Location privacy manager for a wireless communication device and method thereof

• US 7,890,122 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walsh, Patrick Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US12/364,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20090137231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 455/417, 455/414, 455/456, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• 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 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Rules of communication are established between a wireless communication device (102) and a remote source (108). Communications between the wireless communication device (102) and the remote source (108) are managed to prohibit at least one of an identity and a location of the wireless communication device (102) from being known to the remote source (108) responsive to the established rules of communication. The steps of establishing and managing may be implemented in a wireless communication device (102), a wireless communication network (104), and/or a location privacy manager (106). The rules of communication preferably include a password generated by the remote source (108), an identity of the remote source (108), an identity of a location privacy manager (106), and/or masking of the identity of the wireless communication device (102). The wireless communication device (102) is preferably a cellular telephone device. The remote source (108) is preferably a location-enabled service, such as, for example, a map service, a people finder service, or a remote party.

Claims

1. A method for providing wireless privacy management, the method comprising:

defining a communication rule for use in managing communications between a wireless device and a service; and

managing communications between the service and the wireless device in accordance with the communication rule, wherein managing communications comprises;

communicating, in response to an approval of the service by the wireless device, location information to the service;

further in response to the approval, and while communicating the location information to the service, actively prohibiting communication to the service of identity information associated with the wireless device, including masking the identity information; and

prohibiting, in response to a disapproval of the service by the wireless device, communication of the location information to the service.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein managing communications further comprises:

receiving a request for location information associated with the wireless device from the service;

determining whether the wireless device approves of the service; and

rejecting the request from the service in response to the disapproval from the wireless device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the service is a location privacy manager;

the wireless device approves of the location privacy manager when the wireless device is registered to operate with the location privacy manager; and

the wireless device disapproves of the location privacy manager when the wireless device is not registered to operate with the location privacy manager.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the service is a location-enabled service;

the wireless device approves of the location-enabled service when the wireless device accepts an identity of the location-enabled service, and

the wireless device disapproves of the location privacy manager when the wireless device does not accept the identity of the location-enabled service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein managing communications further comprises:

receiving a request for location information associated with the wireless device from the service;

determining whether the wireless device approves of the service;

sending the request for the location information to the wireless device in response to the approval from the wireless device;

receiving the location information from the wireless device following the wireless device receiving the request for location information; and

rejecting the request from the service in response to the disapproval from the wireless device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the service is a location privacy manager;

the wireless device approves of the location privacy manager when the wireless device is registered to operate with the location privacy manager; and

the wireless device does not approve of the location-enabled service when the wireless device is not registered to operate with the location privacy manager.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the service is a location-enabled service;

the wireless device approves of the location-enabled service when the wireless device accepts an identity of the location-enabled service; and

the wireless device does not approve of the location-enabled service when the wireless device does not accept the identity of the location-enabled service.

8. A wireless device comprising:

a communication module comprising;

a receiver configured to receive information from a service; and

a transmitter configured to communicate information to the service;

a memory configured to;

store a communication rule for use in managing communications between the wireless device and the service; and

store an identity and a location of the wireless device;

a controller operatively coupled to the memory and the communication module, the controller being configured to manage communications between the wireless device and the service utilizing the communication rule to;

in response to an approval of the service, communicate to the service the location of the wireless device;

further in response to the approval, and while communicating the location of the wireless device to the service, actively prohibiting communication of the identity information to the service, including masking the identity information; and

in response to a disapproval of the service, prohibit the location of the wireless device from being communicated to the service; and

a user interface operatively coupled to the controller and configured to communicate user interface signals between a user of the wireless device and the controller.

9. The wireless device according to claim 8, wherein:

the service is a location privacy manager;

the wireless device approves of the location privacy manager when the wireless device is registered to operate with the location privacy manager; and

the wireless device does not approve of the location-enabled service when the wireless device is not registered to operate with the location privacy manager.

10. The wireless device according to claim 8, wherein:

the service is a location-enabled service;

the wireless device approves of the location-enabled service when the wireless device accepts an identity of the location-enabled service; and

the wireless device does not approve of the location-enabled service when the wireless device does not accept the identity of the location-enabled service.