Anonymous positioning of a wireless unit for data network location-based services

• US 8,774,841 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Cedervall, Mats, Ekerborn, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/950,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/434
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0414 during transmission, i.e. party's identity is protected against eavesdropping, e.g. by using temporary identifiers, but is known to the other party or parties involved in the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0421 Anonymous communication, i.e. the party's identifiers are hidden from the other party or parties, e.g. using an anonymizer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters

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.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of supporting location-based services, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a server system that includes one or more processors and one or more memories, communications between a cellular wireless communications network and a data network;

identifying, by the server system, in the monitored communications, a location-based-service request for a location-based service from a wireless unit, the location-based-service request not including the location of the wireless unit, the location-based service being provided by a location-based-service provider in the data network, the location-based-service provider being separate from the server system; and

in response to identifying the location-based-service request from the wireless unit, causing, by the server system, location information of the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is caused to be provided to the location-based-service provider independent of a wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon identifying the location-based-service request, rerouting the location-based-service request to a platform within the cellular wireless communications network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting the location information into the location-based-service request and forwarding the location-based-service request to the location-based-service provider, whereby to cause the location information to be provided to the location-based-service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing location information of the wireless unit to be obtained comprises using a location platform within the cellular wireless communications network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing location information of the wireless unit to be obtained comprises:

identifying a data network address associated with the wireless unit requesting the location-based service.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising parsing header information associated with the location-based-service request to determine source information, whereby to identify the data network address.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising translating the data network address into a wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location information is caused to be obtained by utilizing the wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is caused to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider at a quality which is dependent at least in part on the location-based-service provider.

11. A computer-implemented method of supporting location-based services, the method comprising:

monitoring, at a server system that includes one or more processors and one or more memories, communications between a wireless communications network and a data network;

identifying, at the server system, a request for location-based services in a data communication from the wireless unit to a location-based-service provider in the data network; and

in response to identifying the request, causing location information for the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider;

wherein the causing location information for the wireless unit to be obtained comprises;

identifying a data network address associated with the wireless unit requesting the location-based services.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising parsing header information associated with the data communication to determine source information, whereby to identify the data network address.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising translating the data network address into a wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the location information is caused to be obtained by utilizing the wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

15. A computer-implemented method of supporting location-based services, the method comprising:

monitoring, at a server system that includes one or more processors and one or more memories, communications between a wireless communications network and a data network;

identifying, at the server system, a request for location-based services in a data communication from the wireless unit to a location-based-service provider in the data network; and

in response to identifying the request, causing location information for the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider;

wherein the location information is caused to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider at a quality which is dependent at least in part on the location-based-service provider.

16. A computer system for supporting location-based services, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memories; and

one or more programs stored in the one or more memories, wherein the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising;

monitoring, by the computer system, communications between a cellular wireless communications network and a data network;

identifying, by the computer system, in the monitored communications, a location-based-service request for a location-based service from a wireless unit, the location-based-service request not including the location of the wireless unit, the location-based service being provided by a location-based-service provider in the data network, the location-based-service provider being separate from the computer system; and

in response to identifying the location-based-service request from the wireless unit, causing, by the computer system, location information of the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the location information is caused to be provided to the location-based-service provider independent of a wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

upon identifying the location-based-service request, rerouting the location-based-service request to a platform within the cellular wireless communications network, whereby to cause the location information of the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises inserting the location information into the location-based-service request and forwarding the location-based-service request to the location-based-service provider, whereby to cause the location information to be provided to the location-based-service provider.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the causing location information of the wireless unit to be obtained comprises using a location platform within the cellular wireless communications network.

21. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the causing location information of the wireless unit to be obtained comprises:

identifying a data network address associated with the wireless unit requesting the location-based service.

22. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises translating the data network address into a wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the location information is caused to be obtained by utilizing the wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

24. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the location information is caused to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider at a quality which is dependent at least in part on the location-based-service provider.

25. A computer system for supporting location-based services relating to a separate wireless unit, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memories; and

one or more programs stored in the one or more memories, wherein the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method of;

monitoring, at the computer system, communications between a wireless communications network and a data network;

identifying, at the computer system, a request for location-based services in a data communication from the wireless unit to a location-based-service provider in the data network; and

in response to identifying the request, causing location information for the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider;

wherein the causing location information for the wireless unit to be obtained comprises;

identifying a data network address associated with the wireless unit requesting the location-based services.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises translating the data network address into a wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the location information is caused to be obtained by utilizing the wireless network identification associated with the wireless unit.

28. A computer system for supporting location-based services relating to a separate wireless unit, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memories; and

one or more programs stored in the one or more memories, wherein the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method of;

monitoring, at the computer system, communications between a wireless communications network and a data network;

identifying, at the computer system, a request for location-based services in a data communication from the wireless unit to a location-based-service provider in the data network; and

in response to identifying the request, causing location information for the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider;

wherein the location information is caused to be obtained and provided to the location-based-service provider at a quality which is dependent at least in part on the location-based-service provider.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program code recorded thereon that, when executed by a processor of a server system, instructs the processor to perform a method of supporting location-based services by:

monitoring, by the server system, communications between a cellular wireless communications network and a data network;

identifying, by the server system, in the monitored communications, a location-based-service request for a location-based service from a wireless unit, the location-based-service request not including the location of the wireless unit, the location-based service being provided by a location-based-service provider in the data network, the location-based-service provider being separate from the server system; and

in response to identifying the location-based-service request from the wireless unit, causing, by the server system, location information of the wireless unit to be obtained and provided to said the location-based-service provider.