Location Blocking Service from a Web Advertiser

• US 20120123869A1
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., Enzmann, Mark J., Moton, Robert T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Location-blocking and identity-blocking services that can be commercially offered by a service promoter, e.g., a cellular service provider or a web advertiser. In the identity-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the current physical location of a mobile subscriber (i.e., a cellular phone operator) to a third party (e.g., a web advertiser) subscribing to the identity-blocking service. However, the service promoter may not send any identity information for the mobile subscriber to the third party. On the other hand, in the location-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the mobile subscriber'"'"'s identity information to the third party, but not the current physical location of the mobile subscriber. Blocking of the mobile subscriber'"'"'s identity or location information may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber.

Claims

1. A device for receiving an advertisement for a user based on the location of the user, the device comprising:

a processing and control unit (PCU);

a memory unit in communication with the PCU;

a network interface unit in communication with the PCU, the network interface unit for communicating with a network, the network in communication with a server;

wherein the server is adapted for

receiving an identity of the user,

receiving the location of the user for a fee,

identifying a user-specific preference associated with the user in a database, the database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements, user-specific preferences, and location-specific preferences,

identifying a location-specific preference associated with the location of the user in the database,

selecting a user-specific advertisement based on the identified user-specific preference and the identified location-specific preference in the database,

receiving an activation of a location-blocking option, and

sending the selected user-specific advertisement to the wireless communication device over a communication network without transmitting the location of the user in the selected user-specific advertisement.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in communication with the PCU.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the PCU reads the location from the GPS receiver and transmits the location to the server.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the PCU transmits the identity of the user to the server.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the PCU transmits a location-blocking option to the server.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the PCU receives the selected user-specific advertisement, the selected user-specific advertisement not including the location of the user.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the PCU transmits a criterion to the server.

8. A system for sending an advertisement to a user, the system comprising:

a network;

a server in communication with the network;

a database in communication with the network, the database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements a plurality of user-specific preferences, and a plurality of location-specific preferences;

a software code on the server for

receiving an identity of the user;

receiving a location of the user for a fee,

selecting a user-specific advertisement based on an identified user specific preference in the database and an identified location-specific preference in the database,

sending the selected user-specific advertisement to a wireless device, the wireless device in communication with the network;

wherein the selected user-specific advertisement is sent without transmitting the location of the user upon receiving an activation of a location blocking option from the wireless device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the software code is further for soliciting the user for a user-specific advertisement service in exchange for the identity of the user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the software code is further for extracting the identity of the user from a message transmitted by the wireless device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the network is one of a service provider network, and the Internet.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the software code is further for receiving a criterion from the user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the software code is further for storing the criterion in the database.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the software code is further for consulting the criterion when selecting a user-specific advertisement.

15. A method of sending an advertisement to a user operating a wireless device, the advertisement selected from a database including a plurality of user-specific advertisements, the selection based on the location of the user, a user-specific preference, and a location-specific preference, the method comprising:

sending the advertisement to the wireless device;

wherein the advertisement is sent without transmitting the location of the user upon receiving an activation of a location blocking option from the wireless device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising soliciting the user for a user-specific advertisement service in exchange for the identity of the user.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the advertisement is sent across a communications network, the communications network being one of a service provider network, and the Internet.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a criterion from the user.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing the criterion in the database.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selection is further based on the criterion.