof (in steps 5604 to 5607).

In the management process, all devices belonging to the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof are recorded in the database of the location tracking system at the server device. Such database recording may be based on a device-based registration and/or a (central) configuration. On the one hand, in step 5601, LCD 1 may register itself and/or, if known, one or more other devices, such as LID 2, to the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof. Such registration may be based on some invitation to the location tracking system or the private group or private social network thereof, which may be issued by the server device based on some configuration/setting at the server device. On the other hand, in step 5602, LCD 1 and/or one or more other devices, such as LID 2, may be configured in the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof at the server device itself, e.g. by way of a local or remote configuration/setting of the (database of the) server device. In step 5603, the server device may record any (permitted) device in the database of the thus managed location tracking system, i.e. in the location tracking system as such and/or a private group or private social network thereof. In this regard, the server device may also check entitlement of all registered and/or configured devices to belong to the location tracking system and/or the private group or private social network thereof, as instructed.

As a result of such management process, the server device maintains a database of devices, potentially including locating-capable devices and locating-incapable devices, for which a subsequent device locating process can be carried out.

In the device locating process, the current locations of all devices belonging to the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof are updated in the database of the location tracking system at the server device. As described above, such location updates are based on corresponding notifications from locating-capable devices, wherein the current locations of the locating-capable devices and, if any, the current locations of the locating-incapable devices located in the proximity of a respective locating-capable device are notified. Although a common notification of the current location of LCD 1 and LID 2 is exemplarily illustrated in Figure 6, the operations of steps 5604 to 5608 basically correspond to the operations in steps 5404 to 5409 of Figure 4 or steps 5504 to 5509 of Figure 5, and reference is made to Figures 4 and S for further details in this regard.

According to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, various, processes, actions, applications or use cases can be adopted on the basis of a locating technique, as described above. That is, the location tracking phase of a locating-incapable device such as a non-smart device may build the basis for or even trigger one or more further actions. In the following, some examples of such processes, actions, applications or use cases are given for illustrative purposes, while it is to be understood that such examples do not limit the adoptability of the locating technique according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention in any way.

Figure 7 shows a diagram illustrating a fourth example of a procedure according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

The example procedure of Figure 7 basically comprises a process of device locating in the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof (in steps 5701 to 5705) and, based thereon, a subsequent process of location provision of a device of the location tracking system or the private group or private social network thereof (in steps 5706 to 5709).

In the device locating process, the current locations of all devices belonging to the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof are updated in the database of the location tracking system at the server device. As described above, such location updates are based on corresponding notifications from locating-capable devices, wherein the current locations of the locating-capable devices and, if any, the current locations of the locating-incapable devices located in the proximity of a respective locating-capable device are notified. Although a common notification of the current location of LCD 1 and LID 2 is exemplarily illustrated in Figure 7, the operations of steps 5701 to 5705 basically correspond to the operations in steps 5404 to 5409 of Figure 4 or steps 5504 to 5509 of Figure 5, and reference is made to Figures 4 and S for further details in this regard.

As a result of such device locating process, the server device maintains a database of devices, potentially including locating-capable devices and locating-incapable devices, including their respective current locations (at least, as far as known).

In the location provision process, the current location of one or more devices belonging to the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof may be provided to another device belonging to the location tracking system or the same private group or private social network thereof by use of the database of the location tracking system at the server device. In step 5706, the server device realizes occurrence of a location inquiry trigger for a locating-capable device, e.g. LCD' 1, and/or a locating-incapable device, e.g. LID' 2. As an example, such location inquiry trigger may be caused by a corresponding location acquisition request from a locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1. As another example, such location inquiry trigger may be caused by a predefined event, e.g. when the current location of the triggered device, e.g. LCD' 1 and/or LID' 2, changes or reaches some predefined location (e.g. a predefined place or site such as "home"), and/or a predefined time, e.g. on a periodical basis after lapse of a predefined time interval or at a predefined time such as 3 pm. Upon realizing occurrence of such location inquiry trigger in step 5706, the server device performs a database query for the current location of the triggered device, e.g. LCD' 1 and/or LID' 2, in step 5707. In this regard, the server device may also check entitlement of the device which the triggered location information is to be reported, e.g. whether LCD 1 belongs to the same location tracking system or the same private group or private social network as LCD' 1 and/or LID' 2. In step S708, the server device reports information on the current location of the triggered device, e.g. LCD' 1 and/or LID' 2, to a locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1. Thereby, in step 5709, the thus reported location information is accordingly acquired at the locating-capable device, e.g. LCD 1, and may be output to the user thereof. Such information may comprise some indication regarding the accuracy or reliability of the reported location, such as a accuracy or reliability measure, in addition to the location as such.

