Anonymous location service for wireless networks

• US 8,645,505 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• 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): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US13/778,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20130171973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/227, 709/228, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

An anonymous location wireless network service for use in a wireless network. The service provides content providers with the location of network users without revealing their identities. The service includes a wireless network having a proxy server, a network communication link to a plurality of web sites, and a wireless communication link to a plurality of handheld devices. The proxy server blocks identity by reading the location and identity information of network devices, generating dummy identifications, relating the dummy identifications to the identity information, storing the relationships in a memory storage, and forwarding the location information and dummy identifications to the global computer network. Upon receiving messages from the global computer network, the proxy server reads the dummy identifications, looks up the related identification information in the memory storage, and forwards the data to the appropriate network devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

receiving, from a requester, a request regarding a targeted area;

receiving identification information corresponding to a wireless device located within the targeted area;

determining that a preference associated with the wireless device indicates that the identification information associated with the wireless device is not to be shared; and

sending to the requester a dummy identification corresponding to the wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the request seeks communication with a wireless device associated with the targeted area.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining location information indicating a location of the wireless device; and

determining that the wireless device is located within the targeted area based upon the location information.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

associating the identification information with the dummy identification to form a stored association between the identification information and the dummy identification.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a plurality of requests associated with a plurality of wireless devices located within the targeted area.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein receiving identification information comprises receiving identification information for each of the plurality of wireless devices.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein associating the identification information with the dummy identification comprises associating the identification information for each of the plurality of wireless devices in a single dummy identification.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a first wireless device, wherein the dummy identification comprises a first dummy identification, and wherein the targeted area comprises a first targeted area.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving second identification information corresponding to a second wireless device associated with a second targeted area; and

associating the second identification information with a second dummy identification in response to determining that the second wireless device is associated with the second targeted area.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a further request from a further requester, the further request relating to the targeted area; and

sending the dummy identification to the further requester in response to receiving the further request.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the dummy identification is associated with the targeted area.

12. A proxy server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

receiving, from a requester, a request for information relating to a targeted area;

receiving identification information corresponding to a wireless device located within the targeted area;

determining that a preference associated with the wireless device indicates that the identification information associated with the wireless device is not to be shared; and

sending, to the requester, a dummy identification corresponding to the wireless device.

13. The proxy server of claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining location information indicating a location of the wireless device; and

determining that the wireless device is associated with the targeted area based upon the location information.

14. The proxy server of claim 12, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

associating the identification information with the dummy identification to form a stored association between the identification information and the dummy identification.

15. The proxy server of claim 14, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a plurality of requests associated with plurality of wireless devices located within the targeted area, wherein receiving identification information comprises receiving identification information for each of the plurality of wireless devices, and wherein associating the identification information with the dummy identification comprises associating the identification information for each of the plurality of wireless devices in a single dummy identification.

16. The proxy server of claim 12, wherein the wireless device comprises a first wireless device, wherein the dummy identification comprises a first dummy identification, and wherein the targeted area comprises a first targeted area.

17. The proxy server of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving second identification information corresponding to a second wireless device associated with a second targeted area; and

associating the second identification information with a second dummy identification in response to determining that the second wireless device is associated with the second targeted area.

18. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

receiving, from a requester, a request regarding a pre-identified vicinity;

receiving identification information corresponding to a wireless device associated with the pre-identified vicinity;

determining location information indicating a location of the wireless device;

determining that a privacy setting associated with the wireless device is set to disallow communication of identification information associated with the wireless device;

in response to determining that the privacy setting is set to disallow the communication of the identification information, associating the location information with a dummy identification; and

sending, to the requester, the dummy identification corresponding to the wireless device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein determining that the privacy setting is set to disallow communication further comprises determining that the privacy setting is set to allow communication of the location information.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless device comprises a cellular telephone.