METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTHORIZING NETWORK TRANSACTIONS BASED ON RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) CHARACTERIZATION OF A DEVICE'S LOCATION

• US 20110202461A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Garrett, David, Murray, David, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Buer, Mark, Lundgren, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0672 using non-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for authorizing network transactions based on radio frequency (RF) characterization of a device'"'"'s location are provided. In this regard, whether to approve a communication device to perform a network transaction may be determined based on results of a comparison between a radio frequency (RE) characterization of a location of the communication device and one or more approved RF characterizations. The RF characterization may be based on information from a plurality of receivers within the communication device. The one or more approved characterizations may be stored in the network device. The RF characterization may indicate a quantity of RF sources detected and identified by the communication device at the location. The RF characterization may indicate signal strength of signals received from RF sources detected and indentified by the communication device at the location.

Claims

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

performing by one or more circuits and/or processors in a network device;

determining whether to approve a communication device, which is communicatively coupled to said network device, to perform a network transaction based on results of a comparison between;

a radio frequency (RF) characterization of a location of said communication device, wherein said RF characterization is received from said communication device; and

one or more approved RF characterizations.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said RF characterization is based on information from a plurality of receivers within said communication device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more approved characterizations are stored in one or both of said network device and a remote server communicatively coupled to said network device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said RF characterization indicates a quantity of RF sources detected and identified by said communication device at said location.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said RF characterization indicates a signal strength of signals received from RF sources detected and identified by said communication device at said location.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising approving said transaction only if a signal strength of each of said signals is within a determined window, wherein a size of said window depends on a type of said transaction.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said RF characterization indicates an error rate of signals received from RF sources detected and identified by said communication device at said location.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said network transaction comprises an electronic funds transfer.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining whether to approve said communication device to perform said network transaction based on preferences established for one or both of said communication device and a user of said communication device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more approved characterizations comprises an RF characterization of a location from which said transaction is authorized.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said RF characterization indicates a signal strength of signals received from RF sources detected and indentified by said communication device at said location.

16. The system according to claim 5, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors are operable to approve said transaction only if a signal strength of each of said signals is within a determined window, wherein the size of said window depends on the type of said transaction.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said RF characterization indicates an error rate of signals received from RF sources detected and indentified by said communication device at said location.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said network transaction comprises an electronic funds transfer.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors are operable to determine whether to approve said communication device to perform said network transaction based on preferences established for one or both of said communication device and a user of said communication device.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more approved characterizations comprises an RF characterization of a location from which said transaction is authorized.

11. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits and/or processors for use in a network device, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors are operable to;

determine whether to approve a communication device, which is communicatively coupled to said network device, to perform a network transaction based on results of a comparison between;

a radio frequency (RF) characterization of a location of said communication device, wherein said RF characterization is received from said communication device; and

one or more approved RF characterizations.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said RF characterization is based on information from a plurality of receivers within said communication device.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more approved characterizations are stored in one or both of said network device and a remote server communicatively coupled to said network device.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said RF characterization indicates a number of RF sources detected and indentified by said communication device at said location.