Location blocking service from a web advertiser
First Claim
1. A method of sending an advertisement to a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
- receiving first information about the identity of the user;
receiving second information about a location of the user for a fee;
searching a first database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements;
accessing a second database containing a plurality of user-specific preferences;
accessing a third database containing a plurality of location-specific preferences;
identifying one or more preferences in the second database that are associated with the user;
identifying one or more location-specific preferences in the third database that are associated with the location of the user;
selecting one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements based on the one or more preferences in the second database and the one or more location-specific preferences in the third database;
receiving an activation of a location-blocking option; and
sending the one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements to the wireless communication device over a communication network without transmitting location information associated with the wireless communication device in the user-specific advertisement.
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
37 Claims
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1. A method of sending an advertisement to a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
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receiving first information about the identity of the user; receiving second information about a location of the user for a fee; searching a first database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements; accessing a second database containing a plurality of user-specific preferences; accessing a third database containing a plurality of location-specific preferences; identifying one or more preferences in the second database that are associated with the user; identifying one or more location-specific preferences in the third database that are associated with the location of the user; selecting one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements based on the one or more preferences in the second database and the one or more location-specific preferences in the third database; receiving an activation of a location-blocking option; and sending the one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements to the wireless communication device over a communication network without transmitting location information associated with the wireless communication device in the user-specific advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of sending an advertisement over a communication network to a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
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receiving first information about the identity of the user; receiving second information about a location of the user for a fee; searching a database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements; accessing a second database containing a plurality of pre-selected criteria; accessing a third database containing a plurality of location-specific preferences; identifying one or more pre-selected criterion in the second database that are associated with the user; identifying one or more location-specific preferences in the third database that are associated with the location of the user; selecting one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements based on the one or more pre-selected criterion associated with the user and the one or more location-specific preferences in the third database; receiving an activation of a location-blocking service option; and sending the one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements to the wireless communication device over the communication network without transmitting location information associated with the wireless communication device in the user-specific advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A server including software stored thereon for performing a method of sending an advertisement to a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
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logic for receiving first information about the identity of the user; logic for receiving second information about a location of the user for a fee; logic for searching a first database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements; logic for accessing a second database containing a plurality of user-specific preferences; logic for accessing a third database containing a plurality of location-specific preferences; logic for identifying one or more preferences in the second database that are associated with the user; logic for identifying one or more location-specific preferences in the third database that are associated with the location of the user; logic for selecting one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements based on the one or more preferences in the second database and the one or more location-specific preferences in the third database; logic for to receiving an activation of a location-blocking option; and logic for sending the one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements to the wireless communication device over a communication network without transmitting location information associated with the wireless communication device in the user-specific advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A server including software for performing a method of sending an advertisement over a communication network to a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
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logic for receiving first information about the identity of the user; logic for receiving second location information about a location associated with the wireless communication device; logic for searching a database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements; logic for accessing a second database containing a plurality of pre-selected criteria; logic for accessing a third database containing a plurality of location-specific preferences; logic for identifying one or more pre-selected criterion in the second database that are associated with the user; logic for identifying one or more location-specific preferences in the third database that are associated with the location of the user; logic for selecting one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements based on the one or more pre-selected criterion associated with the user and the one or more location-specific preferences in the third database; logic for receiving an activation of a location-blocking option; and logic for sending the one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements to the wireless communication device over the communication network without transmitting the second location information about the location with the user-specific advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of sending an advertisement to a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
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receiving first information about the identity of the user; receiving second information about a location of the user for a fee; searching a first database containing a plurality of user-specific advertisements; accessing a second database containing a plurality of pre-selected criteria; accessing a third database containing a plurality of location-specific preferences; identifying one or more pre-selected criterion in the second database that are associated with the user; identifying one or more location-specific preferences in the third database that are associated with the location of the user; selecting one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements based on the one or more pre-selected criterion associated with the user and the one or more location-specific preferences in the third database; receiving an activation of a location-blocking option; and sending the one of the plurality of user-specific advertisements to the wireless communication device over a communication network without transmitting an indication of the location of the user with the user-specific advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification