Verifying geographical location of wide area network users
First Claim
1. A method for verifying a geographical location of a first computing device, the method comprising:
- sending a request for information usable to verify a geographic location of a first computing device, wherein the request includes a purported geographic location of the first computing device and is sent from the first computing device to a second computing device via a first network;
receiving at the first computing device an access code via a data signal that is broadcast to a geographic area including the purported geographic location; and
sending the access code from the first computing device to the second computing device, the access code confirming that the first computing device is located in the geographic area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for verifying a purported location of a wide area network user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving information from a user via a wide area network, including a purported geographical location of the network user. A first network address from which the information is received is recoded, and an access code is generated and recorded. The access code is broadcast in a defined region that includes the purported geographical location of the user. A user access code is then received via the wide area network from the user. The user access code is compared with the access code broadcast in a defined region, and the first network address is compared to a second network address from which the user access code is received. If the codes and addresses match, the geographical location of the user is considered verified and the user may be validated. Various methods for broadcasting the access code and various systems for implementing the method are disclosed.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for verifying a geographical location of a first computing device, the method comprising:
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sending a request for information usable to verify a geographic location of a first computing device, wherein the request includes a purported geographic location of the first computing device and is sent from the first computing device to a second computing device via a first network; receiving at the first computing device an access code via a data signal that is broadcast to a geographic area including the purported geographic location; and sending the access code from the first computing device to the second computing device, the access code confirming that the first computing device is located in the geographic area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computing device comprising:
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a connector for coupling to a first network; and a wireless receiver configured to receive a broadcast code via a transmission path separate from the first network, wherein the computing device is configured to obtain the broadcast code via the wireless receiver for confirming that the computing device is located in a geographic range of a broadcast by which the broadcast code is transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A tangible computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded thereon, the instructions configured for execution by a computing device in order to cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
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sending a request for information usable to confirm a geographic location of the computing device to a remote computing device via a computer network; receiving a first code from the remote computing device via a wireless receiver locally connected to the computing device and not via a connection to the computer network; and sending the first code from the computing device to the remote computing device, the first code confirming that the wireless receiver is located in a geographic range of a broadcast by which the first code was transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification