System and Method for Locating a Mobile Subscriber Terminal When Roaming
First Claim
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1. A method of locating a user of a wireless communication device who has roamed out of network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an identifier of a mobile switching center (MSC ID) that is serving the user out of network; and
accessing a data structure that maps MSC IDs of a plurality of serving networks to physical locations of the MSCs to determine a location corresponding to the MSC ID as the location of the user.
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Abstract
A home network of a mobile subscriber accesses a mapping of mobile switching centers to their physical locations and uses this mapping to locate a mobile subscriber when the mobile subscriber roams out of his or her home network and registers with one of these mobile switching centers. The location of the mobile subscriber may be used to authorize a transaction initiated by the mobile subscriber or to authenticate the mobile subscriber when signing into secure accounts.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of locating a user of a wireless communication device who has roamed out of network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an identifier of a mobile switching center (MSC ID) that is serving the user out of network; and accessing a data structure that maps MSC IDs of a plurality of serving networks to physical locations of the MSCs to determine a location corresponding to the MSC ID as the location of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising:
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computer-executable instructions and a data structure that maps identifiers of mobile switching centers (MSC IDs) of a plurality of serving networks to physical locations of the MSCs, wherein the instructions when carried out by a computer cause the computer to carry out the steps of; receiving from a server of a home network that is managing a home location register (HLR) database an identifier of an MSC that is outside the home network; determining a location of the MSC corresponding to the identifier of the MSC using the data structure; and transmitting location data indicating the location of the MSC to the server of the home network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of authorizing a transaction, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to authorize a transaction being conducted at a point-of-sale (POS); acquiring purchaser data from the request; transmitting a request to locate the purchaser and receiving location data indicating a location of the purchaser in response thereto; comparing a POS location with the purchaser location; and authorizing or denying the transaction based on the step of comparing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of authenticating a user for access to a secure account, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to access the secure account from an IP address associated with the user; transmitting a request to locate the user and receiving location data indicating a location of the user in response thereto; comparing a location associated with the IP address with the location of the user; and authorizing or denying the access based on the step of comparing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification