Anonymous positioning of a wireless unit for data network location-based services

An apparatus for providing location-based services relating to a wireless unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising:

• a processor supporting correlation logic;
• a first computer-readable data structure interconnected with said processor for storing a plurality of identifiers for wireless units, said identifiers being different than subscriber identifiers for said wireless communications units utilized to administer said wireless communications network;
• a second computer-readable data structure operatively interconnected with said processor for storing a plurality of subscriber identifiers for said wireless communications units, wherein for each said wireless unit at least one said identifier and at least one said subscriber identifier are indexed relative to one another;
• and
• an interface associated with said processor interconnected to at least one of said wireless communications network and said data network for receiving an identifier associated with a wireless unit from a requesting party, wherein said processor is operative to correlate said identifier with a corresponding subscriber identifier associated with said wireless unit.

A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:

• receiving, via said data network, a request for location-based services, wherein said request originates from a wireless communications network;
• identifying a data network address associated with said request;
• receiving location information associated with said data network address from location equipment;
• and
• based on said location information, providing said location-based services to said data network address.

A method for providing location-based services relating to a wireless communications unit in a wireless communications network using a data network, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for location information from a location-based service provider, wherein said request includes a data network address associated with a wireless communications unit;
• translating said data network address into a wireless network identification associated with said wireless communications unit;
• utilizing said wireless network identification to procure location information for said wireless communications unit;
• and
• providing said location information to said location-based service provider.