Anonymous positioning of a wireless unit for data network location-based services
First Claim
1. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
- during a registration process, performing the steps of;
receiving a first identifier from a location-based service provider that is not indexed to a second identifier;
receiving a second identifier from a location platform; and
storing said first identifier indexed to said second identifier;
receiving the first identifier associated with the wireless unit from the location-based service provider;
correlating said first identifier to said second identifier associated with said wireless unit based on the indexing of said first identifier to said second identifier;
providing said second identifier to said location platform operable to utilize said second identifier to obtain location information for said wireless unit;
receiving said location information from said location platform; and
providing said location information to said location-based service provider.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention concerns a process and a system for providing location information for a wireless unit in a wireless network to a location-based service provider, using a data network. In particular, the location information is provided to the location-based service provider without necessarily providing the identity of wireless unit, e.g., a subscriber'"'"'s wireless identification number, to the service provider. In this regard, a subscriber'"'"'s identification number may be hidden from the positioning service provider via a process in which an alias is used instead of the subscriber'"'"'s normal identity. The subscriber'"'"'s number may further be concealed from the service provider via a process wherein encrypted information is used instead of the subscriber'"'"'s normal identity.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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during a registration process, performing the steps of; receiving a first identifier from a location-based service provider that is not indexed to a second identifier; receiving a second identifier from a location platform; and storing said first identifier indexed to said second identifier; receiving the first identifier associated with the wireless unit from the location-based service provider; correlating said first identifier to said second identifier associated with said wireless unit based on the indexing of said first identifier to said second identifier; providing said second identifier to said location platform operable to utilize said second identifier to obtain location information for said wireless unit; receiving said location information from said location platform; and providing said location information to said location-based service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising:
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a server; a first interface for receiving an encrypted service provider identifier associated with a wireless unit from a location-based service provider; a second interface for receiving an encrypted subscriber identifier associated with said wireless unit from a wireless network provider; and a computer-readable data structure operatively interconnected with said server for storing said encrypted service provider identifier and said encrypted subscriber identifier, wherein said encrypted service provider identifier and said encrypted subscriber identifier are indexed relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for use in providing location-based services to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps:
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monitoring data communications between a wireless communications network and a data network originating from a wireless unit in said wireless communications network; identifying a request for location-based services in a communication from said wireless unit to a location-based service provider in said data network; procuring a subscriber identification number for said wireless unit in response to identifying said request; encrypting said subscriber identification number for said wireless unit; and providing said encrypted subscriber identification number to said location-based service provider. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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storing a first identifier encrypted by a location-based service provider indexed to a second identifier encrypted by a location platform; receiving said first identifier associated with a wireless unit from the location-based service provider; correlating said first identifier to said second identifier associated with said wireless unit based on said first identifier being indexed to said second identifier; providing said second identifier to a location platform operable to utilize said second identifier to obtain location information for said wireless unit; receiving said location information from said location platform; and providing said location information to said location-based service provider. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification