Location authentication stamp attached to messages

• US 7,574,606 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Kenny Man D, Sandhu, Kulbir S., Fan, Carey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nalven; Andrew L
• Application Number:
  US09/696,446
• Time in Patent Office: 3,213 Days
• Field of Search: 713/175, 713/179, 380/258
• US Class Current: 713/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A location stamp automatically attached to messages indicates location information such as longitude and latitude information from a GPS device. The location stamp helps a receiver to identify the location of the sender or a transaction, identify the sender, and provides context to the message that further indicates the messages meaning. Applications of the location stamp include authentication of the location of a sender or a transaction and identifying the location of a sender for a search and rescue.

Claims

1. A method of location authentication, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a mobile device wherein the mobile device is coupled with a control unit and a locating device, the message having significance independent of reporting a geographical location of the mobile device and the message having an automatically generated location stamp attached to an overhead portion of the message, the location stamp being a code incorporated within the message, the message comprising the location stamp having been intercepted and if needed converted into a format suitable to being received based on the capabilities of one or more of the following;

a receiver receiving the message, the mobile device, a stationary unit, and a network service connection, the format suitable to being received being selected from a group of formats consisting of voice, image, and data signals, the location stamp indicating via the code a geographical location of the mobile device as an origin of the message, location information associated with the mobile device other than the origin of the message, and an identity of a sender of the message the location information selected from a group of location information consisting of longitude and latitude values, geographic information relative to a particular location, descriptive location information, and network information associated with the sender of the message, wherein the automatically generated location stamp is generated by the control unit automatically retrieving information from the locating device and attaching retrieved information in the form of the code to the message, and wherein the attaching is performed by the control unit before the message is transmitted;

validating the identity of the sender of the message based on the location stamp;

determining whether the code identified by the location stamp corresponds to at least one of the following;

predetermined geographical location of the mobile device as an origin of the message, predetermined location information of the mobile device other than the origin of the message, and a predetermined identity of the sender, wherein the predetermined geographical location, the predetermined location information, and the predetermined identity of the sender is relevant to at least one action identified by the message, the at least one action comprising a charge to an account; and

recording the following as proof that the charge to the account was authorized;

the geographical location associated with the charge to the account and the location information associated with the charge to the account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the locating device to provide the geographical location further comprises:

utilizing the locating device to provide the geographical location using longitude and latitude values corresponding to the geographical location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing an application program associated with the mobile device to generate the message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

utilizing the application program to configure the message to further comprise a voice message.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

utilizing the application program to configure the message to further comprise a text message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the message from the mobile device to a receiving station.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

intercepting the message at a processing center before the message reaches the receiving station; and

converting the location stamp into a form suitable for the receiving station at the processing center.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the message via a wireless communication system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the geographical location identified by the location stamp corresponds to a predetermined location relevant to at least one action identified from the message, the at least one action comprising a charge to an account, further comprises:

determining whether the geographical location identified by the location stamp corresponds to a predetermined location relevant to at least one action identified from the message, the at least one action comprising a charge to an account, wherein the at least one action further comprises a delivery.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the geographical location identified by the location stamp corresponds to a predetermined location relevant to at least one action identified from the message, the at least one action comprising a charge to an account, further comprises:

determining whether the geographical location identified by the location stamp corresponds to a predetermined location relevant to at least one action identified from the message, the at least one action comprising a charge to an account, wherein the charge is a credit card charge.

11. A location authentication system comprising:

a receiver station configured to receive a message from a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is coupled with a control unit and a locating device, the message having a significance independent of reporting a geographical location of the mobile device and the message having an automatically generated location stamp attached to an overhead portion of the message, the location stamp being a code incorporated within the message, the message comprising the location stamp having been intercepted and if needed converted into a format suitable to being received based on the capabilities of one or more of the following;

a receiver receiving the message, the mobile device, a stationary unit, and a network service connection, wherein the format suitable to being received is selected from a group of formats consisting of voice, image, and data signals, the location stamp indicating via the code a geographical location of the mobile device as an origin of the message, location information associated with the mobile device other than the origin of the message, and an identity of a sender of the message, the location information selected from a group of location information consisting of longitude and latitude values, geographic information relative to a particular location, descriptive location information, and network information associated with the sender of the message, wherein the automatically generated location stamp is generated by the control unit automatically retrieving information from the locating device and attaching retrieved information in the form of the code to the message, and wherein the attaching is performed by the control unit before the message is transmitted, and wherein the receiver station is configured to validate the identity of the sender of the message based on the location stamp and determine whether the code identified by the location stamp corresponds to at least one of the following;

a predetermined geographical location of the mobile device as an origin of the message, predetermined location information of the mobile device other than the origin of the message, and a predetermined identity of the sender, wherein the predetermined geographical location, the predetermined location information and the predetermined identity of the sender is relevant to at least one action identified by the message, the at least one action comprising a charge to an account; and

recording the following as proof that the charge to the account was authorized;

the geographical location associated with the charge to the account and the location information associated with the charge to the account.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a global positioning satellite (GPS) system.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a wireless telephone system.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the geographical location is expressed in terms of latitude and longitude values.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the message includes a voice message from the sender.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the message includes a text message that the sender entered.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a transmitter that conforms to a protocol of a wireless communication system.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one action further comprises a delivery.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the charge is a credit card charge.