Third party location query for wireless networks
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A location query service for use with a wireless network that tracks the location of network devices, such as a network complying with enhanced 911 standards. The service provides requestors with the locations of network users, based on the locations of the users'"'"' wireless network devices. The service receives a location query from a requester, retrieves location information associated with the network user, and returns the location information to the requester. Alternately, before returning the location information to the requestor, the service authenticates that the requestor is authorized by the network user to receive the network user'"'"'s location information. A requestor can submit a location query, for example, by voice calls through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to an interactive voice response unit (IVRU), personal computer access through a global computer network, and cellular telephone access through a global computer network.
200 Citations
54 Claims
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1-40. -40. (canceled)
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41. A method for providing a location query service for use with a wireless network that tracks locations of network users, the method comprising:
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receiving from a requester a query through an audio interface asking for location information associated with a wireless network user;
determining whether the requester is authorized to receive the requested location information and, if so, retrieving the location information associated with the wireless network user and providing the location information to the requester;
if the requester is unauthorized, forwarding to the wireless network user the requester identification and the request for the requester to receive the location information from the audio interface;
if the wireless network user chooses not to release the requested location information to the unauthorized requester, returning a message to the requester that the request is denied; and
if the wireless network user chooses to release the requested location information to the unauthorized requester, retrieving the location information forwarding the location information to the requester. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of providing an instant messaging service incorporating location information of instant-messaging user, comprising:
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receiving from an instant-messaging user a query asking for location information of at least one instant messaging member identified by the user;
accessing an instant messaging database for location information of the at least one identified member;
obtaining from the database location information for at least one such identified member; and
transmitting the location information of the at least one identified member to the instant-messaging user. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system for providing an instant-messaging service incorporating location of a network of instant-messaging users, comprising:
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a location server in communication with the network of instant-messaging users and operative to;
receive from an instant-messaging user a query asking for location information of at least one instant-messaging member identified by the user;
receive from a location system in communication with the network of instant-messaging users the location information of at least one instant-messaging member identified by the user; and
transmit the location information of the at least one such identified member to the instant-messaging user. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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Specification