Anonymous Location Service For Wireless Networks

A proxy server comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
• receiving from a requester, a request for information relating to a pre-identified vicinity;
• receiving identification information corresponding to a wireless device associated with the pre-identified vicinity;
• and
• sending to the requester a dummy identification corresponding to the wireless device.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
• receiving from a requester, a request regarding a pre-identified vicinity;
• receiving identification information corresponding to a wireless device associated with the pre-identified vicinity;
• determining location information indicating a location of the wireless device;
• determining that a privacy setting associated with the wireless device is set to disallow communication of identification information associated with the wireless device;
• in response to determining that the privacy setting is set to disallow the communication of the identification information, associating the location information with a dummy identification;
• and
• sending to the requester the dummy identification corresponding to the wireless device.