I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US007110749B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Zellner et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,110,749 B2
`*Sep.19,2006
`
`(54)
`
`IDENTITY BLOCKING SERVICE FROM A
`WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDER
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Dunwoody, GA
`(US); Mark J. Enzmann, Roswell, GA
`(US); Robert T. Moton, Jr., Alpharetta,
`GA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property
`Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US)
`
`EP
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 493 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/740,372
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 19, 2000
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0077083 Al
`
`Jun. 20, 2002
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04M 11100
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................... 455/414.1; 455/404.2;
`455/411; 455/456.1
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 455/414,
`455/410-411, 456, 466, 414.1, 414.2, 456.1,
`455/456.2, 456.3, 415, 404.2
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner-William Trost
`Assistant Examiner-Brandon J. Miller
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Merchant & Gould
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Location-blocking and identity-blocking services that can be
`commercially offered by a service promoter, e.g., a cellular
`service provider or a web advertiser. In the identity-blocking
`service, the service promoter may disclose the current physi(cid:173)
`cal location of a mobile subscriber (i.e., a cellular phone
`operator) to a third party (e.g., a web advertiser) subscribing
`to the identity-blocking service. However, the service pro(cid:173)
`moter may not send any identity information for the mobile
`subscriber to the third party. On the other hand, in the
`location-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose
`the mobile subscriber's identity information to the third
`party, but not the current physical location of the mobile
`subscriber. Blocking of the mobile subscriber's identity or
`location information may be desirable for privacy reasons,
`to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a
`telecommunication service option selected by the mobile
`subscriber. However, in the case of the mobile subscriber
`requesting emergency help, the service promoter may not
`block identity and/or location information. Instead, the ser(cid:173)
`vice promoter may send all such information to the emer(cid:173)
`gency service provider (e.g., the police or a hospital).
`
`24 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`ICellular.serv:iceprov.irl~
`
`receives cellphone
`location information
`
`~ - - - - - - - - o i ~ - - '
`
`~
`
`Twitter Exhibit 1006
`Twitter, Inc. v. BlackBerry Ltd.
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`US 7,110,749 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`6,321,092 Bl*
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`6,385,591 Bl
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`6,421,441 Bl
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`6,442,687 Bl
`6,449,497 Bl *
`6,463,533 Bl
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`6,477,382 Bl
`6,484,148 Bl*
`6,496,931 Bl
`6,505,046 Bl *
`6,505,048 Bl
`6,505,049 Bl
`6,522,876 Bl *
`6,526,275 Bl
`6,545,596 Bl
`6,546,257 Bl
`6,560,442 Bl
`6,560,461 Bl
`6,594,482 Bl
`6,618,474 Bl
`6,618,593 Bl
`6,628,928 Bl
`6,628,938 Bl
`6,647,257 Bl*
`6,647,269 Bl
`6,662,014 Bl *
`6,675,017 Bl
`6,738,808 Bl
`6,819,929 Bl
`2001/0034709 Al
`2002/0077130 Al
`
`8/1998 Goldhaber et al ............ 705/14
`10/1998 Worthy et al. ................. 455/2
`11/1998 Weisser, Jr ............... 379/92.02
`12/1998 Hidary ....................... 455/404
`2/1999 Rochkind ................... 455/466
`10/1999 Gabber et al. .............. 709/219
`2/2000 Malik et al ................. 379/201
`4/2000 Tso et al.
`................... 709/232
`7/2000 La Porta et al ............. 455/432
`7/2000 Hollenberg .............. 455/456.5
`8/2000 Tajima et al. ............... 455/414
`8/2000 Bergh et al. .................. 705/10
`9/2000 Want et al ............... 455/456.2
`10/2000 Obradovich et al. ........ 340/905
`10/2000 Kingdon et al ............. 455/410
`12/2000 Grube et al. ................ 455/414
`2/2001 Stilp .......................... 342/387
`2/2001 Alperovich et al.
`........ 455/456
`3/2001 Rouhollahzadeh et al.
`. 455/456
`7/2001 Stewart ...................... 342/457
`10/2001 Havinis et al .............. 455/456
`11/2001 Fano ............................. 705/1
`11/2001 Fitch et al ............... 455/456.5
`12/2001 Bandera et al. ............... 705/14
`3/2002 Cannon et al ........... 379/142.1
`4/2002 Geiger et al. ............... 455/456
`5/2002 Mankoff ...................... 705/14
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`8/2002 Johansson et al.
