Method and device for determining the physical location and identity of a user

• US 20030236120A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Reece, Mette Reece
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Reece, Mette Reece
• Inventors: Reece, Mette, Reece, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/418,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method and a device is described for determining the physical location and/or identity of network users and for preventing certain undesired users for participating in—or getting access to restricted activities, services or information. When a user accesses a service provider'"'"'s website, an encrypted session ID is stored on the user'"'"'s electronic device or computer. The user'"'"'s electronic device or computer is then coupled to the service provider'"'"'s server through a phone connection and the session ID is transferred to the service provider over the phone line for verification. By using Caller ID technology the user'"'"'s telephone number is identified, and by analyzing the phone number the location of the player is determined. If the location satisfied the service provider'"'"'s and any official regulator'"'"'s requirements the available service options are then determined depending on the user'"'"'s specific location. The available service options—if any—are then displayed on the user'"'"'s electronic device or computer.

Claims

1. A method for restricting access or participation over a network comprising:

providing coupling means for coupling a users electronic device to a service provider providing verification means for verifying the identity of said user

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising

providing means to determine the geographical location of said user.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising

providing means to issue a unique session ID

providing means for transferring said unique session ID from said service provider to said user

providing means for transferring said unique session ID from said user to said service provider

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said unique session ID is transferred from said user to said service provider using an electronic communication device.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said communication device is connected to a telephone land line.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising

providing means for providing to said service provider, Caller ID information related to said telephone land line which is used to transfer said unique session ID from said user to said service provider.

7. A method according to claim 4 wherein said communication device is a wireless device.

8. A method according to claim 4 wherein said communication device transmits signals to at least one receiving device at a known location.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising

providing means to determine the geographic location of said user, by determining which said at least one receiving device at a known location receives said signals which is transmitted from said users said communication device.

10. A method according to claim 1 further comprising

providing means for storing biometric true identity information about a user

providing means for capturing biometric login-information from the user at the time of login

providing means for comparing said biometric true identity information with said captured biometric login-information at the time of login

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising

providing means for said service provider to verify the identity of said user when said biometric true identity matches said captured biometric login-information.

12. A method according to claim 10 said biometric information is selected from a group comprising:

information relating a user'"'"'s fingerprints

information relating to a user'"'"'s iris

information relating to a the user'"'"'s head shape

information relating to a the user'"'"'s voice

information relating to a the user'"'"'s DNA

other biometric information relating to the user

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein data related to the identity of said user is stored in an electronic storage media selected from a group comprising:

Bar code card

CD-ROM

Citizen card

Compact Disc

Compact Flash card

Contact smart card

Contact-less smart card

DVD

Floppy disks

Hard disks

IC cards

Loyalty program card

Magnetic stripe card

Memory chip

Memory module

Memory stick

Mini disk

Payment card

PC cards

Phone card

RAM module

SIM cards

Smart Media card

Stored value card

Tapes

Zip disks

Access cards

Election cards

Electronic books

Identification cards

USB dongle

Other data storage media

14. A method for providing access to participate in network gaming activities comprising:

providing means for coupling a player'"'"'s game device to a game provider

providing means for said game provider to verify the geographical location of the game device

providing means for said game provider to verify the identity of the player

providing means for said game provider to restrict certain players from participating in certain games based on the collected user information

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said game device can also function as a device selected from the group comprising:

Home game devices

Computer'"'"'s

PDA'"'"'s

Cell phones

Telephones

Televisions

Set top boxes

Nintendo game devices

X-box game devices

Playstation game device

Other game devices

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said game device is coupled to said game provider through a network selected from a group comprising:

The Internet

Other public communication networks

Telephone networks

Cell phone networks

Cable television networks

Other cable networks

Satellite television networks

Other satellite networks

Other television networks

Wireless networks

Fiber networks

AOL

Compuserve

Hotels'"'"' internal networks

Optical networks

Other private networks

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising

determining which games the player'"'"'s of a certain geographic area is allowed to participate in over said network;

allowing access only to games that are authorized in said geographic area

18. A claim according to claim 17 further comprising

broadcasting or transmitting gaming information to television sets of players in authorized geographical areas;

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

providing means for controlling gaming activities with a remote control

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising:

providing means for placing bets and/or receive winnings using said remote control

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein said remote control comprises a card read/write device.

22. A method according to claim 19 wherein said remote control comprises means for storing gaming and/or betting related information.

23. A method according to claim 19 wherein said remote control comprises means for storing electronic value units selected from a group comprising:

electronic cash

electronic gaming chips

electronic coupons

electronic tokens

other electronic stored value

24. A method according to claim 14 further comprising:

providing means for communicating game related results and information over a network;

providing means for placing bets and receiving winnings over a network

25. An electronic device for accessing information and services over a network comprising:

providing means for communicating with at least one communication device;

providing means for transmitting user information for identification purposes

26. A game device according to claim 25 wherein said user information relates to at least one type of information selected from a group comprising:

Geographical location information determined by Caller ID

Geographical location information determined by telephone number

Geographical location information determined by cable network subscriber information.

Geographical location information determined by satellite television subscriber information.

Geographical location information determined by the proximity to an antenna

Geographical location information determined by GPS coordinates