Identity blocking service from a wireless service provider

• US 8,494,501 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moton, Jr., Robert T., Enzmann, Mark J., Zellner, Samuel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US13/437,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20120196572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455418-420, 4554561-4566, 4554041-4042, 455/411, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• 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: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• 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 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/23 for mobile advertising
• 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 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Identity-blocking services are provided. The current physical location of a mobile device may be disclosed to a third party without sending any identity information of the mobile subscriber to the third party. Blocking of the mobile subscriber'"'"'s identity may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, by a system comprising at least one processor, subscriber authorization information from a wireless communication device, the subscriber authorization information indicating that a location of the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that personally identifies a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device; and

retrieving or receiving, by the system, subsequent to the subscriber authorization information being identified, the location of the wireless communication device without information that personally identifies the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the wireless communication device is retrieved or received by the system at predetermined intervals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving or receiving an indication that the wireless communication device has moved.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining location-specific information associated with the location of the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the location-specific information is for delivery to a user of the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the location-specific information is obtained based on subscriber preferences.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the location-specific information is obtained responsive to receipt of user permission.

8. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory in communication with the at least one processor that stores computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to;

identify subscriber authorization information from a wireless communication device, the subscriber authorization information indicating that a location of the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that personally identifies a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device; and

retrieve or receive, subsequent to the subscriber authorization information being identified, the location of the wireless communication device without information that personally identifies the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the location of the wireless communication device is retrieved or received at predetermined intervals.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory further stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

retrieve or receive an indication that the wireless communication device has moved.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory stores instructions which, when executed by the processor cause the processor to obtain location-specific information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the location-specific information is associated with a location of the wireless communication device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the location-specific information is for delivery to a user of the wireless communication device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the location-specific information is obtained based on subscriber preferences.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the location-specific information is obtained responsive to receipt of user permission.

16. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 15, wherein the location of the wireless communication device is delivered to the third party at predetermined intervals.

17. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer to obtain location-specific information.

18. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 17, wherein the location-specific information is intended for a user of the wireless communication device.

19. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 17, wherein the location-specific information is obtained based on subscriber preference and user permission.

20. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 15, wherein the location-specific information is associated with a location of the wireless communication device.

21. A non-transitory computer program product including computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive subscriber authorization information indicating that a location of a wireless communication device is authorized to be shared with a third party without sharing information that personally identifies a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device;

transmit, to a service provider, at least an indication associated with the subscriber authorization information, wherein the indication facilitates the delivery of the location of the wireless communication device to the third party without sharing information that personally identifies the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device.