System and method for verifying access based on a determined geographic location of a subscriber of a service provided via a computer network

• US 7,486,943 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bamtech LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: MLB Advanced Media, L.P. (Major League Baseball)
• Inventors: Willis, Shadeed S., Choti, Joseph Francis, Shaffer, Justin Alexander, Sun, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehra; Inder P
• Application Number:
  US11/012,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20060128397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.6, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/404.2, 455/405, 455/409, 455/411, 455/415
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A system and method relates to limiting the presentation of rules based events based on the geographic location of computer users attempting to view the rules based event via a network. The method includes receiving over a network a request to view a rules based event at a computer, obtaining a first estimate of geographic location of the computer where the first estimate of geographic location includes a first confidence determination, and obtaining a second estimate of geographic location of the computer if the first confidence determination is less than an established confidence level. The first and second estimates of geographic location define a composite estimated geographic location of the computer. The method further includes retrieving information on a geographic location of the rules based event, comparing the retrieved information on the geographic location of the rules based event, with the composite estimated geographic location of the computer, and providing access to the rules based event based on access rules and the comparison of the retrieved information on the geographic location of the rules based event and the estimated geographic location of the computer. The system and method can also apply to promotions, sweepstakes, contests, fantasy games, sale of goods and/or services, and targeted advertising.

Claims

1. A system for verifying access to a network based on geographic location of a subscriber of a service provided over a computer network, the system comprising:

a service computer providing a subscription service to a subscriber computer via a network, wherein the subscriber computer is physically located in a geographic location, and further wherein the subscription service is limited based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer; and

an event interface coupled to the service computer, wherein the event interface receives event information for a rules based event either as the rules based event is occurring or as the rules based event is requested, as applicable, wherein the subscription service includes communicating event information to the subscriber computer,

wherein the service computer verifies access by the subscriber computer to the subscription service based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer, wherein the geographic location of the subscriber computer is estimated using a first estimation process and, if the first estimation process produces a first estimate having a first confidence level below a first determined threshold, using a second estimation process to produce a second estimate having a second confidence level such that the second confidence level can be compared to a second determined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein access to the subscription service comprises entry into any one of a promotion, contest, sweepstakes, and fantasy game.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with an option to purchase any one of goods and services.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein purchases include purchase rules that vary depending on the geographic location of the subscriber computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with targeted marketing based on the estimate of the geographic location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on credit card number and billing address.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on product registration information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on entries in a table containing electronic mail addresses and geographic areas corresponding to the electronic mail addresses.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic location estimation is not made if a customer corresponding to the subscriber computer is identified as a preferred customer.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an event capturing sub-system coupled to the service computer and event interface via a second network different than the network through which the subscriber computer receives the subscription service.

11. A system for verifying access to a network based on geographic location of a subscriber of a service provided over a computer network, the system comprising:

a service computer providing a subscription service to a subscriber computer via a network, wherein the subscriber computer is physically located in a geographic location, and further wherein the subscription service is limited based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer;

an event interface coupled to the service computer, wherein the event interface receives event information for a rules based event either as the rules based event is occurring or as the rules based event is requested, as applicable, wherein the subscription service includes communicating event information to the subscriber computer; and

an event capturing sub-system coupled to the service computer and the event interface, wherein the event capturing sub-system comprises an event capturing device and an event storage device,

wherein the service computer verifies access by the subscriber computer to the subscription service based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer, wherein the geographic location of the subscriber computer is estimated using a first estimation process and, if the first estimation process produces an estimate having a confidence level below a determined threshold, a second estimation process.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein access to the subscription service comprises entry into any one of a promotion, contest, sweepstakes, and fantasy game.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with an option to purchase any one of goods and services.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein purchases include purchase rules that vary depending on the geographic location of the subscriber computer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with targeted marketing based on the estimate of the geographic location.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on credit card number and billing address.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on product registration information.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on entries in a table containing electronic mail addresses and geographic areas corresponding to the electronic mail addresses.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the geographic location estimation is not made if a customer corresponding to the subscriber computer is identified as a preferred customer.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the event capturing sub-system is coupled to the service computer and the event interface via a second network different than the network through which the subscriber computer receives the subscription service.