Message transmission system for users of location-aware mobile communication devices in a local area network

摘要

Embodiments of a location-based social network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. The process establishes communication links between the user and the plurality of acquaintances through respective location aware mobile communication devices through a network protocol. The user can create one or more groups of acquaintances based on one or more characteristics common to members of each group. The process facilitates the transmission of a user specified message or a pre-defined message to one or more acquaintances of the groups of acquaintances within a pre-defined distance to the user. The contents of the user specified message and pre-defined message is based on the characteristics of the group and the relative distance of the members to the user. The process can also be configured to automatically transmit a message to a user who is within a pre-defined distance to a point of interest within the displayed area.