Prior art

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The patent US9615204B1 lists several prior art references. To identify the most relevant prior art and analyze their potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, we will review the "Cited by" section of the patent as found on Google Patents. Section 102 of the U.S. patent law outlines the conditions for patentability, specifically novelty, and defines what can be considered prior art. Generally, an invention is not patentable if it was described in an earlier printed publication or was in public use or on sale before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited by US9615204B1:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US9615204B1:

1. US6542090B1: Personal locator system and method

   • Full Citation: US6542090B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published April 1, 2003 (filed November 16, 2001)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a personal locator system that allows a user to transmit their location to a central monitoring station or to other designated parties. It includes GPS receivers in mobile units and a communication system (e.g., cellular) for transmitting location data. The system allows for monitoring of individuals, such as children, by parents.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 2 related to transmitting and sharing GPS location data among mobile devices for monitoring purposes. Specifically, the concept of a central system (monitoring station) receiving location data from mobile units and enabling designated parties (parents) to track others (children) aligns with the broader scope of location sharing described in US9615204B1. The priority date of US6542090B1 (November 16, 2001) predates the priority date of US9615204B1 (April 4, 2005).

2. US20030104803A1: System and method for mobile device tracking and communication

   • Full Citation: US20030104803A1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published June 5, 2003 (filed December 4, 2001)
   • Brief Description: This application details a system and method for tracking mobile devices and facilitating communication. It involves a server that receives location information from mobile devices and provides this information to authorized users. The system can support group communication and location-based services.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could potentially anticipate elements of Claim 1 and Claim 2 concerning a server-based system for tracking and communicating location data among mobile devices. The descriptions of a server receiving and providing location information to authorized users, and supporting group communication, are relevant to the claims of US9615204B1. The filing date of US20030104803A1 (December 4, 2001) predates US9615204B1's priority date.

3. US6647260B1: System and method for locating a cellular phone and for communicating location information to others

   • Full Citation: US6647260B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published November 11, 2003 (filed May 1, 2002)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a system that locates a cellular phone and communicates its location to other users. It utilizes GPS and cellular network capabilities to determine and transmit the phone's position. The system allows for pre-selected individuals to receive location updates.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to Claim 1 and Claim 2, as it directly addresses locating cellular phones and sharing that information with others. The concept of pre-selected individuals receiving location updates directly relates to the "closed groups" and "Buddy Lists" described in US9615204B1. Its filing date (May 1, 2002) predates the priority date of US9615204B1.

4. US20040180687A1: Location-based services system and method

   • Full Citation: US20040180687A1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published September 16, 2004 (filed February 2, 2004)
   • Brief Description: This application describes a location-based services system and method that provides location information to users and allows for the creation of virtual meeting places or "zones." It also discusses sharing location information with predefined groups.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 2 concerning location sharing within groups and the creation of designated locations. The concept of sharing location with "predefined groups" is directly relevant to the "Buddy Lists" in US9615204B1. The filing date (February 2, 2004) predates the priority date of US9615204B1.

5. US6895232B1: System and method for providing emergency services to wireless telephone users

   • Full Citation: US6895232B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 17, 2005 (filed May 16, 2002)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for providing emergency services to wireless phone users, including automatically transmitting location information during an emergency call (e.g., E911). It also discusses notifying designated contacts in an emergency.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US9615204B1 emphasizes communication within closed groups and "instant buddies" for rescue, the emergency notification and automatic location transmission aspects of this patent (US6895232B1) could be considered relevant to the SOS alert features and the broader concept of using location for assistance in US9615204B1, especially as it relates to reducing the load on the 911 system. The filing date (May 16, 2002) predates the priority date of US9615204B1. This might also be relevant to the "Personal Bread Crumbs" mode, where distress messages are sent to predetermined contacts with GPS location samples.

Note on 35 U.S.C. § 102:
Under 35 U.S.C. § 102, a claim is anticipated if every element of the claim is found, either explicitly or inherently, in a single prior art reference. The analysis above highlights potential areas of anticipation, but a definitive determination would require a more detailed, claim-by-claim comparison of each element. The "Expired - Lifetime" status and adjusted expiration date of August 14, 2025, for US9615204, as noted in the previous section, would also be a critical factor in any current legal analysis, as an expired patent cannot be asserted.