Location blocking service from a web advertiser

• US 9,852,450 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• 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): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US15/289,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20170032423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

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 provider 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 provider 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 provider 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 sub scriber.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a server in communication with a database via a network, wherein the database stores user-specific advertisements; and

instructions that, when executed by the server, causes the server to perform operations comprising

receiving activation of a location blocking option from a browser-enabled cellular device that is in communication with the network, wherein the browser-enabled cellular device is associated with a user,

selecting a user-specific advertisement from the database, the selecting being based on a cookie that stores information and preferences that relate to a particular website accessed using the browser-enabled cellular device, and

initiating sending of the user-specific advertisement to the browser-enabled cellular device, wherein the user-specific advertisement does not include a reference to a location of the browser-enabled cellular device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the server, causes the server to perform operations further comprising:

extracting an identity of the user from a message transmitted by the browser-enabled cellular device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises one network selected from a group of networks comprising a service provider network and the Internet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the server, causes the server to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a criterion from the browser-enabled cellular device; and

storing the criterion in the database.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the instructions, when executed by the server, causes the server to perform operations further comprising:

utilizing the criterion when selecting the user-specific advertisement.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the server, causes the server to perform operations further comprising:

determining an identity associated with the browser-enabled cellular device; and

obtaining information that indicates the location associated with the browser-enabled cellular device.

7. A server that executes instructions to perform operations comprising:

receiving activation of a location blocking option from a wireless device associated with a user;

selecting an advertisement from a database that contains a plurality of user-specific advertisements, the selecting being based on a cookie that stores information and preferences that relate to a particular website accessed using the wireless device; and

initiating sending of sending the advertisement to the wireless device, wherein the advertisement does not include a reference to a location of the wireless device.

8. The server of claim 7, wherein the wireless device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the wireless device determines the location of the wireless device using the global positioning system receiver and transmits the location to the server via a network.

10. The server of claim 7, wherein the wireless device transmits an identity of the user to the server.

11. The server of claim 7, wherein the wireless device transmits the location blocking option to the server.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the wireless device receives the advertisement.

13. The server of claim 7, wherein the wireless device transmits a criterion to the server, and wherein selecting the advertisement is further based on the criterion.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server comprising a processor, activation of a location blocking option from a wireless device associated with a user;

selecting, by the server, an advertisement from a database that contains a plurality of user-specific advertisements, the selecting being based on a cookie that stores information and preferences that relate to a particular website accessed using the wireless device; and

sending the advertisement to the wireless device, wherein the advertisement does not include a reference to a location of the wireless device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the advertisement is sent via a communications network, and wherein the communications network comprises one network selected from a group of networks comprising a service provider network and the Internet.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a criterion from the wireless device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing the criterion in the database.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the selecting is further based on the criterion.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless device comprises a global positioning system receiver.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, from the wireless device, the location, wherein the wireless device determines the location using the global positioning system receiver and transmits the location to the server via a network.