It is to be noted that the current location of LCD' 1, which is held in the database at the server device, is typically available and up-to-date, as LCD' 1 is enabled to connect/communicate or, at least, be connectable/communicable to/with the server device, and may thus always notify its current location to the server device. However, the current location of LID' 2, which is to be held in the database at the server device, may be not available and/or out-of-date, as LID' 2 is not enabled to connect/communicate or, at least, be connectable/communicable to/with the server device, and may thus not notify its current location to the server device. That is, the current location of LID' 2 is only available when LID' 2 has previously been located in the proximity of some locating-capable device and its current location has been notified as the determined location of the locating-capable device, and that the current location of LID' 2, which is held in the database at the server device, remains unchanged until LID' 2 is again located in the proximity of some locating-capable device and its current location is notified so as to be updated as the determined location of the locating-capable device.

Further processes, actions, applications or use cases, which are applicable on the basis of the locating technique according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention may be as follows, for example.

As a first illustrative and non-limiting example, a data acquisition function such as a voice/video recording function of a locating-capable device such as a smart device may be started in connection with the present locating or location tracking technique upon a corresponding trigger. Thereby, the server device can receive also other kind of data, e.g. voice/video data, related to (the location of) a locating-incapable device such as a non-smart device, in addition to its location.

In such use case, when the server device has received a notification comprising a reference to the non-smart device, then server device may check whether any other actions should be started relating to the identified non-smart device. If so, the server device may request the smart device to provide for and/or assist in such other actions. As an example, the smart device may be requested to take one or more snapshots (e.g. in a period of time) and send the resulting data to the server device, whereupon such data may be stored in a database and shared to relevant parties. As another example, the smart device may be requested to start a voice/video recording for a specified period of time and then send the resulting data to the server device to be stored/shared accordingly. As still another example, the server device may send an alert (e.g. a voice signal, some message such as e.g. a SMS (a short message service message), or the like) to the user interface of the smart device, thereby alerting that the user of the smart device may be near to a device/person/place in need of assistance or help. In this regard, the user may be even prompted to do certain actions to help or assist a person or look for e.g. a missing person by certain characteristics, and/or to respond in some way, if certain conditions are met, e.g. when seeing the missing person nearby. Also, the alert message could warn the user of the smart device about an unsafe location/person/environment.

As a second illustrative and non-limiting example, an alarm system may be started in connection with the present locating or location tracking technique upon a corresponding trigger. For example, an alarm system can be triggered to be started once a locating-incapable device such as a non-smart device has been identified. As an example, when a certain non-smart device has been notified at the server device as missing, being in trouble (i.e. the user of the non-smart device being in trouble), being involved in criminal actions or some other bad behavior, or the like, an automated alarm could be sent from the server device to any relevant parties of the location tracking system or a private group or private social network thereof, and/or or even to a relevant authority etc. when such device is detected in the present locating or location tracking technique. Such alarm system may further comprise other actions, in addition to issuance of the alarm as such, including e.g. any one of the aforementioned actions that can be requested from and/or sent to a locating-capable device such as a smart device.

As evident from the above, exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are applicable for various use cases of a location tracking system with a private (user) group or private social network which, for example, is formed by family members or close friends, wherein some family members or friends use smartphones with a location tracking application and some family members or friends use feature phones without a location tracking application. For example, small children may have feature phones that do not allow new applications to be added. In such use case, exemplifying embodiments of the present invention enable that the other family members or friends are able to know the location of these locating-incapable devices and their users.