`8/2002 Savage ....................... 713/156
`9/2002 Kirbas ........................ 455/564
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`10/2002 Tracton et al ............... 709/203
`11/2002 Mansfield et al.
`.......... 455/458
`11/2002 Boyd .......................... 705/14
`12/2002 Rajchel et al. .............. 713/168
`1/2003 Baker ......................... 455/456
`1/2003 Moles et al. ................ 455/456
`1/2003 Dorenbosch ................ 455/456
`2/2003 Weiland ..................... 455/414
`2/2003 Calvert ....................... 455/418
`4/2003 Moon
`4/2003 Stewart et al.
`5/2003 Yost et al. ................. 455/67.1
`5/2003 Fomukong et al.
`7/2003 Findikli et al .............. 455/411
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`................ 455/77
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`11/2003 Hendrey et al.
`............ 455/456
`12/2003 Walsh ..................... 455/456.2
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`.............. 455/456
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`.............. 709/223
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`10/2001 Stoifo et al ................... 705/51
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`
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`
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`WO 98/19484
`WO 99/27716
`PCT/USO 1/22295
`
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`6/1999
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`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
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`U.S. Appl. No. 09/630,134, filed Aug. 2000.
`
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,162, filed Dec. 2000.
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,315, filed Dec. 2000.
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,339, filed Dec. 2000.
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,340, filed Dec. 2000.
`"Wireless Application Protocol," Wireless Internet Today, Oct.
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`Official Action dated Feb. 12, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No. 09/630,134.
`Final Official Action dated Jul. 10, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/630, 134.
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`Official Action dated Jan. 13, 2005 in U.S. Appl. No. 09/630,134.
`Official Action dated Mar. 12, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,340.
`Official Action dated Dec. 10, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,340.
`3,a Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group
`Services and System Aspects; Functional Stage 2 Description of
`Location Services in UMTS (1999).
`http://www.openwave.com/us/news_roorn/press_releases/2001/
`20010320 "Open Wave Announces Availability to End-to-End Set
`of Location Services for Wireless Internet".
`U.S. Official Action dated Aug. 30, 2005 in U.S. Appl. No.
`10/704, 77 5.
`U.S. Official Action dated Oct. 4, 2005 in U.S. Appl. No.
`10/819,940.
`Co-pending Application No. 11/252,039 filed Oct. 17, 2005.
`U.S. Official Action dated Mar. 1, 2004 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,375.
`U.S. Final Official Action dated Sep. 24, 2004 cited in U.S. Appl.
`No. 09/740,375.
`U.S. Official Action dated Feb. 28, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,375.
`U.S. Final Official Action dated Jul. 26, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,375.
`Petronis, Scott, "Mapping Technology: The Common Thread,"
`Wireless Review, vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 10-14, Feb. 1, 2000, ISSN:
`1099-9248.
`U.S. Official Action dated May 7, 2003 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,373.
`U.S. Final Official Action dated Oct. 21, 2003 cited in U.S. Appl.
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`U.S. Action dated Jan. 26, 2004 cited in U.S. Appl. No. 09/740,373.
`U.S. Official Action dated Apr. 28, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,373.
`U.S. Official Action dated Nov. 21, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,414.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 00002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.19,2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`66
`
`----------•
`
`12
`
`14
`
`Shopping Mall
`
`Wireless Network
`
`FIG. 1
`
`16
`
`12
`
`Cellular
`Service
`Provider
`
`Wireless Network
`
`Cellular
`Service
`Provider
`
`16
`
`FIG. 2
`
`24
`
`WAP
`Gateway
`
`22
`
`Database
`
`66
`
`28
`
`30
`
`18
`
`Cell Phone
`
`Query
`
`INTERNET
`
`Response
`~=.c::::.==::===:,
`Content Server
`
`20
`
`Page 00003
`
`

`

`\C = N
`"""' = ~
`"""'
`'-"-.....l
`
`~
`
`d r.,;_
`
`0 ....
`N
`.....
`rJJ =(cid:173)
`
`('D
`('D
`
`O'I
`
`'? ....
