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Networks in Motion Issued U.S. Patent for Graphical Sharing of Information
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Aliso Viejo, CA -- Networks In Motion (NIM), the award-winning wireless navigation, hyper-local search and location-based services (LBS) company with the largest mobile phone navigation subscriber base in North America, today announced that it has secured a U.S. patent related to the graphical sharing of information for mobile devices and personal computers.
"Networks In Motion prides itself on developing innovations that have the potential to revolutionize the gathering and consumption of information," said Doug Antone, CEO and president of Networks In Motion. "We are especially proud of being issued our latest patent for graphically sharing information and how it simplifies the sharing of local and position information."
Originally submitted to the U.S. Patent Office in 2003, the application has now been issued as U.S. Patent No. 7,271,742, entitled, "Method and apparatus for sending, retrieving and planning location relevant information." This technology provides the means for receiving and sharing relevant location-based information using a graphical interface. This innovative process was developed to enhance the user experience within personal computers and a variety of communication devices such as mobile phones, in-vehicle navigation systems and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
In terms of actual implementation, icons representing users, friends and specific points-of-interest of the user’s choosing are graphically represented within the UI, based upon geographic location. To share the location of a new restaurant with a friend, the user simply graphically drags the graphical representation of the restaurant on top of a friend’s icon and releases. The location and directions to the restaurant can be instantly relayed to the respective mobile device. Networks In Motion’s patented technology holds unique social networking implications by seamlessly connecting entire social circles of friends and family, and it can be leveraged by today’s most popular social networking communities.
Additionally, the patented graphical interface makes it possible to manage a fleet of vehicles and distribute information with ease. For example, a local dispatcher could easily send continuously updated mapped routes, waypoints and instructions to any driver on the road simply by dragging and dropping the information over the driver’s icon.
NIM’s technology allows for creative application among consumer and enterprise markets as NIM’s customers and partners see fit. And, because of NIM’s existing infrastructure as a world-class LBS company, this technology can be easily integrated within its GPS applications and its NAVBuilder platform in order to make it easier for users to obtain information with greater speed and efficiency.
About Networks In Motion
Networks In Motion is an award-winning wireless navigation and local search company, with products on most major wireless carriers. Networks In Motion powers: AAA Mobile® on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and Alltel Wireless; Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator; YellowPages.com Mobile, which is currently deployed on AT&T Alltel’s Axcess Mobile Guide navigator; U.S. Cellular’s Your Navigator; TELUS Navigator and TELUS Kid Find, making NIM’s NAVBuilder platform the most widely used mobile phone navigation service in North America. Founded in 2000, the company is privately held and headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., with international offices in Sweden and Spain. More information is available at http://www.networksinmotion.com.
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