Anonymous positioning of a wireless unit for data network location-based services
First Claim
1. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request for location-based services regarding a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network;
obtaining an identifier for said wireless communications unit, said identifier being different than a subscriber identification for said wireless communications unit used to administer said wireless communications network; and
using said identifier to provide location-based service information regarding said wireless communications unit via a data network.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention concerns a process and a system for providing location information for a wireless unit in a wireless network to a location-based service provider, using a data network. In particular, the location information is provided to the location-based service provider without necessarily providing the identity of wireless unit, e.g., a subscriber'"'"'s wireless identification number, to the service provider. In this regard, a subscriber'"'"'s identification number may be hidden from the positioning service provider via a process in which an alias is used instead of the subscriber'"'"'s normal identity. The subscriber'"'"'s number may further be concealed from the service provider via a process wherein encrypted information is used instead of the subscriber'"'"'s normal identity.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for location-based services regarding a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network;
obtaining an identifier for said wireless communications unit, said identifier being different than a subscriber identification for said wireless communications unit used to administer said wireless communications network; and
using said identifier to provide location-based service information regarding said wireless communications unit via a data network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising:
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a processor supporting correlation logic;
a first computer-readable data structure interconnected with said processor for storing a plurality of identifiers for wireless units, said identifiers being different than subscriber identifiers for said wireless communications units utilized to administer said wireless communications network;
a second computer-readable data structure operatively interconnected with said processor for storing a plurality of subscriber identifiers for said wireless communications units, wherein for each said wireless unit at least one said identifier and at least one said subscriber identifier are indexed relative to one another; and
an interface associated with said processor interconnected to at least one of said wireless communications network and said data network for receiving an identifier associated with a wireless unit from a requesting party;
wherein said processor is operative to correlate said identifier with a corresponding subscriber identifier associated with said wireless unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, via said data network, a request for location-based services, wherein said request originates from a wireless communications network;
identifying a data network address associated with said request;
receiving location information associated with said data network address from location equipment; and
based on said location information, providing said location-based services to said data network address. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of;
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receiving a request for location information from a location-based service provider, wherein said request includes a data network address associated with a wireless communications unit;
translating said data network address into a wireless network identification associated with said wireless communications unit;
utilizing said wireless network identification to procure location information for said wireless communications unit; and
providing said location information to said location-based service provider. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring communications between a wireless communications network and a data network;
identifying a request for location-based services in a data communication from a wireless unit to a location-based service provider in said data network;
in response to identifying said request, procuring location information for said wireless unit; and
providing said location information to said location-based service provider. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network via a data network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving within said data network a data network search request, wherein said search request originates from a wireless unit in said wireless communications network and includes at least one search parameter;
determining a location associated with said wireless unit;
searching said data network, utilizing said at least one search parameter and said location associated with said wireless unit, to identify information associated with said search request; and
providing said information to said wireless unit. - View Dependent Claims (38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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39. The method of 38, further comprising:
in response to a selection from said wireless unit, accessing at least one said data page.
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46. An apparatus for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising;
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a computer platform including;
an interface for receiving a data network search request from a wireless unit, said search request including at least one search parameter;
a location module for procuring location information associated with said wireless unit; and
a data network search engine for utilizing said at least one search parameter and said location information as first and second search criteria for searching the data network for responsive information. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first identifier associated with a wireless unit from a location-based service provider;
correlating said first identifier to a second identifier associated with said wireless unit;
providing said second identifier to a location platform operable to utilize said second identifier to obtain location information for said wireless unit;
receiving said location information from said location platform; and
providing said location information to said location-based service provider. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An apparatus for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising:
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a server;
a first interface for receiving an encrypted service provider identifier associated with a wireless unit from a location-based service provider;
a second interface for receiving an encrypted subscriber identifier associated with said wireless unit from a wireless network provider; and
a computer-readable data structure operatively interconnected with said server for storing said encrypted service provider identifier and said encrypted subscriber identifier, wherein said encrypted service provider identifier and said encrypted subscriber identifier are indexed relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method for use in providing location-based services to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps:
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monitoring data communications between a wireless communications network and a data network originating from a wireless unit in said wireless communications network;
identifying a request for location-based services in a communication from said wireless unit to a location-based service provider in said data network;
procuring a subscriber identification number for said wireless unit in response to identifying said request;
encrypting said subscriber identification number for said wireless unit; and
providing said encrypted subscriber identification number to said location-based service provider. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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Specification