Location Blocking Service From a Wireless Service Provider

• US 20130346211A1
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.64
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/009 using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• 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

Subscriber authorization information from a wireless communication device is identified. The subscriber authorization information indicates that an identity of a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that identifies a location of the wireless communication device. Subsequent to the subscriber authorization information being identified, the identity of the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is received or retrieved without information that identifies the location of the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, by a system comprising a processor, subscriber authorization information associated with a wireless communication device;

determining, based upon the subscriber authorization information, if the identity of a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that identifies a location of the wireless communication device; and

obtaining, by the system, the identity of a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device without obtaining information that identifies the location of the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity of the subscriber is obtained by the system requesting a user of the wireless communication device to provide information about the identity of the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity of the subscriber is obtained by the system by capturing information associated with the wireless communication device and determining the identity of the subscriber based on the captured information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining an advertisement to be delivered to the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is delivered to a user of the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is based on a subscriber preference.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is obtained in response to receiving user permission.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

identifying subscriber authorization information associated with a wireless communication device,

determining, based upon the subscriber authorization information, if an identity of a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that identifies a location of the wireless communication device, and

obtaining, subsequent to the subscriber authorization information being identified, the identity of the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device without obtaining information that identifies the location of the wireless communication device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the identity of the subscriber is obtained by requesting a user of the wireless communication device to provide information about the identity of the subscriber.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the identity of the subscriber is obtained by capturing information associated with the wireless communication device and determining the identity of the subscriber based on the captured information.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

obtaining an advertisement.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is associated with a subscriber of the wireless communication device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is delivered to a user of the wireless communication device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is obtained based on subscriber preferences.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is obtained in response to receiving user permission.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying subscriber authorization information associated with a wireless communication device;

determining, based upon the subscriber authorization information, if an identity of a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that identifies a location of the wireless communication device; and

obtaining, subsequent to the subscriber authorization information being identified, the identity of the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device without obtaining information that identifies the location of the wireless communication device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

obtaining an advertisement.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the advertisement is associated with a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the advertisement is intended for a user of the wireless communication device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the advertisement is obtained based on a subscriber preference.