Systems and methods for registering, administering, and using non-locational identifiers as locational addresses through location name and identifier registries

• US 20140223283A1
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WGRS Licensing Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Intellestry Information Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hancock, S. Lee, Hancock, Stephen L., Kerstner, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 9,678,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/14 Tree-structured documents parsing G06F40/205; validation G06F40/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for registering, curating, enabling, and controlling the use of non-locational identifiers, such as phone numbers and domain names, as physical addresses and location identifiers (LIDs) for purposes of providing instant access to enhanced cross-platform location information and services imbedded in other devices and services through an LID registry. An exemplary method for registration may include receiving a request from a requester to register a non-locational identifier owned by the requester and create an LID for a physical location, creating the LID within the LID registry by verifying that the LID is unique within the registry, that the requestor owns the LID, and registering the LID to the requestor within the LID registry. Users may then use the LIDs as physical addresses for purposes of navigation and obtaining information related to such physical locations only as authorized and controlled by the owners of such LIDs.

Claims

1. A method for registering, curating and providing access to location information with a locational identifier (LID) registry, the method comprising:

receiving a request, from an electronic device of an owner via a network, to register a non-locational identifier owned by the owner and create a locational identifier for a physical location, the request including the non-locational identifier;

verifying that the owner owns the non-locational identifier;

converting the non-locational identifier to a locational address within the LID registry;

communicating with the LID registry to verify that the locational address is unique and available within the LID registry; and

registering the locational address to the owner and associating the non-locational identifier with the locational address within the LID registry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-locational identifier is converted into a locational address that includes components of the non-location identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the locational address is identical to the non-locational identifier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein converting the non-locational identifier into a locational address comprises appending an additional unique alpha-numeric sequence to the non-locational identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the owner to control access by end users to location information associated the locational address included in the LID registry.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein enabling the owner to control access comprises:

communicating to the owner a plurality of options for limiting access by end users to the location information; and

receiving a communication from the owner including selected options from the plurality of options,

the plurality of options comprising;

a) limiting end users access to the location information based at least in part on locational proximity of the end users to the physical location;

b) limiting end users access to the location information based at least in part on date and time; and

c) limiting end users access to the location information based at least in part on connectivity of the end users to a third party identified by the owner.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a user request, from a user electronic device via the network, the request including the non-locational identifier;

accessing the LID registry to confirm that the non-locational identifier is associated with a locational address within the LID Registry;

verifying that the owner of the locational address within the registry has authorized the user electronic device to access information associated with the locational address; and

sending a response to the user electronic device via the network, the response including authorized information regarding the physical location from the LID registry for presentation on a display of the user electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information includes at least one of a map including the physical location, navigation services related to the physical location, and directions to the physical location.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein verifying that the owner has authorized access comprises:

sending an authorization request to the owner after receiving the user request; and

receiving a confirmation response from the owner authorizing providing location information to the user electronic device, before sending the response to the user electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the authorization request includes identity information identifying the user to the owner.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical location is a movable location, and wherein sending a response to the user electronic device comprises:

obtaining a current geographic location of the physical location; and

including the current geographic location in the response to the user electronic device.

12-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method for accessing information regarding a physical location, comprising:

inputting, using a user interface of an electronic device, a phone number;

presenting on a display of the electronic device a plurality of icons representing optional actions including placing a phone call and accessing additional information regarding a physical location associated with the telephone number;

selecting, using the user interface, an icon to access additional information;

sending an information request, via a communication interface of the electronic device, to a remote server communicating with a LID registry, the information request including the phone number;

receiving an information response, via the communication interface from the remote server, including location information regarding the physical location; and

presenting, on the display of the electronic device, the location information regarding the physical location.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the location information includes at least one of a map including the physical location, navigation services related to the physical location, and directions to the physical location.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

selecting, using the user interface, an icon to place a call to the physical location; and

initiating a phone call using the phone number to the physical location.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising confirming that the owner of the phone number has authorized access to the location information.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein confirming that the owner of the phone number has authorized access comprises:

sending an authorization request to an owner electronic device; and

receiving an authorization from the owner electronic device, wherein the authorization is included in the information request.

30-31. -31. (canceled)

34. A method for accessing information regarding a physical location, comprising:

presenting, on a display of an electronic device, webpage content assigned to a URL, and an information icon to access location information and services previously associated with the URL;

selecting, using a user interface of the electronic device, the information icon;

accessing location information regarding a physical location associated with the URL based at least in part on a location of the electronic device; and

presenting, on the display of the electronic device, the location information regarding the physical location over the webpage content.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the location information is presented on the display as a separate layer from the webpage content.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the information icon is selected by one of:

selecting the information icon on a keyboard or touchscreen, b) voice command, and c) movement.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein presenting the webpage comprises:

transmitting a webpage request to a first server including the URL; and

receiving a response from the first server including a webpage visual layer that is presented on the display as the webpage content;

and wherein presenting the information regarding the physical location over the webpage content comprises;

transmitting an information request to a second server including the at least one of the URL and a location identifier; and

receiving a response from the second server including an information visual layer that is presented on the display independent of the webpage visual layer.

36-37. -37. (canceled)

40-44. -44. (canceled)