Location blocking service from a wireless service provider

• US 7,224,978 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moton, Jr., Robert T., Enzmann, Mark J., Zellner, Samuel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US09/740,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,352 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 340/7.46, 340/7.47, 340/7.48, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/009 using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Location-blocking and identity-blocking services that can be commercially offered by a service promoter, e.g., a cellular service provider or a web advertiser. In the identity-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the current physical location of a mobile subscriber (i.e., a cellular phone operator) to a third party (e.g., a web advertiser) subscribing to the identity-blocking service. However, the service promoter may not send any identity information for the mobile subscriber to the third party. On the other hand, in the location-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the mobile subscriber'"'"'s identity information to the third party, but not the current physical location of the mobile subscriber. Blocking of the mobile subscriber'"'"'s identity or location information may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber. However, in the case of the mobile subscriber requesting emergency help, the service promoter may not block identity and/or location information. Instead, the service promoter may send all such information to the emergency service provider (e.g., the police or a hospital).

Claims

1. A method of providing a location-blocking service comprising:

obtaining identity information for a user operating a wireless communication device;

obtaining location information for the user; and

transferring the identity information for the user to a third party without disclosing the location information for the user to the third party, wherein not disclosing the location information for the user to the third party is optionally selectable by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a fee to the user for blocking the location information for the user from being disclosed to the third party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third party is an advertiser desirous of sending an advertisement to the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the identity information for the user includes:

requesting the user to provide information about the identity of the user; and

storing the information about the identity of the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein requesting the user to provide the information about the identity of the user is performed when the user signs up for a communication service that allows the user to operate the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein requesting the user to provide the information about the identity of the user is performed when the user signs up for the location-blocking service.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein storing the information about the identity of the user includes maintaining a database to store the identity information therein.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the location information for the user includes:

monitoring one or more signals transmitted by the wireless communication device operated by the user; and

determining the location of the user based on an analysis of the one or more signals.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the location information includes receiving the information about the location of the user supplied by the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a fee to the third party for the identity information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising disclosing the location information for the user to an emergency service provider when the user requests emergency help.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to unblock disclosure of the location information to the third party.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user unblocks disclosure of the location information over the Internet.

14. A method to provide information about identity of a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:

obtaining identity information for the user;

identifying the location of the user of the wireless communication device; and

transmitting the identity information for the user to a subscriber desirous of sending an advertisement to the wireless communication device, wherein the transmission of the identity information excludes disclosure of the location of the user such that the excluded disclosure of the location is optionally selectable by the user.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising charging a fee to the user for preventing the disclosure of the location of the user to the subscriber.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein obtaining the identity information for the user includes:

obtaining from the user data about the identity of the user; and

maintaining a record of the identity data obtained from the user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein obtaining the data from the user is accomplished when the user signs up for a communication service that allows the user to operate the wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein identifying the location of the user includes:

monitoring one or more signals transmitted by the wireless communication device; and

determining the location of the user based on an analysis of the one or more signals.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising charging a fee to the subscriber for supplying the identity information thereto.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising disclosing the location of the user to an emergency service provider when the user requests emergency help.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising allowing the user to unblock over the Internet the disclosure of the location of the user to the subscriber.

22. A method of providing a location-blocking service comprising:

obtaining identity information for a user operating a wireless communication device;

obtaining location information for the user; and

transferring the identity information for the user to a third party without disclosing the location information for the user to the third party, wherein the step of obtaining location information for the user is performed continuously, at predetermined intervals, upon activation of the wireless communication device and without further action on behalf of the user.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising charging a fee to the user for blocking the location information for the user from being disclosed to the third party.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the third party is an advertiser desirous of sending an advertisement to the wireless communication device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein obtaining the identity information for the user includes:

requesting the user to provide information about the identity of the user; and

storing the information about the identity of the user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein requesting the user to provide the information about the identity of the user is performed when the user signs up for a communication service that allows the user to operate the wireless communication device.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein requesting the user to provide the information about the identity of the user is performed when the user signs up for the location-blocking service.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein storing the information about the identity of the user includes maintaining a database to store the identity information therein.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein obtaining the location information for the user includes:

monitoring one or more signals transmitted by the wireless communication device operated by the user; and

determining the location of the user based on an analysis of the one or more signals.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein obtaining the location information includes receiving the information about the location of the user supplied by the wireless communication device.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising charging a fee to the third party for the identity information.

32. The method of claim 22, further comprising disclosing the location information for the user to an emergency service provider when the user requests emergency help.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising allowing the user to unblock disclosure of the location information to the third party.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the user unblocks disclosure of the location information over the Internet.

35. A method to provide information about identity of a user operating a wireless communication device, comprising:

obtaining identity information for the user;

identifying the location of the user of the wireless communication device; and

transmitting the identity information for the user to a subscriber desirous of sending an advertisement to the wireless communication device, wherein the transmission of the identity information excludes disclosure of the location of the user, wherein the step of identifying the location of the user of the wireless communication device is performed continuously, at predetermined intervals, upon activation of the wireless communication device and without further action on behalf of the user.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising charging a fee to the user for preventing the disclosure of the location of the user to the subscriber.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein obtaining the identity information for the user includes:

obtaining from the user data about the identity of the user; and

maintaining a record of the identity data obtained from the user.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein obtaining the data from the user is accomplished when the user signs up for a communication service that allows the user to operate the wireless communication device.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein identifying the location of the user includes:

monitoring one or more signals transmitted by the wireless communication device; and

determining the location of the user based on an analysis of the one or more signals.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising charging a fee to the subscriber for supplying the identity information thereto.

41. The method of claim 35, further comprising disclosing the location of the user to an emergency service provider when the user requests emergency help.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising allowing the user to unblock over the Internet the disclosure of the location of the user to the subscriber.