Referring to such example of a use case, the server device can connect to smartphones or other mobile devices capable of running a designated location software application. The location software application in the smartphone or other mobile device can updates the location of the corresponding device to the server device so that people or devices connected to the server device can see the location of the connected devices. In addition, mobile, wearable, or stationary devices neither capable of running the designated location software application nor capable of connecting to the server device can have a rudimentary capability of informing the smartphone devices or other mobile devices of being nearby.

This informing can take place over Bluetooth (e.g. Bluetooth 4.0), WiFi, or some other wireless means. When the smartphone or the other mobile device with the location software application notices such non-smart device to be in its neighborhood, it can transmit the corresponding location data to the server device. So, people or devices connected to the server device will be able to see the most recent location of such non-smart devices, and their users, as well.

In this regard, a private (user) group or private social network of users and their devices can be created and maintained at the server device. Based thereon, it can be achieved that only people who belong to this private (user) group or private social network will be able to view the location of devices and associated users of the common private (user) group or private social network.

Accordingly, locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system, such as locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network of a location tracking system, is enabled by virtue of exemplifying embodiments of the present invention. According to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, a locating-incapable device can be located using the current location of a locating-capable device when the locating-incapable device and the locating-capable device are located in proximity to each other, i.e. by adopting the current position of the locating-capable device for the locating-incapable device.

Specifically, exemplifying embodiments of the present invention render feasible to acquire and manage the current locations of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system which may be designed or dedicated for tracking locations of private user groups or private social networks potentially including both locating-capable devices and locating-incapable devices. Namely, knowledge of the current locations of locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network enables a consistent location tracking for all devices in this private user group or private social network. Such effects can be achieved for locating-incapable devices having only a rudimentary short-range device-to-device communication capability, which may thus be very inexpensive and small.

For example, besides a feature phone or the like, a hardware tag or some wearable electronics such as electronic watches may be utilized as locating-incapable devices according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention. Example use cases of hardware tags may include, but are not limited to, hardware tags attached to backpacks of children, worn around the wrist, embedded in the pet's collars, attached to a bicycle or other property, etc. The above-described methods, procedures and functions may be implemented by respective functional elements, entities, modules, units, processors, or the like, as described below.

While in the foregoing exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are described mainly with reference to methods, procedures and functions, corresponding exemplifying embodiments of the present invention also cover respective apparatuses, entities, modules, units, nodes and systems, including both software and/or hardware thereof.

Respective exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are described below referring to Figures 8 and 9, while for the sake of brevity reference is made to the detailed description of respective corresponding configurations/setups, schemes, methods and functionality, principles and operations according to Figures 1 to 7.

In Figures 8 and 9, the solid line blocks are basically configured to perform respective methods, procedures and/or functions as described above. The entirety of solid line blocks are basically configured to perform the methods, procedures and/or functions as described above, respectively. With respect to Figures 8 and 9, it is to be noted that the individual blocks are meant to illustrate respective functional blocks implementing a respective function, process or procedure, respectively. Such functional blocks are implementation-independent, i.e. may be implemented by means of any kind of hardware or software or combination thereof, respectively.

Further, in Figures 8 and 9, only those functional blocks are illustrated, which relate to any one of the above-described methods, procedures and/or functions. A skilled person will acknowledge the presence of any other conventional functional blocks required for an operation of respective structural arrangements, such as e.g. a power supply, a central processing unit, respective memories, a display, or the like. Among others, one or more memories are provided for storing programs or program instructions for controlling or enabling the individual functional entities or any combination thereof to operate as described herein in relation to exemplifying embodiments.

In general terms, respective devices/apparatuses (and/or parts thereof) may represent means for performing respective operations and/or exhibiting respective functionalities, and/or the respective devices (and/or parts thereof) may have functions for performing respective operations and/or exhibiting respective functionalities.

In view of the above, the thus illustrated devices/apparatuses are suitable for use in practicing one or more of the exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, as described herein.

Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a structure of apparatuses according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

As indicated in Figure 8, an apparatus 810 according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention may comprise at least one processor 811 and at least one memory 812 (and possibly also at least one interface 813), which may be operationally connected or coupled, for example by a bus 814 or the like, respectively.

