Location information for avoiding unwanted communications systems and methods

• US 20070055732A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Gilman
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software for identifying location based rules related to a network connected device are described. A network connected device may transmit a set of data identifying the location of the device and an identifier unique to the device to a server. The server may also receive an action request, wherein the action request is associated with the identifier. The server may select a rule in a database to address the action request, the rule applicable to the identifier and location of the device. Various embodiments related to financial card transactions, access to financial information, emergency services contact, and electronic message filtering are also addressed.

Claims

1. A system for a plurality of receivers of electronic messages to avoid unwanted electronic communications, the system comprising:

a network connected device, wherein the device is configured to;

receive a set of data identifying the location of the device; and

transmit a communications signal comprising the set of data and an electronic message directed to one of the plurality of receivers; and

a database which comprises;

a table comprising the plurality of receivers; and

a plurality of filtering rules, each filtering rule dictating how to filter electronic messages originating in one or more of a plurality of geographic regions,

wherein each of the plurality of receivers in the table is associated with one or more of the plurality of filtering rules;

a location comparison server, in communication with the device and the database, wherein the server is configured to;

receive information comprising the set of data and an identification of the one of the plurality of receivers where the electronic message is directed;

select a filtering rule from the plurality of filtering rules, wherein the selected filtering rule applies to the one of the plurality of receivers and to a geographic region within which the device is located.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein,

the communications signal further comprises an identifier, wherein the identifier is unique to a sender of the electronic message or unique to the network connected device;

a subset of the plurality of filtering rules applies only to the identifier; and

the select step further comprises selecting the filtering rule wherein the selected filtering rule applies to the identifier.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein,

the database further comprises a plurality of identifiers;

the one or more of the plurality of filtering rules associated with each of the plurality of receivers are each applicable to a subset of the plurality of identifiers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connected device comprises a mobile communications device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of data is received by hardware configured to receive the set of data, the hardware coupled with the device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hardware configured to receive the set of data comprises a GPS receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier unique to the device is selected from the group consisting of:

a MAC address, an IP address, a telephone number, and any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of geographic regions comprise a specific location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected filtering rule comprises blocking delivery of the electronic message.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected filtering rule comprises allowing delivery of the electronic message.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected filtering rule comprises forwarding the electronic message to other than the one of the plurality of receivers.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected filtering rule comprises sending a message to the network connected device comprising notice that a fee must be paid for delivery of the electronic message.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected filtering rule is stored in the database.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein,

boundaries of the plurality of geographic regions are established automatically by the server;

and

the server establishes the boundaries based on information on unwanted communications and their originating locations received from the plurality of receivers.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein a boundary of at least one of the plurality of geographic regions is selected by the user of one of the plurality of receivers.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the electronic message is blocked because the device is located in the at least one of the plurality of geographic regions.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the plurality of geographic regions comprises a specific location.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein,

past selected filtering rules are stored in the database;

and

boundaries of one or more of the plurality of geographic regions are selected based the past selected filtering rules stored in the database.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connected device is further configured to provide verification that the electronic message is transmitted from the location of the device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications signal comprises one or more signals, each signal transmitted at different times.

21. A method for a plurality of receivers of electronic messages to avoid unwanted electronic communications, the method comprising:

maintaining a database which comprises;

a table comprising the plurality of receivers; and

a plurality of filtering rules, each filtering rule dictating how to filter an electronic message originating in one of a plurality of geographic regions,

wherein each of the plurality of receivers is associated with one or more of the plurality of filtering rules;

receiving a communications signal including information comprising a set of identifying the location of a network connected device and one of the plurality of receivers where an electronic message is directed;

selecting a filtering rule from the plurality of filtering rules, wherein the filtering rule applies to the one of the plurality of receivers and to a geographic region within which the device is located.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein,

the communications signal further comprises an identifier, wherein the identifier is unique to a sender of the electronic message or unique to the network connected device;

a subset of the plurality of filtering rules applies only to the identifier; and

the select step further comprises selecting the filtering rule wherein the selected filtering rule applies to the identifier.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein,

the database further comprises a plurality of identifiers;

the one or more of the plurality of filtering rules associated with each of the plurality of receivers is applicable to a subset of the plurality of identifiers.

24. A computer program embodied on at least one computer readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions executable by a computer to:

maintain a database which comprises;

a table comprising the plurality of receivers; and

a plurality of filtering rules, each filtering rule dictating how to filter an electronic message originating in one of a plurality of geographic regions,

wherein each of the plurality of receivers is associated with one or more of the plurality of filtering rules;

receive a communications signal including information comprising a set of identifying the location of a network connected device and one of the plurality of receivers where an electronic message is directed;

select a filtering rule from the plurality of filtering rules, wherein the selected filtering rule applies to the one of the plurality of receivers and to a geographic region within which the device is located.