Providing Location-Based Services in a Distributed Environment Without Direct Control Over the Point of Access

• US 20080065774A1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keeler, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,529,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for providing location-specific content to a personal computing device (PCD) connected to a distributed server network (such as the Internet) without requiring an access control gateway to provide such content. Location-specific (and user-specific) content/services are provided by a client-server architecture utilizing a location database and a location look-up utility of a location identifier and content retrieval (LICR) server. Specifically, a utility executing on the PCD provides PCD location parameters to the LICR server, which is equipped with a location look up engine/functionality and a location content retrieval engine/functionality (both within a LICR utility) that responds by providing location-specific and user-specific content to the PCD.

Claims

1. In a computing device, a method comprising:

when a connection is detected to a network, automatically transmitting one or more location parameters to a network address associated with a pre-defined location identifier and content retrieval (LICR) server on the network;

receiving a response having content related to a location identified by one of the location parameters transmitted; and

providing location specific information from the content within the response.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a location identifier (ID) of an access device at which the computing device connects to the network, wherein the location ID is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the access device; and

providing the location ID as one of the location parameters, wherein said location ID is utilized by the LICR server to determine a current location of the computing device by accessing one of an IP-to-location database and a MAC-to-location database.

3. The method of claim 2, said retrieving further comprising:

identifying as the location ID an address of an access device, which enables access by the data processing device to the network; and

when the address is an RFC-1918 private address, translating the address into an IP address, wherein said IP address is matched within an IP address-to-location database at the LICR server to determine the current location of the computing device; and

when the address is a public address;

examining a sub-net via address resolution protocol (ARP) for IP block information; and

transmitting the IP block information as the location ID to the LICR server.

4. The method of claim 2, said retrieving further comprising:

prompting for and receiving entry of a different location ID; and

overwriting the location ID with the different location ID;

wherein said transmitting transmits the different location ID within the location parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises:

mapping a location of users of pre-selected types of services relative to the computing device;

mapping one or more services relative to the computing device; and

generating a map providing a mapped location of physically-identifiable content among the content receive relative to the current location of the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, responsive to receipt of a request from the LICR server for additional location ID information, said method further comprising:

dynamically retrieving one or more location identifying parameters of the computing device as the additional location ID information when the computing device includes at least one component capable of automatically determining a location of the computing device;

generating a prompt for entry of the additional location ID information when no automatic determination of the location is available; and

when the additional location ID information is received by at least one of the dynamically retrieving and the generating a prompt, automatically transmitting the additional location ID information to the LICR server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling entry of one or more preferences associated with the computing device;

inserting the one or more preferences within the location ID parameters, wherein the one or more preferences are transmitted with other data of the location ID parameters; and

enabling selective updating of the one or more preferences and the other data of the location ID parameters.

8. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

program code on the computer readable medium that when executed provides the functions of;

when a connection is detected to a network;

retrieving a location identifier (ID) of a network distribution unit (NDU) at which the computing device connects to the network, wherein the location ID is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the NDU;

providing the location ID as one of one or more location parameters;

automatically transmitting one or more location parameters to a network address associated with a pre-defined location identifier and content retrieval (LICR) server on the network, wherein said location ID is utilized by the LICR server to determine a current location of the computing device by accessing one of an IP-to-location database and a MAC-to-location database;

receiving a response having content related to a location identified by one of the location parameters transmitted; and

providing location specific information from the content within the response.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, said program code for retrieving further comprising code for:

identifying as the location ID an address of an access device, which enables access by the data processing device to the network; and

when the address is an RFC-1918 private address, translating the address into an '"'"'P address, wherein said IP address is matched within an IP address-to-location database at the LICR server to determine the current location of the computing device; and

when the address is a public address;

examining a sub-net via address resolution protocol (ARP) for IP block information; and

transmitting the IP block information as the location ID to the LICR server.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein, responsive to receipt of a request from the LICR server for additional location ID information, said program code farther comprising code for:

dynamically retrieving one or more location identifying parameters of the computing device as the additional location ID information when the computing device includes at least one component capable of automatically determining a location of the computing device;

when no automatic determination of the location is available;

generating a prompt for entry of the additional location ID information;

receiving entry of the additional location ID; and

overwriting an existing location ID with the additional location ID; and

when the additional location ID information is received by one of the dynamically retrieving and the generating a prompt, automatically transmitting the additional location ID information to the LICR server;

wherein said transmitting transmits the additional location ID information within updated location parameters.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said program code for providing comprises code for:

mapping a location of users of pre-selected types of services relative to the computing device;

mapping one or more services relative to the computing device; and

generating a map providing a mapped location of physically-identifiable content among the content receive relative to the current location of the computing device.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, said program code further comprising code for:

enabling entry of one or more preferences associated with the computing device;

inserting the one or more preferences within the location ID parameters, wherein the one or more preferences are transmitted with other data of the location ID parameters; and

enabling selective updating of the one or more preferences and the other data of the location ID parameters.

13. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

an output device;

a network interface device that enables connection to an external network through which a location identifier and content retrieval (LICR) server is accessible;

a memory having thereon executable code of a location specific content retrieval (LSCR) utility that when executed by the processor provides the functions of;

enabling entry of one or more preferences associated with the computing device;

when a connection is detected to a network;

retrieving a location identifier (ID) of a network distribution unit (NDU) at which the computing device connects to the network, wherein the location ID is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the NDU device;

providing the location ID as one of one or more location parameters;

inserting the one or more preferences within the one or more location parameters, wherein the one or more preferences are transmitted with other data of the location parameters; and

enabling selective updating of the one or more preferences and the other data of the location parameters;

automatically transmitting one or more location parameters to a network address associated with a pre-defined location identifier and content retrieval (LICR) server on the network, wherein said location ID is utilized by the LICR server to determine a current location of the computing device by accessing one of an IP-to-location database and a MAC-to-location database;

responsive to receipt of a request from the LICR server for additional location ID information;

dynamically retrieving one or more location identifying parameters of the computing device as the additional location ID information when the computing device includes at least one component capable of automatically determining a location of the computing device;

when no automatic determination of the location is available;

generating a prompt for entry of the additional location ID information;

receiving entry of the additional location ID; and

overwriting an existing location ID with the additional location ID; and

when the additional location ID information is received by one of the dynamically retrieving and the generating a prompt, automatically transmitting the additional location ID information to the LICR server, wherein said transmitting transmits the additional location ID information within updated location parameters;

receiving a response having content related to a location identified by one of the location parameters transmitted; and

providing location specific information from the content within the response.

14. The computing device of claim 13, further comprising:

a lookup engine within LSCR utility examines the WAN IP address of the access location; and

wherein said program code for retrieving includes code for;

identifying as the location ID an address of an access device, which enables access by the data processing device to the network; and

when the address is an RFC-1918 private address, translating the address into an IP address, wherein said IP address is matched within an IP address-to-location database at the LICR server to determine the current location of the computing device; and

when the address is a public address;

examining a sub-net via address resolution protocol (ARP) for IP block information; and

transmitting the IP block information as the location ID to the LICR server.

15. In a computing device, a method comprising:

receiving one or more location parameters from a computing device connected via a network, said one or more location parameters including at least one or an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a network access location for the computing device;

determining a location of the computing device from the one or more location parameters by accessing one of an IP-to-location database and a MAC-to-location database;

retrieving location specific content corresponding to the location from a database of content generally associated with a plurality of locations; and

forwarding the location specific content to the computing device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

parsing the location parameters for a location ID corresponding to a location of the computing device;

comparing the location ID to a plurality of location IDs within a database of location IDs, each associated with a corresponding location, wherein the location ID is one of the IP address and the MAC address and the comparing comprises one of (a) comparing the location ID to IP addresses within the IP-to-location database when the location ID is the IP address and (b) comparing the location ID to MAC addresses within the MAC-to-location database when the location ID is the MAC address;

when a match of the location ID is found within the database of location IDs, retrieving a corresponding location as the location of the computing device; and

when the location of the computing device cannot be determined from the one or more location parameters;

generating a request for additional location ID information; and

transmitting the request to the computing device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing a plurality of user profiles within a user profile database, said user profiles comprising unique user IDs and one or more preferences associated with at least one user profile;

parsing the location parameters for a user ID associated with the computing device;

matching the user ID against the user profile database;

when a matching ID is located within the user profile database, retrieving the one or more preferences associated with the matching ID;

filtering the location specific content from the content database based on the one or more preferences; and

generating, using the one or more preferences as a filter, a filtered set of location specific content from among a full set of location specific content available for the location, wherein only the filtered set of location specific content is transmitted to the computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving updates of and addition to the user profiles within the user profile database;

assigning a new unique user ID to each additional user profile added to the user profile database;

linking an associated one or more preferences to the additional user profile; and

storing the additional user profile and linked preferences within the user profile database.

