Location privacy proxy server and method in a telecommunication network

• US 7,054,648 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Jansson, Olof, Abtin, Afshin
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US10/038,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/411, 455/410, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/415, 709/229, 709/219, 709/227
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling positioning of a user and the user'"'"'s privacy related information on the mobile Internet includes a location privacy proxy which upon receipt of a request to position a user determines whether a location based service is allowed to position the user. The user retains the right to manually override the rejection of a location based service requesting to position the user.

Claims

1. A method for positioning of a user on the mobile Internet, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to position the user using a location based service;

accessing a location privacy proxy to determine if the location based service may position the user, further comprising the steps of;

determining if the location based service has previously positioned the user;

if the location base service has not previously positioned the user, determining if the user manually authorizes positioning by the location based service; and

storing an indication of whether the location based service is authorized to position the user;

generating a unique ID within the location privacy proxy for a request from an untrusted application;

associating the unique ID with the MSISDN of the user being positioned; and

positioning the user based on the determination made by the location privacy proxy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a mobile portal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a WAP gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a positioning server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of accessing further comprises the steps of:

determining if the location based service has previously positioned the user;

if the location based service has previously positioned the user, accessing a user profile to determine if the user may be positioned if the user manually authorizes the positioning.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of positioning further comprises the steps of attaching the unique ID of the user to a positioning request prior to positioning the user.

7. A method for controlling positioning of a user on the mobile Internet, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to position the user using a location based service;

determining if the location based service has previously positioned the user using a location privacy proxy;

if the location based service has previously positioned the user, accessing a user profile to determine if the user may be positioned;

if the location based service has not previously positioned the user, determining if the user manually authorizes positioning by the location based service;

storing an indication of whether the location based service is authorized to position the user;

generating a unique ID within the location privacy proxy for a request from an untrusted application;

associating the unique ID with the MSISDN of the user making the request; and

positioning the user based on the determination made by at least one of the location privacy proxy or manual authorization by the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the request is received from a mobile portal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the request is received from a WAP gateway.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the request is received from a positioning server.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of positioning further comprises the steps of:

attaching the unique ID of the user to a positioning request prior to positioning the user.

12. A method for controlling positioning of a user on the mobile Internet, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to position the user using a location based service;

accessing a location privacy proxy to determine if the location based service may position the user, further comprising the steps of;

determining if the location based service has previously positioned the user;

if the location based service has not previously positioned the user, determining if the user manually authorizes positioning by the location based service; and

storing an indication of whether the location based service is authorized to position the user;

generating a unique ID within the location privacy proxy for a request from an untrusted application;

associating the unique ID with the MSISDN of the user making the request;

attaching the unique ID of the user to a positioning request prior to positioning the user; and

positioning the user based on the determination made by the location privacy proxy.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the request is received from a mobile portal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the request is received from a WAP gateway.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the request is received from a positioning server.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of accessing further comprises the steps of:

determining if the location based service has previously positioned the user;

if the location based service has not previously positioned the user, accessing a user profile to determine if the user may be positioned.

17. A location privacy proxy, comprising:

a first interface for receiving positioning requests for a user;

a second interface for accessing location based services;

a third interface for accessing a positioning server; and

control logic configured to;

receive a request to position the user using a location based service;

determine if the application may position the user, further configured to;

determine if the location based service has previously positioned the user;

if the location based service has not previously positioned the user, determine if the user authorizes positioning by the location based service; and

store an indication of whether the location based service is authorized to position the user;

generate a unique ID within the location privacy proxy for a request from an untrusted application;

associate the unique ID with the MSISDN of the user making the request; and

position the user based on the determination made by the location privacy proxy using the positioning server.

18. The location privacy proxy of claim 17, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

determine if the location based service has previously positioned the user;

if the location based service has not previously positioned the user, determine if the user authorizes positioning by the location based service; and

store an indication of whether the location based service is authorized to position the user.

19. The location privacy proxy of claim 17, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

determine if the location based service has previously positioned the user;

if the location based service has not previously positioned the user, access a user profile to determine if the user may be positioned.

20. The location privacy proxy of claim 17, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

attach the unique ID of the user to a positioning request prior to positioning the user.