Controlling location information

• US 20110084803A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F-Secure Corporation (F-Secure Oyj)
• Original Assignee: F-Secure Oyj
• Inventors: Kesti, Veli-Jussi, Palomaki, Pirkka, Niemela, Jarno
• Granted Patent: US 8,981,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling location information at a computer device such as a mobile telephone. Location information is intercepted and obtained by, for example, intercepting it from an Application Programming Interface destined for a location application. The location application is identified, and a rule is determined for applying to the location information on the basis of the identified location application. The rule is applied to the location information to give amended location information, and the amended location information is then sent to the location application.

Claims

1. A method of controlling location information at a computer device, the method comprising:

at the computer device, intercepting and obtaining location information destined for a location application;

identifying the location application;

determining a rule to apply to the location information on the basis of the obtained location application;

applying the rule to the location information to give amended location information; and

sending the amended location information to the location application.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information is obtained by intercepting location information from an Application Programming Interface destined for the location application.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rule is selected from any of:

replacing the location information with less specific location information;

replacing the location information with location information specified by a user;

replacing the location information with previous location information previously approved by the user;

replacing the location information with no location information; and

making no changes to the location information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rule further comprises varying the amended location information with time prior to sending the location information to the location application.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in the event that the location application cannot be identified, applying a predetermined default rule to the location information to give amended location information, prior to sending the amended location information to the location application.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising alerting a user of the device that a location application has requested location information.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending from the computer device to a remote node information relating to the location application; and

receiving from the remote node further information relating to the identified location application.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising, as a result of receiving information relating to the identified location application, terminating the location application.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information is selected from any of Global Positioning System data, an identity of an Access Point (AP) to a Wireless Local Area Network, an identity of a network cell in which the computer device is located, and satellite positioning information.

18. A computer readable memory storing a computer program comprising computer readable code which, when run on a computer device, causes the computer device to execute a method according to claim 1.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program according to claim 18, wherein the computer program is stored on the computer readable storage medium.

10. A computer device for use in a communications network, the computer device comprising:

a location application;

a privacy function arranged to intercept and obtain location information destined for the location application;

a database for storing a plurality of rules to apply to the location information, the database comprising at least one rule entry for each identified location application;

a processor arranged to apply the rule to the location information to give amended location information prior to sending the amended location information to the location application.

11. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the processor is arranged to handle Application Programming Interfaces, and the privacy function is arranged to obtain location information by intercepting location information from an Application Programming Interface destined for the location application.

12. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the database further comprises at least one rule to be applied to the intercepted location information in the event that an identified location application is not stored in the database.

13. The computer device according to claim 10, further comprising a user input device allowing a user to enter data for one of populating the database and amending rules.

14. The computer device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a transmitter for sending to a remote node information for use in identifying the location application; and

a receiver for receiving from the remote node further information relating to the location application.

15. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the rule is selected from any of:

replacing the location information with less specific location information;

replacing the location information with location information specified by a user;

replacing the location information with previous location information previously approved by the user;

replacing the location information with no location information; and

making no changes to the location information.

19. A computer readable memory storing a computer program comprising computer readable code which, when run on a computer device, causes the computer device to behave as a device according to claim 10.

22. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program according to claim 19, wherein the computer program is stored on the computer readable storage medium.

16. A node for use in a communication network, the node comprising:

a receiver for receiving information from a remote device, the information relating to a location application at the remote device;

a processor for comparing the received information with information stored at a database; and

a transmitter for sending to the remote device further information relating to the location application.

17. The node for use in a communication network according to claim 16, wherein the transmitter is arranged to send to the remote device a request for additional information relating to the location application.

20. A computer readable memory storing a computer program comprising computer readable code which, when run on a node, causes the node to behave as a node according to claim 16.

23. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program according to claim 20, wherein the computer program is stored on the computer readable storage medium.