# US 9,436,806 B2 · Content protection in a wireless network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,806 B2 - Document ID: US9436806B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/921,172 - Filed: 2013-06-18 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2003-09-10 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Mazen Chmaytelli; Laurence G. Lundblade - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436806B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/10: Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material (protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16) {; Digital rights management [DRM]} - G06F 21/12: Protecting executable software - G06F 21/62: Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules - G06F 21/78: to assure secure storage of data (address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00) - H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources} - H04L 63/14: {for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic} - G06F 2221/2111: Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method for operating a device to protect an application from unauthorized operation is provided. The application will fail to operate on the device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region. The method includes transmitting the selected operating region for the application, and receiving the application and a geographic identifier associated with the application. The geographic identifier is configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device. The method further includes transmitting a request to execute the application on the device. The request includes the geographic identifier. Further included in the method is receiving a code. The code prevents an execution of the application on the device if the code is a disable code. The disable code indicates that the device is operating outside the selected operating region. An apparatus for content protection in a wireless network is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a server to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on a device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, the method comprising: determining the selected operating region for the application; transmitting the application; receiving, from the device, a request to execute the application on the device; determining a current location of the device; and transmitting a code to the device that is configured to authorize or prevent the execution of the application on the device based on whether the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the selected operating region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the code is an authorization code configured to allow execution of the application on the device if the current location of the device is not determined to be outside of the selected operating region, and wherein the code is a disable code configured to block execution of the application on the device if the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the selected operating region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the received request includes a geographic identifier that identifies the selected operating region for the application. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining whether the current location of the device is outside of the selected operating region by looking up the selected operating region based on the geographic identifier and then comparing the current location of the device to the selected operating region. ### Claim 5 A method of operating a device, comprising: receiving, from a user of the device, a selection of a location region where execution of an application is to be restricted; reporting the user-selected location region to a server in association with a request to download the application; and receiving the application from the server in response to the request, wherein execution of the received application is configured by the server to be restricted to the user-selected location region based on the reporting. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the received application is received in association with a geographic identifier that maps to the user-selected location region, and wherein the received application is configured by the server to be restricted to the user-selected location region based upon the geographic identifier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining to execute the application on the device; transmitting a request to execute the application on the device in response to the determination, the request including the geographic identifier; and receiving, in response to the transmitted request, a code that either authorizes or blocks execution of the application on the device based on whether a current location of the device is determined to be outside of the user-selected location region to which the geographic identifier is mapped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining to execute the application on the device; transmitting a request to execute the application on the device in response to the determination; and receiving, in response to the transmitted request, a code that either authorizes or blocks execution of the application on the device based on whether a current location of the device is determined to be outside of the user-selected location region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the code is an authorization code configured to allow execution of the application on the device if the current location of the device is not determined to be outside of the selected operating region, and wherein the code is a disable code configured to block execution of the application on the device if the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the selected operating region. ### Claim 10 A method of operating a server, comprising: receiving, from a device, a request for an application and an indication of a location region that is selected by a user of the device and that indicates where execution of the application is to be restricted; configuring the application to be executed on the device with execution being restricted to the user-selected location region; and transmitting the configured application to the device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the configured application is configured to have its execution restricted to the user-selected location region based upon the configured application being transmitted to the device in association with a geographic identifier that maps to the user-selected location region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier; determining whether a current location of the device is outside of the selected operating region to which the geographic identifier is mapped; and transmitting, in response to the received request, a code that either authorizes or blocks execution of the application on the device based on whether the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the user-selected location region to which the geographic identifier is mapped. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving a request to execute the application on the device; determining whether a current location of the device is outside of the selected operating region; and transmitting, in response to the received request, a code that either authorizes or blocks execution of the application on the device based on whether the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the user-selected location region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the code is an authorization code configured to allow execution of the application on the device if the current location of the device is not determined to be outside of the selected operating region, and wherein the code is a disable code configured to block execution of the application on the device if the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the selected operating region. ### Claim 15 A server to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on a device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, comprising: means for determining the selected operating region for the application; means for transmitting the application; means for receiving, from the device, a request to execute the application on the device; means for determining a current location of the device; and means for transmitting a code to the device that is configured to authorize or prevent the execution of the application on the device based on whether the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the selected operating region. ### Claim 16 A device, comprising: means for receiving, from a user of the device, a selection of a location region where execution of an application is to be restricted; means for reporting the user-selected location region to a server in association with a request to download the application; and means for receiving the application from the server in response to the request, wherein execution of the received application is configured by the server to be restricted to the user-selected location region based on the reporting. ### Claim 17 A server, comprising: means for receiving, from a device, a request for an application and an indication of a location region that is selected by a user of the device and that indicates where execution of the application is to be restricted; means for configuring the application to be executed on the device with execution being restricted to the user-selected location region; and means for transmitting the configured application to the device. ### Claim 18 A server to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on a device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, comprising: logic configured to determine the selected operating region for the application; logic configured to transmit the application; logic configured to receive, from the device, a request to execute the application on the logic configured to determine a current location of the device; and logic configured to transmit a code to the device that is configured to authorize or prevent the execution of the application on the device based on whether the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the selected operating region. ### Claim 19 A device, comprising: logic configured to receive, from a user of the device, a selection of a location region where execution of an application is to be restricted; logic configured to report the user-selected location region to a server in association with a request to download the application; and logic configured to receive the application from the server in response to the request, wherein execution of the received application is configured by the server to be restricted to the user-selected location region based on the reporting. ### Claim 20 A server, comprising: logic configured to receive, from a device, a request for an application and an indication of a location region that is selected by a user of the device and that indicates where execution of the application is to be restricted; logic configured to configure the application to be executed on the device with execution being restricted to the user-selected location region; and logic configured to transmit the configured application to the device. ### Claim 21 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a server to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on a device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, cause the server to perform operations, the instructions comprising: at least one instruction for causing the server to determine the selected operating region for the application; at least one instruction for causing the server to transmit the application; at least one instruction for causing the server to receive, from the device, a request to execute the application on the device; at least one instruction for causing the server to determine a current location of the device; and at least one instruction for causing the server to transmit a code to the device that is configured to authorize or prevent the execution of the application on the device based on whether the current location of the device is determined to be outside of the selected operating region. ### Claim 22 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform operations, the instructions comprising: at least one instruction for causing the device to receive, from a user of the device, a selection of a location region where execution of an application is to be restricted; at least one instruction for causing the device to report the user-selected location region to a server in association with a request to download the application; and at least one instruction for causing the device to receive the application from the server in response to the request, wherein execution of the received application is configured by the server to be restricted to the user-selected location region based on the reporting. ### Claim 23 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a server, cause the server to perform operations, the instructions comprising: at least one instruction for causing the server to receive, from a device, a request for an application and an indication of a location region that is selected by a user of the device and that indicates where execution of the application is to be restricted; at least one instruction for causing the server to configure the application to be executed on the device with execution being restricted to the user-selected location region; and at least one instruction for causing the server to transmit the configured application to the device.