Location based authorization of financial card transactions systems and methods

• US 8,166,068 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Gilman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Hanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/219,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 707/104.1, 707/783, 705/64
• US Class Current: 707/783
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• 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: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software for identifying location based rules related to a network connected device are described. A network connected device may transmit a set of data identifying the location of the device and an identifier unique to the device to a server. The server may also receive an action request, wherein the action request is associated with the identifier. The server may select a rule in a database to address the action request, the rule applicable to the identifier and location of the device. Various embodiments related to financial card transactions, access to financial information, emergency services contact, and electronic message filtering are also addressed.

Claims

1. A system for authorization of a transaction with a financial card, the system comprising:

a mobile communications device, wherein the device is configured to;

receive a set of data identifying the location of the device; and

transmit a communications signal which comprises the set of data and an identifier unique to the device; and

a database which comprises a table of identifiers, wherein,

each identifier in the table is unique to one of a plurality of mobile communications devices;

each identifier in the table is associated with at least one financial card number;

the table of identifiers includes the identifier unique to the device, and the identifier unique to the device is;

associated with a first specified distance for a first geographic region, the first specified distance comprising a maximum distance allowed between the location of the device and location of a transaction when the device is located in the first geographic region; and

associated with a second specified distance for a second geographic region, the second specified distance different from the first specified distance and the second geographic region distinct from the first geographic region, wherein the second specified distance comprises a maximum distance allowed between the location of the device and the location of a transaction when the device is located in the second geographic region; and

the first specified distance, the second specified distance, or the first and second specified distances are variable with time and according to the location of the device; and

a location comparison server, in communication with the device and the database, wherein the server is configured to;

receive the communications signal;

store the set of data from the communications signal in the database;

receive a request for authorization of a transaction with a financial card number and data identifying the location of the transaction, wherein the financial card number is associated with the identifier unique to the device;

determine that the location of the device is within the first geographic region and thereby identify the first specified distance instead of the second specified distance; and

authorize the transaction based at least in part on a determination that the device is within the first specified distance of the location of the transaction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a cellular phone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of data is received by hardware configured to receive the set of data, wherein the hardware is coupled with the device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the hardware configured to receive the set of data comprises a GPS receiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier unique to the device is selected from the group consisting of:

a MAC address, an IP address, a telephone number, and any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial card comprises a credit card.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications signal comprises more than one signal, each signal transmitted at different times.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the request to authorize is transmitted from the device, and in the communications signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the request to authorize is made by a person or entity other than a user of the device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the request to authorize is made by a retail merchant.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the request to authorize is made by a financial services company.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorize step comprises validating the location of the device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier unique to the device is associated with a third specified distance for a third geographic region.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is further than the second specified distance from the location of the transaction.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises other rules associated with each identifier in the table, the rules dictating how the location of the transaction will determine a maximum distance allowed for authorization for each identifier.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the other rules are established by a financial services company associated with the financial card number.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises user preferences associated with each identifier in the table, the user preferences dictating how the location of the transaction will define the first specified distance and the second specified distance.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein,

the first geographic region comprises a home region of a user of the device;

and the second geographic region comprises a work region of the user of the device.

18. A method for authorization of a transaction with a financial card, the method comprising:

accessing a database which comprises a table of identifiers, wherein,

each identifier in the table is unique to one of a plurality of mobile communications devices;

each identifier in the table is associated with at least one financial card number;

the table of identifiers includes an identifier unique to one device of the plurality of mobile communications devices, and the identifier unique to the device is;

associated with a first specified distance for a first geographic region, the first specified distance comprising a maximum distance allowed between a location of the one device and location of a transaction when the one device is located in the first geographic region; and

associated with a second specified distance for a second geographic region, the second specified distance different from the first specified distance and the second geographic region distinct from the first geographic region, wherein the second specified distance comprises a maximum distance allowed between the location of the one device and the location of a transaction when the device is located in the second geographic region; and

the first specified distance, the second specified distance, or the first and second specified distances are variable with time and according to the location of the device; and

receiving a communications signal from the one device, the signal including information comprising a set of data identifying the location of the one device;

storing the set of data in the database;

receiving a request for authorization of a transaction with a financial card number and data identifying the location of the transaction, wherein the financial card number is associated with the identifier unique to the one device;

determining that the location of the device is within the first geographic region and thereby identify the first specified distance instead of the second specified distance; and

authorizing the transaction based at least in part on a determination that the device is within the first specified distance of the location of the transaction.

19. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions executable by a computer to:

access a database which comprises a table of identifiers, wherein,

each identifier in the table is unique to one of a plurality of mobile communications devices;

each identifier in the table is associated with at least one financial card number;

the table of identifiers includes an identifier unique to one device of the plurality of mobile communications devices, and the identifier unique to the device is;

associated with a first specified distance for a first geographic region, the first specified distance comprising a maximum distance allowed between a location of the device and location of a transaction when the device is located in the first geographic region; and

associated with a second specified distance for a second geographic region, the second specified distance different from the first specified distance and the second geographic region distinct from the first geographic region, wherein the second specified distance comprises a maximum distance allowed between the location of the device and the location of a transaction when the device is located in the second geographic region; and

the first specified distance, the second specified distance, or the first and second specified distances are variable with time and according to the location of the device; and

receive a communications signal from the one device, the signal including information comprising a set of data identifying the location of the one device;

store the set of data in the database;

receive a request for authorization of a transaction with a financial card number and data identifying the location of the transaction, wherein the financial card number is associated with the identifier unique to the one device;

determine that the location of the device is within the first geographic region and thereby identify the first specified distance instead of the second specified distance; and

authorize the transaction based at least in part on a determination that the device is within the first specified distance of the location of the transaction.