Privacy control of location information

• US 9,414,194 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frank, Scott, Starr, Robert, Ruckart, John, Tischer, Steven, Zellner, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US14/291,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/353 where the information comprises non-audio but is provided over voice channels protocols for multimedia information services per se H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/10 Secret communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the 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: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks

Abstract

One embodiment of the present is a method of implementing privacy control of location information. Such a method comprises defining a geographic zone for which pseudo-location information is to be reported as the current location of the user, wherein the pseudo-location information is not the current location of the user; receiving the current location of the user; determining that the current location is in the geographic zone; and reporting the pseudo-location information as the current location of the user when the current location is determined to be in the geographic zone. Other methods and systems are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

determining a zone;

determining a substitute-location;

determining a first group of persons eligible to receive an indication of the substitute-location;

determining a current location at which a call is initiated;

determining if the current location is within the zone;

determining if an intended recipient of the call is a member of the first group; and

upon a determination that the current location is within the zone and the intended recipient is a member of the first group, incorporating in the call, an indication of the substitute-location as the current location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

upon a determination that the current location is not within the zone and the intended recipient is not a member of the first group, determining if the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and

upon a determination that the intended recipient is not a member of the second group, incorporating in the call, an indication of the current location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

determining that the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and

incorporating no indication of location in the call.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute-location comprises a predetermined location based on time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute-location is determined by the apparatus physically moving to an area and selecting a location address of the area as the substitute-location.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute-location is determined based on the intended recipient.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute-location is determined by adding a distance to the current location.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises a geographic zone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone comprises any location visited by the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the zone is determined by the apparatus physically moving to an area defining a perimeter of the zone and selecting that area as part of the zone.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

upon a determination that the current location is not within the zone and the intended recipient is not a member of the first group, determining if the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and

upon a determination that the intended recipient is not a member of the second group, incorporating in the call, an indication of the current location.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and

incorporating no indication of location in the call.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the substitute-location comprises a predetermined location based on time.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the substitute-location is determined by the device physically moving to an area and selecting a location address of the area as the substitute-location.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the substitute-location is determined based on the intended recipient.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the substitute-location is determined by adding a distance to the current location.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the zone comprises any location visited by the device.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the zone is determined by the apparatus physically moving to an area defining a perimeter of the zone and selecting that area as part of the zone.

11. A method comprising:

determining, by a device, a zone;

determining, by the device, a substitute-location;

determining, by the device, a first group of persons eligible to receive an indication of the substitute-location;

determining, by the device, a current location of the device when a call is initiated;

determining, by the device, if the current location is within the zone;

determining, by the device, if an intended recipient of the call is a member of the first group; and

upon a determination that the current location is within the zone and the intended recipient is a member of the first group, incorporating in the call, an indication of the substitute-location as the current location.

20. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

determining a zone;

determining a substitute-location;

determining a first group of persons eligible to receive an indication of the substitute-location;

determining a current location of the device when a call is initiated;

determining if the current location is within the zone;

determining if an intended recipient of the call is a member of the first group; and

upon a determination that the current location is within the zone and the intended recipient is a member of the first group, incorporating in the call, an indication of the substitute-location as the current location.