19. A server comprising:

a processor;

one or more databases having location specific data thereon and accessible by the processor;

a location information consent retrieval server utility, having code that when executed by the processor performs the functions of;

receiving one or more location parameters from a computing device connected via a network, said one or more location parameters including at least one or an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a network access location for the computing device;

determining a location of the computing device from the one or more location parameters by accessing one of an IP-to-location database and a MAC-to-location database;

retrieving location specific content corresponding to the location from a database of content generally associated with a plurality of locations; and

forwarding the location specific content to the computing device.

20. The server of claim 19, said utility further comprising code that executes to provide the functions of:

parsing the location parameters for a location ID corresponding to a location of the computing device;

comparing the location ID to a plurality of location IDs within a database of location IDs, each associated with a corresponding location, wherein the location ID is one of the IP address and the MAC address and the comparing comprises one of (a) comparing the location ID to IP addresses within the IP-to-location database when the location ID is the IP address and (b) comparing the location ID to MAC addresses within the MAC-to-location database when the location ID is the MAC address;

when a match of the location ID is found within the database of location IDs, retrieving a corresponding location as the location of the computing device; and

when the location of the computing device cannot be determined from the one or more location parameters;

generating a request for additional location ID information; and

transmitting the request to the computing device.

21. The server of claim 19, said utility further comprising code that when executed provides the functions of:

storing a plurality of user profiles within a user profile database, said user profiles comprising unique user IDs and one or more preferences associated with at least one user profile;

receiving updates of and addition to the user profiles within the user profile database;

assigning a new unique user ID to each additional user profile added to the user profile database;

linking an associated one or more preferences to the additional user profile;

storing the additional user profile and linked preferences within the user profile database;

parsing the location parameters for a user ID associated with the computing device;

matching the user ID against the user profile database;

when a matching ID is located within the user profile database, retrieving the one or more preferences associated with the matching ID;

filtering the location specific content from the content database based on the one or more preferences; and

generating, using the one or more preferences as a filter, a filtered set of location specific content from among a full set of location specific content available for the location, wherein only the filtered set of location specific content is transmitted to the computing device.

22. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

program code on the computer readable medium that when executed by a processing device provides the functions of;

receiving one or more location parameters from a computing device connected via a network, said one or more location parameters including at least one or an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a network access location for the computing device;

determining a location of the computing device from the one or more location parameters by accessing one of an IP-to-location database and a MAC-to-location database;

retrieving location specific content corresponding to the location from a database of content generally associated with a plurality of locations; and

forwarding the location specific content to the computing device.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, said program code further comprising code for:

parsing the location parameters for a location ID corresponding to a location of the computing device;

comparing the location ID to a plurality of location IDs within a database of location IDs, each associated with a corresponding location, wherein the location ID is one of the IP address and the MAC address and the comparing comprises one of (a) comparing the location ID to IP addresses within the IP-to-location database when the location ID is the IP address and (b) comparing the location ID to MAC addresses within the MAC-to-location database when the location ID is the MAC address;

when a match of the location ID is found within the database of location IDs, retrieving a corresponding location as the location of the computing device; and

when the location of the computing device cannot be determined from the one or more location parameters;

generating a request for additional location ID information; and

transmitting the request to the computing device.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, farther comprising program code for:

storing a plurality of user profiles within a user profile database, said user profiles comprising unique user IDs and one or more preferences associated with at least one user profile;

parsing the location parameters for a user ID associated with the computing device;

matching the user ID against the user profile database;

when a matching ID is located within the user profile database, retrieving the one or more preferences associated with the matching ID;

filtering the location specific content from the content database based on the one or more preferences; and

generating, using the one or more preferences as a filter, a filtered set of location specific content from among a fall set of location specific content available for the location, wherein only the filtered set of location specific content is transmitted to the computing device.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising program code for:

receiving updates of and addition to the user profiles within the user profile database;

assigning a new unique user ID to each additional user profile added to the user profile database;

linking an associated one or more preferences to the additional user profile; and

storing the additional user profile and linked preferences within the user profile database.