Apple inventions hint at next-level iOS geofencing features

Apple has for some time exhibited an intense interest in geofencing technology, or adjustable virtual boundaries based on real world location data that can trigger any number of operations, from turning on smart home appliances to alerting other users of your estimated arrival time. In iOS, geofencing is leveraged by apps like Find My iPhone, but perhaps more interesting is research into tangential technology that helps two consenting mobile device users swap location information automatically.

Apple's filing for "Customized location notification" describes a useful tweak to an existing iOS feature that allows users to send and receive custom event-based notifications from friends as they move through preset zones. Currently, Apple's Find My Friends app in iOS 8 allows users to send current location, or request alerts when a friend passes over a geofence boundary, but lacks tools to integrate automatic text generation or multi-point tracking.

As described, a first user requests that a second user share their location and agree to send and receive notification pushes via text, email string or other form of communication. When accepted, the first device sends over custom notification event data to the second device, including a description of the event and the ability to obtain or automatically generate custom notifications.

From there, the second device may create a route to said event, which can be shared if route sharing is activated, and begin to broadcast custom notifications when it leaves or enters a predetermined geofenced zone.

Applied to the real world, User A sends a custom notification event request to User B that includes one or more geofenced points of interest with corresponding messages. In the example above, User A specified that a message be sent or generated to User B when they are within five minutes of a supermarket.

When said geofence is crossed, as determined by an onboard mapping application, a message is sent to User A, saying, "User B is 5 minutes from a supermarket." A response message might then be generated, in this case asking User B to detour to the market. If accepted, a POI marker and route correction are displayed on User B's device.

Apple's second patent application, titled "Indoor remote triggered location scanning" focuses on positioning within structures using wireless transceivers referred to as "nodes."

The entire system relies on static nodes deployed at known locations throughout a building, with devices like smartphones acting as secondary mobile nodes for fine accuracy refinements. Permanent nodes may be capable of peer-to-peer communication, while mobile nodes might rely on Wi-Fi or other robust networking protocols. Importantly, each device in the system is interconnected in some way, either directly or through proxies interfaced with larger network.

In practice, an originating device requests the location of a second device through a Contacts entry, dedicated location sharing user interface or any other suitable means. Upon acceptance of the location scan request, a second device performs a trilateration operation. In one embodiment, the device receives wireless signals from at least three nearby permanent nodes and analyzes their strength to determine distance between itself and said nodes. This information is used to create overlapping circles or spheres that can be used to pinpoint a device's location within a building.

From there, location data can be transmitted to the originating device through the node network or, if applicable, a direct peer-to-peer connection.

One interesting implementation stores unique device identifier tokens at sequential nodes as a tracked device moves through the building like a digital breadcrumb trail. This data is sent wirelessly to another device through the network, or accessed peer-to-peer from a permanent node.

The document also discusses device authorization, alternative triangulation techniques involving mobile nodes, inter-device communication techniques and map pathing.

As with any Apple patent, it remains unclear if the company plans to incorporate its location sharing technology in a future iOS version. Apple has sunk a substantial amount of resources into its in-house mapping initiative, of which location sharing is a part, including the $20 million purchase of indoor mapping startup WiFiSLAM in 2013.

Most recently, the company confirmed that sensor-laden vans spotted roaming around the U.S. and Europe are part of an effort to improve Apple Maps. It has been speculated that data from the project will end up in a product rivaling Google's Street View.

Apple's location sharing patent applications were both filed for in December 2013 and name Devrim Varoglu and Swapnil R. Dave as their inventors. Michael Kim is also credited in the second filing.