The processor 811 of the apparatus 810 is configured to read and execute computer program code stored in the memory 812. The processor may be represented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a NIPU (Micro Processor Unit), etc, or a combination thereof. The memory 812 of the apparatus 810 is configured to store computer program code, such as respective programs, computer/processor-executable instructions, macros or applets, etc. or parts of them. Such computer program code, when executed by the processor 811, enables the apparatus 810 to operate in accordance with exemplifying embodiments of the present invention. The memory 812 may be represented by a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disk, a secondary storage device, etc., or a combination of two or more of theses. The interface 813 of the apparatus 810 is configured to interface with another apparatus and/or the user of the apparatus 810.

That is, the interface 813 may represent a communication interface (including e.g. a modem, an antenna, a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, or the like) and/or a user interface (such as a display, touch screen, keyboard, mouse, signal light, loudspeaker, or the like).

The apparatus 810 may represent a (part of a) locating-capable device, such as LCD or LCD' 1, as described in connection with Figure 1. The apparatus 810 may be configured to perform a procedure and/or exhibit a functionality as described (for the locating-capable device) in any one of Figures 2 and 4 to 7.

The apparatus 810 or its processor 811 (possibly together with computer program code stored in the memory 812), in its most basic form, is configured to recognize presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determine a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, and issue a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device from the locating-capable device to a server device.

Further, depending on its implementation in view of the exemplary procedures of Figures 4 to 7, an apparatus 810 or its processor 811 (possibly together with computer program code stored in the memory 812) according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention is configured to perform/effect one or more of -detecting the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication, -obtaining an indication of the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication from the locating-incapable device, -registering at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group at the server device, and -acquiring information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device.

The apparatus 810 may represent a (part of a) server device, such as 5 4, as described in connection with Figure 1. The apparatus 810 may be configured to perform a procedure and/or exhibit a functionality as described (for the server device) in any one of Figures 3 to 7.

The apparatus 810 or its processor 811 (possibly together with computer program code stored in the memory 812), in its most basic form, is configured to obtain a notification from a locating-capable device at a server device, said notification comprising an information of a location of the locating-capable device as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to a locating-incapable device from the locating-capable device at a server device, appoint (or set) the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and update a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.

Further, depending on its implementation in view of the exemplary procedures of Figures 4 to 7, an apparatus 810 or its processor 811 (possibly together with computer program code stored in the memory 812) according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention is configured to perform/effect one or more of -recording at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group in the database of the location tracking system at the server device, and -reporting information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device to the locating-capable device.

Accordingly, any one of the above-described schemes, methods, procedures, principles and operations may be realized in a computer-implemented manner.

Any apparatus according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention may be structured by comprising respective units or means for performing corresponding operations, procedures and/or functions. For example, such means may be implemented/realized on the basis of an apparatus structure, as exemplified in Figure 8 above, i.e. by one or more processors 811, one or more memories 812, one or more interfaces 813, or any combination thereof.

Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a structure of apparatuses according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 9, an apparatus 910 according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention may comprise (at least) a unit or means for recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device (denoted as presence recognizing unit/means 911), a unit or means for determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device (denoted as location determining unit/means 912), and a unit or means for issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device (denoted as notification issuing unit/means 913).

Further, depending on its implementation in view of the exemplary procedures of Figures 4 to 7, an apparatus 100 according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more of -a unit or means for detecting the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication (denoted as proximity detecting unit/means 914), -a unit or means for obtaining an indication of the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication from the locating-incapable device (denoted as proximity indication obtaining unit/means 915), -a unit or means for registering at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group at the server device (denoted as device registering unit/means 916), and -a unit or means for acquiring information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device (denoted as location information acquiring means 917).

As shown in Figure 9, an apparatus 920 according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention may comprise (at least) a unit or means for obtaining a notification from a locating-capable device at a server device, said notification comprising an information of a location of the locating-capable device as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to a locating-incapable device(denoted as notification obtaining unit/means 921), a unit or means for appointing the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device (denoted as location appointing unit/means 922), and a unit or means for updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device (denoted as location updating unit/means 923). Further, the apparatus 920 may comprise a unit or means for realizing the database or, stated in other words, managing the location tracking system or its associated devices/users (denoted as database unit/means 924).

