Location blocking service from a wireless service provider

• US 9,763,091 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• 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: Zellner, Samuel N., Enzmann, Mark J., Moton, Jr., Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US14/524,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 4554041, 4554141, 455411
• 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

Subscriber authorization information from a wireless communication device is identified. The subscriber authorization information indicates that an identity of a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that identifies a location of the wireless communication device. Subsequent to the subscriber authorization information being identified, the identity of the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is received or retrieved without information that identifies the location of the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system that comprises a processor, an identity associated with a user of a wireless communication device that communicates via a wireless communications network;

identifying, by the system and based on the identity, authorization information associated with the user of a wireless communication device, wherein the authorization information indicates whether information that identifies a geographic location associated with the wireless communication device is to be shared with a recipient;

determining, by the system and based upon the authorization information, if sharing of the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device is to be blocked by the system; and

in response to determining that the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device is to be blocked by the system, providing, by the system and directed to the recipient, the identity of the user associated with the wireless communication device without providing the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity is obtained by requesting the user to provide information regarding the identity of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity obtained by capturing information associated with the wireless communication device and determining the identity based upon the information captured.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining an advertisement to be delivered to the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising delivering the advertisement to the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is based upon a user preference.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is obtained in response to receiving user permission.

8. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system that comprises a processor, an identity associated with a user of a wireless communication device that communicates via a wireless communications network;

identifying, by the system and based on the identity, authorization information associated with the user, wherein the authorization information indicates whether information that identifies a geographic location associated with the wireless communication device is to be shared with a recipient;

determining, by the system and based upon the authorization information, if sharing of the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device is to be blocked by the system; and

in response to determining that the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device is to be blocked by the system, sending, by the system and directed to the recipient, the identity of the user associated with the wireless communication device to a third party without sending the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity of the user is obtained by requesting information via the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity of the user is obtained by capturing information associated with the wireless communication device and determining the identity of the user based upon the information captured.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising obtaining an advertisement to be delivered to the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is associated with the wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising delivering the advertisement to the wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is based upon a user preference.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the advertisement is obtained in response to receiving user permission.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining an identity associated with a user of a wireless communication device that communicates via a wireless communications network;

identifying, based on the identity, authorization information associated with the wireless communication device, wherein the authorization information indicates whether information that identifies a geographic location associated with the wireless communication device is to be shared with a recipient;

determining, based upon the authorization information, if sharing of the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device is to be blocked; and

in response to determining that the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device is to be blocked, sending, directed to the recipient, the identity of the user associated with the wireless communication device to a third party without sending the information that identifies the geographic location of the wireless communication device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising obtaining an advertisement.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the advertisement is associated with the wireless communication device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the advertisement is delivered to the wireless communication device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the advertisement is obtained based on a user preference.