Location blocking service from a wireless service provider
First Claim
1. A method of providing a location-blocking service comprising:
- obtaining identity information for a user operating a wireless communication device;
obtaining location information for the user; and
transferring the identity information for the user to a third party without disclosing the location information for the user to the third party, wherein not disclosing the location information for the user to the third party is optionally selectable by the user.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. However, in the case of the mobile subscriber requesting emergency help, the service promoter may not block identity and/or location information. Instead, the service promoter may send all such information to the emergency service provider (e.g., the police or a hospital).
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of providing a location-blocking service comprising:
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obtaining identity information for a user operating a wireless communication device; obtaining location information for the user; and transferring the identity information for the user to a third party without disclosing the location information for the user to the third party, wherein not disclosing the location information for the user to the third party is optionally selectable by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method to provide information about identity of a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
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obtaining identity information for the user; identifying the location of the user of the wireless communication device; and transmitting the identity information for the user to a subscriber desirous of sending an advertisement to the wireless communication device, wherein the transmission of the identity information excludes disclosure of the location of the user such that the excluded disclosure of the location is optionally selectable by the user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing a location-blocking service comprising:
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obtaining identity information for a user operating a wireless communication device; obtaining location information for the user; and transferring the identity information for the user to a third party without disclosing the location information for the user to the third party, wherein the step of obtaining location information for the user is performed continuously, at predetermined intervals, upon activation of the wireless communication device and without further action on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method to provide information about identity of a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
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obtaining identity information for the user; identifying the location of the user of the wireless communication device; and transmitting the identity information for the user to a subscriber desirous of sending an advertisement to the wireless communication device, wherein the transmission of the identity information excludes disclosure of the location of the user, wherein the step of identifying the location of the user of the wireless communication device is performed continuously, at predetermined intervals, upon activation of the wireless communication device and without further action on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification