US 8,806,653 B2 · Location based service

Abstract

In connection with authenticating a client of a network, information is acquired that characterizes the client in a manner that enables a determination about authenticating the client of the network, the information being acquired other than in the form of a digital message that is passed on behalf of the client to the network; an authentication decision is made based on the information. Information is encrypted in a manner that is based on a physical property of an intended recipient of the information, and delivering the encrypted information to the recipient. A source of a beacon is physically associated with a person, times of receipt of the beacon at multiple stations are measured, and the location of the person is determined based on the times of receipt. A set of stations is established that are configured to acquire information that characterizes each of multiple clients in a manner that enables a determination about authenticating each of the clients with respect to a corresponding network, the information being acquired other than in the form of digital messages that are passed on behalf of the clients to the corresponding networks. The information is provided to operators of the networks to enable them to make authentication decisions based on the information.

Claims47

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

iteratively receiving, via an intermediary network, information comprising a physical location of a particular object, of a plurality of objects, and a time that the particular object was at its corresponding physical location;
wherein each object, of the plurality of objects, is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals having one of a plurality of signatures and wherein each of the signatures is associated with only one of the plurality of objects;
and
wherein the physical location of the particular object for a particular time is calculated in response to receipt by a plurality of receiving stations of the intermediary network of the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the particular object for the particular time;
generating a history of the physical locations of the particular object;
and
transmitting, via the intermediary network, a message receivable by the particular object,
wherein the message is determined by a physical location of the particular object and at least one of:
an identity of a user of the particular object;
and
a characteristic of a user of the particular object.

8 more elements

A computer system configured, through software, to execute a method for providing a location based service, the method comprising the steps of:

iteratively receiving information comprising a physical location of a particular client device, of a plurality of client devices, and a time that the particular client device was at its corresponding physical location;
wherein each client device, of the plurality of client devices, is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals having one of a plurality of signatures wherein each of the signatures is associated with only one of the plurality of client devices;
wherein the information is received from a network;
wherein the network comprises a plurality of receiving stations configured to receive electromagnetic radiation signals having one of the plurality of signatures;
wherein the network receives, at multiple receiving stations, a reception of an electromagnetic radiation signal having one of the plurality of signatures, and wherein the network uses the receptions to calculate the physical location of the particular client device associated with that one of the plurality of signatures, and to assign a time that the particular client device was at that physical location;
creating a history of the physical locations of the particular client device by storing the physical locations along with the time that the device was at each physical location;
plotting the physical locations of the particular client device on a map;
displaying the map, with the plotted physical locations of the particular client device, at a secured website;
and
transmitting, via the network, a message receivable by the particular client device,
wherein the message is determined by a physical location of the particular client device and at least one of:
an identity of a user of the particular client device;
and
a characteristic of a user of the particular client device.

11 more elements

A computer system configured, through software, to execute a method for providing a location based service, the method comprising the steps of:

iteratively receiving information comprising a physical location of a particular client device, of a plurality of client devices, and a time that the particular client device was at its corresponding physical location;
wherein each client device, of the plurality of client devices, is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals having one of a plurality of signatures wherein each of the signatures is associated with only one of the plurality of client devices;
wherein the information is received from a network;
wherein the network comprises a plurality of receiving stations configured to receive electromagnetic radiation signals having one of the plurality of signatures;
wherein the network receives, at multiple receiving stations, a reception of an electromagnetic radiation signal having one of the plurality of signatures, and wherein the network uses the receptions to calculate the physical location of the particular client device associated with that one of the plurality of signatures, and to assign a time that the particular client device was at that physical location;
creating a history of the physical locations of the particular client device by storing the physical locations along with the time that the particular client device was at each physical location, and
programming the computer system with at least one disallowed activity for the particular client device;
and
transmitting, via the network, a message receivable by the device,
wherein the message is determined by a physical location of the device and at least one of:
an identity of a user of the device;
and
a characteristic of a user of the device.

10 more elements

A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured by software to:
receive information comprising a physical location of a particular client device, of a plurality of client devices, and a time that the particular client device was at its corresponding physical location;
wherein each client device, of the plurality of client devices, is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals having one of a plurality of signatures wherein each of the signatures is associated with only one of the plurality of client devices;
wherein the information is received from a network;
wherein the network comprises a plurality of receiving stations configured to receive electromagnetic radiation signals having one of the plurality of signatures;
wherein the network receives, at multiple receiving stations, a reception of an electromagnetic radiation signal having one of the plurality of signatures, and wherein the network uses the receptions to calculate the physical location of the particular client device associated with that one of the plurality of signatures, and to assign a time that the particular client device was at that physical location;
and
transmit, via the network, a message receivable by the particular client device,
wherein the message is determined by a physical location of the particular client device and at least one of:
an identity of a user of the particular client device;
and
a characteristic of a user of the particular client device.

9 more elements

A system, comprising:

at least one processor configured by software to:
receive information comprising a physical location of a particular client device, of a plurality of client devices, and a time that the particular client device was at its corresponding physical location;
wherein each client device, of the plurality of client devices, is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals having one of a plurality of signatures wherein each of the signatures is associated with only one of the plurality of client devices;
wherein the information is received from a network;
wherein the network comprises a plurality of receiving stations configured to receive electromagnetic radiation signals having one of the plurality of signatures;
wherein the network receives, at multiple receiving stations, a reception of an electromagnetic radiation signal having one of the plurality of signatures, and wherein the network uses the receptions to calculate the physical location of the particular client device associated with that one of the plurality of signatures, and to assign a time that the particular client device was at that physical location;
identify disallowed activities for the particular client device;
and
transmit, via the network, a message receivable by the particular client device,
wherein the message is determined by a physical location of the particular client device and at least one of:
an identified activity of the particular client device;
an identity of a user of the particular client device;
and
a characteristic of a user of the particular client device.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Location based service

Life of this patent

Location based service

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims47