Anonymous positioning of a wireless unit for data network location-based services
First Claim
1. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request for location-based services regarding a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network;
obtaining an identifier for said wireless communications unit, said identifier being different than a subscriber identification for said wireless communications unit used to administer said wireless communications network; and
using said identifier to provide location-based service information regarding said wireless communications unit via a data network wherein receiving comprises receiving a request that originates from said wireless communications unit; and
wherein said identifier comprises a data network address assigned to said wireless communications unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention concerns a process and a system for providing location information for a wireless unit in a wireless network to a location-based service provider, using a data network. In particular, the location information is provided to the location-based service provider without necessarily providing the identity of wireless unit, e.g., a subscriber'"'"'s wireless identification number, to the service provider. In this regard, a subscriber'"'"'s identification number may be hidden from the positioning service provider via a process in which an alias is used instead of the subscriber'"'"'s normal identity. The subscriber'"'"'s number may further be concealed from the service provider via a process wherein encrypted information is used instead of the subscriber'"'"'s normal identity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for location-based services regarding a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network; obtaining an identifier for said wireless communications unit, said identifier being different than a subscriber identification for said wireless communications unit used to administer said wireless communications network; and using said identifier to provide location-based service information regarding said wireless communications unit via a data network wherein receiving comprises receiving a request that originates from said wireless communications unit; and wherein said identifier comprises a data network address assigned to said wireless communications unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising:
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a processor supporting correlation logic; a first computer-readable data structure interconnected with said processor for storing a plurality of identifiers for wireless units, said identifiers being different than subscriber identifiers for said wireless communications units utilized to administer said wireless communications network; a second computer-readable data structure operatively interconnected with said processor for storing a plurality of subscriber identifiers for said wireless communications units, wherein for each said wireless unit at least one said identifier and at least one said subscriber identifier are indexed relative to one another; and an interface associated with said processor interconnected to at least one of said wireless communications network and said data network for receiving an identifier associated with a wireless unit from a requesting party, wherein said processor is operative to correlate said identifier with a corresponding subscriber identifier associated with said wireless unit wherein said plurality of first identifiers comprises data network addresses. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for location-based services regarding a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network; obtaining an identifier for said wireless communications unit, said identifier being different than a subscriber identification for said wireless communications unit used to administer said wireless communications network; and using said identifier to provide location-based service information regarding said wireless communications unit via a data network; wherein using said identifier to provide said location-based services further comprises; utilizing said identifier to determine said subscriber identification used to administer said wireless communications network; and based on said subscriber identification, procuring location information for said wireless communications unit; and wherein said steps of utilizing and procuring are performed at a second network node separate from a first network node that provides said location-based service information regarding said wireless communications unit via a data network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for location-based services regarding a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network; obtaining an identifier for said wireless communications unit, said identifier being different than a subscriber identification for said wireless communications unit used to administer said wireless communications network; and using said identifier to provide location-based service information regarding said wireless communications unit via a data network; further comprising providing a message to said wireless communications unit indicating that said location-based services have been requested. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification