Computer-implemented method, system, and program product for tracking a location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment

• US 8,254,395 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Jonghae, Kim, Moon J., Yee, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thier, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAILE, FEBEN
• Application Number:
  US11/266,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,490 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/395.2, 370/395.5, 370/395.54, 370/328, 370/338, 370/352, 370/400, 370/401, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/450
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer-implemented method, system, and program product for tracking a location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment. Specifically, under the present invention, a wireless device user will form a data connection with a private network through a public network such as the Internet. At such a time “location” information will be communicated from the wireless device to the provider of the private network, which will use the information to track the location of the wireless device user. In addition, the provider of the private network can query the wireless device when updates to the information are desired. At this or any other time, the wireless device can be queried for any such updates.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking a physical location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment, comprising:

authenticating the user of the wireless device with a private network over a public network, wherein the user uses the wireless device to establish wireless connectivity to the public network using a provider of wireless connectivity;

establishing a data connection between the wireless device and the private network in response to a connection request;

storing real-time physical location information on a device locator application;

the device locator application maintained on the wireless device;

receiving the real-time physical location information from the device locator application on a provider locator application, wherein the provider application acts as a counterpart to the device locator application, and the provider locator application is maintained on a provider of the private network, distinct from the provider of the wireless connectivity, wherein the real-time physical location information comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) address corresponding to the wireless device, a location corresponding to a server maintained by the private network, wherein the location identifies a public environment of the physical location of the user, a timestamp corresponding to the data connection between the wireless device and the private network, a name corresponding to the wireless device, a connection type corresponding to the data connection, and a date corresponding to the date of the data connection;

tracking the precise physical location of the user based on the information;

updating the real-time physical location information on the device locator application by the device locator application querying the wireless device and receiving updated physical location information;

querying the wireless device from the provider of the private network; and

receiving, on the provider locator application, the updated physical location information based on the querying.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the user with the provider of wireless connectivity; and

establishing a data connection with the public network after the authenticating.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the establishing comprises forming a Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnel to the private network.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the information on a local server from the wireless device; and

communicating the information from the local server to the provider of the private network.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information is maintained in a table.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a personal computer device.

7. A system for tracking a physical location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment, comprising:

an authentication system configured to authenticate the user of the wireless device with the private network over a public network, wherein the user uses the wireless device to establish wireless connectivity to the public network using a provider of wireless connectivity;

a device locator application for maintaining real-time physical location information;

the device locator application maintained on the wireless device;

a system for sending a query to the device locator application on the wireless device from a provider locator application, wherein the provider application acts as a counterpart to the device locator application, and the provider locator application is maintained on a provider of the private network, distinct from the provider of the wireless connectivity, for the real-time physical location information that identifies the precise physical location of the user, wherein the real-time physical location information comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) code for the wireless device, a location corresponding to a server maintained by the private network, wherein the location identifies a public environment of the physical location of the user, a timestamp corresponding to the data connection between the wireless device and the private network, a name corresponding to the wireless device, a connection type corresponding to the data connection, and a date corresponding to the date of the data connection;

a system for receiving the real-time physical location information from the device locator application on the provider locator application; and

a system for tracking the precise physical location of the user using the real-time physical location information.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a system for managing the information for the provider of the private network.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a system for receiving the query on the wireless device from the provider of the private network; and

a system for communicating the information from the wireless device to a provider of a public network.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the information is maintained in a table.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless device comprises a personal computer device.

12. A program product stored on a computer useable non-transitory medium for tracking a physical location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment, the program product comprising program code for causing a computer system to perform the following steps:

authenticating the user of the wireless device with a private network over a public network, wherein the user uses the wireless device to establish wireless connectivity to the public network using a provider of wireless connectivity;

establishing a data connection between the wireless device and the private network in response to a connection request;

storing real-time physical location information on a device locator application;

the device locator application maintained on the wireless device;

sending a query to the wireless device from a provider locator application, wherein the provider application acts as a counterpart to the device locator application, and the provider locator application is maintained on a provider of a private network, distinct from the provider of the wireless connectivity, for the real-time physical location information that identifies the location of the user, wherein the real-time physical location information comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) code for the wireless device, a location corresponding to a server maintained by the private network, wherein the location identifies a public environment of the physical location of the user, a timestamp corresponding to the data connection between the wireless device and the private network, a name corresponding to the wireless device, a connection type corresponding to the data connection, and a date corresponding to the date of the data connection;

receiving the real-time physical location information from the device locator application on the provider locator application; and

tracking the precise physical location of the user_using the real-time physical location information;

updating the real-time physical location information on the device locator application by the device locator application querying the wireless device and receiving updated physical location information;

querying the wireless device from the provider locator application; and

communicating, to the provider locator application, the updated physical location information based on the querying.

13. The program product of claim 12, further comprising a system for managing the information for the provider of the private network.

14. The program product of claim 12, further comprising program code for causing the wireless device to perform the following steps:

receiving the query on the wireless device from the provider of the private network; and

communicating the information from the wireless device to a provider of a public network.

15. The program product of claim 12, wherein the information is maintained in a table.

16. The program product of claim 12, wherein the wireless device comprises a personal computer device.

17. A method for deploying an application for tracking a physical location of a user of a wireless device in a private network environment, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure which when operated;

authenticates the user of the wireless device with a private network over a public network, wherein the user uses the wireless device to establish wireless connectivity to the public network using a provider of wireless connectivity;

establishes a data connection between the wireless device and the private network in response to a connection request;

sends a query to the wireless device from a provider locator application, wherein the provider application acts as a counterpart to the device locator application, and the provider locator application is maintained on a provider of a private network, distinct from the provider of the wireless connectivity, for real-time physical location information that identifies the location of the user, wherein the real-time physical location information comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) code for the wireless device, a location corresponding to a server maintained by the private network, wherein the location identifies a public environment of the physical location of the user, a timestamp corresponding to the data connection between the wireless device and the private network, a name corresponding to the wireless device, a connection type corresponding to the data connection, and a date corresponding to the date of the data connection;

receives the real-time physical location information from a device locator application maintained on the wireless device on the provider locator application; and

tracks the precise physical location of the user using the information.