Method and system for managing location information for wireless communications devices

US 20030023726A1
Filed: 02/14/2002
Published: 01/30/2003
Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A system for controlling access to location information generated for wireless communications devices, comprising:

a first memory configured for storing at least one privacy profile for at least one subscriber wireless communications device, wherein the privacy profile includes at least one of;

identification information for the at least one wireless communications device and at least one privacy preference for providing location information for the at least one wireless communications device to a requesting client application; and

a first interface accessible over a data network which is configured to access, retrieve and provide the location information for the at least one wireless communications device to the requesting client application wherein prior to provision of the location information the first interface is further configured to access the privacy profile of the at least one wireless communications device in the first memory and based on the analysis of the at least one privacy preference provide the location information in a manner specified in the profile, which includes but is not limited to denying access to the location information.

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Abstract

A system and method provide for establishment and use of permission sets for subscribers where client applications in a wireless communication environment are requesting location information for a particular wireless communications device from a provider of such information. The system described herein provides the capability for a wireless communications device operator to establish a profile wherein limitations may be placed on the provision of such location information based on such things as the requesting party, spatial and temporal limitations, as well as granularity. The system described herein may be further configured such that an authentication process is preformed for client application seeking location information which would require the registration of such client applications with a centralized processing system.

194 Citations

24 Claims

1. A system for controlling access to location information generated for wireless communications devices, comprising:
- a first memory configured for storing at least one privacy profile for at least one subscriber wireless communications device, wherein the privacy profile includes at least one of;
  
  identification information for the at least one wireless communications device and at least one privacy preference for providing location information for the at least one wireless communications device to a requesting client application; and
  
  a first interface accessible over a data network which is configured to access, retrieve and provide the location information for the at least one wireless communications device to the requesting client application wherein prior to provision of the location information the first interface is further configured to access the privacy profile of the at least one wireless communications device in the first memory and based on the analysis of the at least one privacy preference provide the location information in a manner specified in the profile, which includes but is not limited to denying access to the location information.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- - 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first interface is further configurable to provide access to the subscriber profile for the at least one wireless communications device wherein a subscriber accessing the profile may modify at least one of:
    - the identification information, the at least one privacy preference, and access information to the profile.
  - 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one privacy preference includes at least one of:
    - total denial of access, limited access to a time period, access limited to a type entity making the request, access only granted to request of particular granularity, and access based on user'"'"'s geographic location.
  - 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first interface is further configured to perform authorization and authentication process for the requesting client applications which request the location information for the at least one wireless communications device.
  - 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the memory is further configured to include a client profile for each of the requesting client applications wherein the client profile includes at least one of:
    - client identification information and location request processing information.
  - 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the client profile may further include at least one of:
    - allowed location request types, time periods when the location requests are limited, limits on frequency of the location requests, granularity allowed of the location information provided, notification provisions for the at least one wireless communications device.
  - 7. The system of claim 4 wherein the first interface is further configured to provide access to the client profile so that the requesting client applications may modify the client profiles to for which they are authorized to access.
  - 8. The system of claim 1 wherein further including a second interface through which communications are established with a location server which provides the location information for the at least one wireless communications device.
  - 9. The system of claim 7 wherein the second interface is configured to receive location requests made through the location server, and to access the subscriber profile and provide access to the location information for the at least one wireless communications device based on analysis of the privacy preferences in the subscriber profile.
  - 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first interface is configured to communicate over the data network with at least one of:
    - a computer workstation configured with a web browser and a network connection, wireless communications device employing wireless access protocol (WAP) and connecting through a WAP gateway, a wireless communications device configured for short message service (SMS) and a 3G phone configured with a direct HTML browser.
  - 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first interface is further configured to perform at least one of:
    - automated billing functions related to the requests for the location information received from the requesting applications;
      
      provide the location information based on a priority assigned to the requesting application; and
      
      request throttling which controls number of the location requests the requesting applications may make within an identified time period.
  - 12. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of:
    - the first memory and the first interface, are configurable on the same platform as the location server.

13. A method of controlling access to location information generated for wireless communications devices operating in a wireless communications network, comprising the steps of:
- periodically receiving location information requests for at least one wireless communications device over a data network from a requesting client application;
  
  accessing a subscriber profile associated with the at least one wireless communications device in memory, wherein the subscriber profile includes an indication of which of the requesting client applications may receive the location information as well as at least one privacy preference which controls the manner in which the location information may be provided;
  
  determining whether the requesting client application is included in the accessed subscriber profile for the at least one wireless communications device; and
  
  if the at least one client application is identified in the accessed subscriber profile, providing access to the location information for the at least one wireless communications device according to the at least one privacy preference.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- - 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of authenticating and authorizing the at least one client application upon receipt of the request for the location information for the at least one wireless communications device.
  - 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of authenticating and authorizing comprises:
    - accessing a client profile in memory associated with the at least one requesting client application;
      
      receiving identification information from the at least one requesting client application;
      
      comparing the received identification with stored identification in the client application profile; and
      
      authenticating and authorizing the request for the location information if the received identification information substantially matches the received identification information.
  - 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one privacy preference includes at least one of:
    - total denial of access, limited access to a time period, access limited to a type of entity making the request, access only granted to request of particular granularity, and access based on user'"'"'s geographic location.
  - 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the client profile may further include at least one of:
    - allowed location request types, time periods when the location requests are limited, limits on frequency of the location requests, granularity allowed of the location information provided, notification provisions for the at least one wireless communications device.
  - 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
    - detecting an access request for the client application profile for the at least one client application, wherein the request includes identification information for the at least one client application;
      
      retrieving the client application profile from memory and presenting said profile to the requesting client application; and
      
      detecting modifications to the client application profile and entering the detected modifications in the client application profile
  - 19. The method of claim 14 further comprising step of:
    - detecting an access request for the client application profile for the at least one subscriber, wherein the request includes identification information for the at least one subscriber;
      
      retrieving the subscriber profile from memory and presenting said profile to the requesting subscriber; and
      
      detecting modifications to the subscriber profile and entering the detected modifications in the subscriber profile.
  - 20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of processing the location requests received from:
    - client applications over a data network and directly from a location server.
  - 21. The method of claim 13 wherein communications are processed by web browsers or wireless communications devices through a WAP gateway.
  - 22. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of initiating an automatic billing procedure upon a detected connection by the at least one client application.
  - 23. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of providing request throttling for the location requests.
  - 24. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of processing the location requests according to a priority assigned to the at least one client application and included in the client application profile.

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Current Assignee
VideoLabs, Inc.
Original Assignee
Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
Inventors
Fieber, Cameron, Poulin, Ron, Rice, Christopher R., Jones, Peter

Granted Patent

US 7,203,752 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

709/225
CPC Class Codes

H04L 63/102   Entity profiles

H04W 12/02   Protecting privacy or anony...

H04W 4/02   Services making use of loca...

H04W 4/029   Location-based management o...

H04W 4/18   Information format or conte...

H04W 8/16   selectively restricting mob...

Method and system for managing location information for wireless communications devices

First Claim

5 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

194 Citations

24 Claims

Specification

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Method and system for managing location information for wireless communications devices

First Claim

5 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

194 Citations

24 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links