Further, depending on its implementation in view of the exemplary procedures of Figures 4 to 7, an apparatus 100 according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more of -a unit or means for recording at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group in the database of the location tracking system at the server device (denoted as device recording unit/means 925), and -a unit or means for reporting information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device to the locating-capable device (denoted as location information reporting unit/means 926).

For further details regarding the operability/functionality of the individual apparatuses according to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the above description in connection with any one of Figures 1 to 7, respectively.

According to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, any one of the processor, the memory and the interface may be implemented as individual modules, chips, chipsets, circuitries or the like, or one or more of them can be implemented as a common module, chip, chipset, circuitry or the like, respectively.

According to exemplifying embodiments of the present invention, a system may comprise any conceivable combination of the thus depicted devices/apparatuses and other network elements, which are configured to cooperate as described above.

In general, it is to be noted that respective functional blocks or elements according to above-described aspects can be implemented by any known means, either in hardware and/or software, respectively, if it is only adapted to perform the described functions of the respective parts. The mentioned method steps can be realized in individual functional blocks or by individual devices, or one or more of the method steps can be realized in a single functional block or by a single device.

Generally, any method step is suitable to be implemented as software or by hardware without changing the idea of the present invention. Such software may be software code independent and can be specified using any known or future developed programming language, such as e.g. Java, C++, C, and Assembler, as long as the functionality defined by the method steps is preserved. Such hardware may be hardware type independent and can be implemented using any known or future developed hardware technology or any hybrids of these, such as MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor), CMOS (Complementary MOS), BiMOS (Bipolar MOS), BiCMOS (Bipolar CMOS), ECL (Emitter Coupled Logic), TIL (Transistor-Transistor Logic), etc., using for example ASIC (Application Specific IC (Integrated Circuit)) components, FPGA (Field-programmable Gate Arrays) components, CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) components or DSP (Digital Signal Processor) components. A device/apparatus may be represented by a semiconductor chip, a chipset, or a (hardware) module comprising such chip or chipset; this, however, does not exclude the possibility that a functionality of a device/apparatus or module, instead of being hardware implemented, be implemented as software in a (software) module such as a computer program or a computer program product comprising executable software code portions for execution/being run on a processor. A device may be regarded as a device/apparatus or as an assembly of more than one device/apparatus, whether functionally in cooperation with each other or functionally independently of each other but in a same device housing, for

example.

Apparatuses and/or units, means or parts thereof can be implemented as individual devices, but this does not exclude that they may be implemented in a distributed fashion throughout the system, as long as the functionality of the device is preserved. Such and similar principles are to be considered as known to a skilled person.

Software in the sense of the present description comprises software code as such comprising code means or portions or a computer program or a computer program product for performing the respective functions, as well as software (or a computer program or a computer program product) embodied on a tangible or non-transitory medium such as a computer-readable (storage) medium having stored thereon a respective data structure or code means/portions or embodied in a signal or in a chip, potentially during processing thereof.

The present invention also covers any conceivable combination of method steps and operations described above, and any conceivable combination of nodes, apparatuses, modules or elements described above, as long as the above-described concepts of methodology and structural arrangement are app Ii cable.

In view of the above, there are provided measures for enabling locating of locating-incapable devices in a location tracking system, such as locating-incapable devices in a private user group or private social network of a location tracking system. Such measures could exemplarily comprise recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device, appointing the determined location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.

Even though the invention is described above with reference to the examples and exemplifying embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted thereto. Rather, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the above description of examples and exemplifying embodiments is for illustrative purposes and is to be considered to be exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the present invention can be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the inventive idea as disclosed herein.

