Method for routing data packets using an IP address based on geo position

• US 20060165015A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lightwaves Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lightwaves Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Melick, Bruce D., Baych, Leslie D., Snyder, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,085,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/122 by minimising distances, e.g. by selecting a route with minimum of number of hops
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Method of routing data over a network in which contact is made with a home network to determine the reported geo-position, using this geo-position to transmit data to the device over a path through a node in which the node reads the geo-position, accesses a list of possible recipients and their geo-positions, compares its location to the positions, selects a recipient based at least in part on the proximity of the recipient to the device, and transmits the data over the best path. Eventually, the device becomes the recipient. A geo-position may be transmitted as part of an IP address, or as geo-position data or XML tagged geo-position information contained in a data packet or IP addressed message or IP addressed voice calls (VoIP). The geo-position information can be generated from a GPS receiver. This method and/or IP address may be used in a method of doing business in which the geo-position is used to identify the source and location for delivery. This information may be incorporated into a purchase order or confirmation receipt.

Claims

1. A method of determining a physical address associated with a device using a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

requesting a machine address associated with the device over the telecommunications network;

determining a geographic position of the device at least partially based on the machine address associated with the device;

determining a physical address associated with the device based on the geographic position.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a geographic position of the device further comprises accessing a database associated with the telecommunications network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine address comprises an internet protocol (ip) address.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic position comprises latitude, longitude, and altitude.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine address is based at least in part on location of the device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining a geographic position of the device comprises accessing a database relating machine address information with location information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically updating a database with a geographic position associated with the machine address associated with the device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of determining a geographic position of the device further comprises accessing the database.

9. A method of determining a physical address associated with a device, comprising:

identifying the device using a machine address;

storing on a network a location of the device identified using a machine address;

updating location of the device stored on the network as the device relocates;

determining a physical address associated with the device based on the location of the device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining the location of the device at least partially based on the machine address.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the location is a geographic position comprising latitude, longitude, and altitude.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of determining the location further comprises accessing a database associated with the telecommunications network adapted for relating the machine address to location.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the machine address comprises an internet protocol (ip) address.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the machine address is based at least in part on location of the device.