The present application provides a method and a system for acquiring and distributing location-related information. The method includes: receiving a positioning request initiated by a first application running on a client device, wherein the positioning request includes a network address identifying the client device and a user identifier shared by the first application and a second application running on a mobile terminal; generating a positioning instruction according to the user identifier; pushing the positioning instruction to the second application running on the mobile terminal; receiving, from the mobile terminal, location information obtained when the second application running on the mobile terminal performs positioning according to the positioning instruction; identifying a plurality of search results associated with the location information; and sending the location information and the plurality of search results associated with the location information to the first application running on the client device.

A method and apparatus for the technical monitoring of objects, in particular of vehicles, by a mobile radio network is provided. The method for operating a mobile radio network having one or a plurality of mobile radio base stations for monitoring the object includes a first network access device for the mobile radio network communicating with at least one of mobile radio base station, including the acts of receiving first data from the first network access device via the at least one mobile radio base station, detecting a physical position or a change of physical position of the object based on the first data, checking whether the detected position or position change meets a predetermined criterion, and, if the predetermined criterion is met, outputting a predetermined signal.

A system and method for detecting an object of interest. An embodiment of a system or method may include receiving an indication an object of interest is present in a first area; obtaining, at the first area, a first set of unique characteristics of a respective set of mobile communication devices; receiving an indication the object of interest is present in a second area; obtaining, at the second area, a second set of characteristics of a respective second set of mobile communication devices; and associating a unique characteristic of a mobile communication device with the object of interest based on the first and second sets of characteristics.

A system includes a processor configured to determine that an application is running in a foreground. The processor is also configured to receive a mobile device speed. The processor is additionally configured to determine if the mobile device speed is above a predetermined threshold. Also, the processor is configured to determine if an interface threshold has been exceeded and lock out the application from use if the mobile device speed is above the predetermined threshold and the interface threshold has been exceeded.

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to a method for controlling a vehicle based on crowdsourcing data. According to the method, the vehicle transmits a route request to a server, receive navigation information in response to the route request, controls an operation of the vehicle based on the transmitted navigation information, collects vehicle driving data, during driving according to the transmitted navigation information, transmits the collected data to the server, receives generated crowdsourcing data, updates the transmitted navigation information based on the received crowdsourcing data, and controls the operation of the vehicle based on the updated navigation information.

Various arrangements for restricting mobile device usage are presented. A mobile device may collect movement and location sensor data. The mobile device may determine it is being operated within a moving vehicle based on the sensor data. The mobile device may use interaction data indicative of a user's interactions with the mobile device while the mobile device is being operated within the operating vehicle. An in-vehicle mobile device usage profile may be created based on the sensor data and the collected user interaction data. The in-vehicle mobile device usage profile may be analyzed to determine that a user of the mobile device is currently an operator of the moving vehicle. In response to determining that the user of the mobile device is currently the operator of the moving vehicle, access to one or more functions of the mobile device may be restricted.

A method and system for determining a driver is provided. The method includes receiving and analyzing GPS data identifying locations of GPS enabled devices of a plurality of users. A group of users are determined to be located within a specified proximity to each other based on the analysis. The group of users are determined, based on an altitude, velocity, and a vector of the group of users, to be located within a vehicle. A position and role for each user with respect to the vehicle is determined. Selected functions of each GPS enabled device are controlled based on each role.

A method and apparatus for localizing a smartphone is disclosed. A plurality of lateral position samples of the smartphone based at least in part on a plurality of location coordinates, lane marking information and accuracy factors of the plurality of location coordinates are collected at a plurality of time instances. Lateral position of the smartphone in the moving vehicle based at least on the plurality of lateral position samples collected at the plurality of time instances is determined. One or more correlations between a vertical acceleration pattern associated with at least one front wheel and a vertical acceleration pattern associated with at least one rear wheel of the moving vehicle passing over one or more road discontinuities as computed from an accelerometer sensor present in the smartphone are determined. Longitudinal position of the smartphone in the moving vehicle based at least on the one or more correlations is determined.

Techniques are disclosed for determining whether a mobile device is located indoors or outdoors. In some embodiments, a mobile device may utilize a fusion of the information from multiple sensors, such as a RGB sensor, a proximity sensor, a light intensity sensor, and a WiFi radio, to determine whether the mobile device is located indoors or outdoors.

A system whereby a mobile fuel station may refuel vehicles is disclosed. Fuel reservoirs are provided in a mobile fuel station that may store fuel and dispense fuel through a hybrid fuel line. Fuel nozzles are provided which can be detachably connected to the hybrid fuel line and can measure and display fuel dispensed from the mobile fuel station. Communication devices and a network are provided that allow a vehicle and a mobile fuel station to communicate location and status information wirelessly with the network. Refueling services and maintenance services that may be carried out using the mobile fuel station are also disclosed and claimed herein.