Claims

Claims 1. A method, comprising recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, and issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference to the locating-incapable device comprises an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-incapable device, or an identifier of the locating-capable device.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said recognizing comprises: detecting the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication, or obtaining an indication of the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication from the locating-incapable device.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location of the locating-capable device is determined on the basis of a predefined scheme or upon recognition of the presence of the locating-incapable device, and/or the determined location comprises at least one of a geographical position and a predefined place or site.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the notification is issued to the server device via communication over a network-based connection between the locating-capable device and the server device, and/or the notification comprises at least one of an identifier of the locating-capable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device belong to at least one of a location tracking system and a private group of a location tracking system, said server device managing the location tracking system.
7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: registering at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group at the server device, and/or acquiring information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locating-capable device comprises a mobile device capable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a smartphone, and/or the locating-incapable device comprises a device incapable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a feature phone or a hardware tag.
9. A method, comprising obtaining a notification from a locating-capable device at a server device, said notification comprising an information of a location of the locating-capable device as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to a locating-incapable device, appointing the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the reference to the locating-incapable device comprises an information of the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device, or an identifier of the locating-capable device.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the informed location comprises at least one of a geographical position and a predefined place or site, and/or the notification is obtained at the server device via communication over a network-based connection between the locating-capable device and the server device, and/or the notification comprises at least one of an identifier of the locating-capable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device belong to at least one of the location tracking system and a private group of the location tracking system.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: recording at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group in the database of the location tracking system at the server device, and/or reporting information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device to the locating-capable device.
14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the locating-capable device comprises a mobile device capable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a smartphone, and/or the locating-incapable device comprises a device incapable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a feature phone or a hardware tag.
15. An apparatus, comprising a memory configured to store computer program code, and a processor configured to read and execute computer program code stored in the memory, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, and issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the reference to the locating-incapable device comprises an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-incapable device, or an identifier of the locating-capable device.
17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: detecting the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication, or obtaining an indication of the proximity of the locating-incapable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device via short-range device-to-device communication from the locating-incapable device.
18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to determine the location of the locating-capable device on the basis of a predefined scheme or upon recognition of the presence of the locating-incapable device, and/or the determined location comprises at least one of a geographical position and a predefined place or site.
19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to issue the notification to the server device via communication over a network-based connection between the locating-capable device and the server device, and/or the notification comprises at least one of an identifier of the locating-capable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device.
20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device belong to at least one of a location tracking system and a private group of a location tracking system, said server device managing the location tracking system.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: registering at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group at the server device, and/or acquiring information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device.
22. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the locating-capable device comprises a mobile device capable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a smartphone, and/or the locating-incapable device comprises a device incapable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a feature phone or a hardware tag.
23. An apparatus, comprising a memory configured to store computer program code, and a processor configured to read and execute computer program code stored in the memory, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: obtaining a notification from a locating-capable device at a server device, said notification comprising an information of a location of the locating-capable device as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to a locating-incapable device, appointing the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.
24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the reference to the locating-incapable device comprises an information of the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device, or an identifier of the locating-capable device.
25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the informed location comprises at least one of a geographical position and a predefined place or site, and/or the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to obtain the notification at the server device via communication over a network-based connection between the locating-capable device and the server device, and/or the notification comprises at least one of an identifier of the locating-capable device and an identifier of the locating-incapable device.
26. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device belong to at least one of the location tracking system and a private group of the location tracking system.
27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: recording at least one of the locating-capable device and the locating-incapable device to at least one of the location tracking system and the private group in the database of the location tracking system at the server device, and/or reporting information on the current location of at least one other device belonging to the private group from the server device to the locating-capable device.
28. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the locating-capable device comprises a mobile device capable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a smartphone, and/or the locating-incapable device comprises a device incapable of executing a locating application and establishing a network-based connection to the server device, such as a feature phone or a hardware tag.
29. A computer program product comprising computer-executable computer program code which, when the computer program code is executed on a computer, is configured to cause the computer to carry out a method comprising recognizing presence of a locating-incapable device in the proximity of a locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, determining a location of the locating-capable device by the locating-capable device, and issuing a notification from the locating-capable device to a server device, said notification comprising an information of the determined location as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to the locating-incapable device.
30. A computer program product comprising computer-executable computer program code which, when the computer program code is executed on a computer, is configured to cause the computer to carry out a method comprising obtaining a notification from a locating-capable device at a server device, said notification comprising an information of a location of the locating-capable device as the current location of the locating-capable device and a reference to a locating-incapable device, appointing the informed location as the current location of the locating-incapable device on the basis of the reference to the locating-incapable device, and updating a database of a location tracking system managed by the server device with the current location of the locating-capable device and the current location of the locating-incapable device at the server device.