`
`O'I
`0
`0
`N
`"'\,Ci
`
`('D
`rJJ
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`~
`•
`00
`
`e •
`
`44
`
`28
`
`30
`
`Logic
`
`Interface
`Keypad
`
`Display
`
`Logic
`Display
`
`Speaker
`
`Logic
`Audio
`
`Mic
`
`34
`
`r ___ ==r=====-: 5
`I 6
`I
`! ( \
`~
`1 1
`
`---1 I
`I
`---------I
`
`I
`
`--
`
`GPS
`
`I
`1
`
`I
`
`I I
`I
`1
`1
`,
`I ---____ --I
`
`GPS
`----
`
`'--..J : Receiver ~ Receiver
`\
`54
`
`Web Browser Module
`
`48
`
`Layer
`
`Adaptation
`
`WDP&
`
`WAP Stack
`
`50
`
`49
`
`FIG. 3
`
`46
`
`Memory Unit
`
`10
`
`66
`
`60
`
`52
`
`network
`wireless
`
`To
`
`RF Antenna Unit
`
`Unit
`
`RF Transceiver
`
`64
`
`62
`
`Control Unit
`Processing and
`
`Network Interface Unit
`
`58
`
`~-7---------
`
`I
`
`I
`
`: :_ A_nJe1212~-~
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.19,2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`72
`
`Mobile subscriberrs
`identity information
`
`76 \
`
`,,
`
`Send location
`information to the
`third party v:ithout
`disclosing the mobile
`subscriber1s identity
`
`•
`Third party sends
`-
`locat10n specific
`/ advertisements to the
`cell phone
`
`7 8
`
`Cellular service provider
`receives cell phone
`location information
`
`Any third
`party receiver of location
`information?
`
`No
`
`70
`
`74
`
`82
`
`Is location
`information utilized by
`cellular service provider for
`sending advertisements
`to the cell phone?
`
`Yes
`
`Cellular service provider
`sends location-specific
`advertisements to the
`cell phone
`
`84
`
`No
`
`i
`
`END
`
`80
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.19,2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`No
`
`Web advertiser
`receives cell phone
`location information
`
`Mobile
`subscriber identity
`information
`available?
`
`Yes
`
`Any
`preferences registere
`for the mobile
`subscriber?
`
`86
`
`88
`
`90
`
`Web advertiser selects
`location-specific
`advertisements
`
`92
`
`Yes
`
`,--------------i --------------!
`: Web advertiser selects location-
`:
`l specific advertisements based on the~
`: mobile subscriber preferences
`:
`'\
`94
`
`I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
`
`Web advertiser sends the
`location-specific advertisements
`to the cell phone without
`sending any indication of the
`mobile subscriber's identity
`
`96
`
`FIG. 5
`
`END
`
`98
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.19,2006
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`102
`
`Mobile subscriber's
`identity information
`
`Cellular service provider
`receives cell phone
`location information
`
`100
`
`Mobile
`subscriber's identity
`information
`blocked?
`
`104
`
`No
`
`Any third
`party receiver of identity
`information?
`
`106
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Cellular service provider sends
`mobile subscriber's identity
`information to the third party
`without disclosing the physical
`location of the mobile subscriber
`
`110
`
`!
`I
`I
`
`---~------ ------~~--
`Third party sends
`:
`user-specific
`advertisements to the : " '
`i
`'\
`cell phone
`
`L ---;--1--~----' 112
`
`c____ __ ~F-IG~.-6----~
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.19,2006
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`No
`
`114
`
`Web advertiser
`receives mobile
`subscriber's identity
`information
`
`116
`
`Mobile
`subscriber location
`information
`available?
`
`Yes
`
`118
`
`Any
`preferences registere
`for the mobile
`subscriber?
`
`Yes
`
`122
`\
`____ \ _________ i --------------
`
`1
`
`I
`
`Web advertiser selects
`user-specific
`advertisements
`
`: Web advertiser selects user-specific 1
`: advertisements based on the mobile :
`:
`subscriber preferences
`:
`
`1
`
`I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ______________ I
`
`120
`
`Web advertiser sends the
`user-specific advertisements to
`the cell phone without sending
`any indication of the mobile
`subscriber's location
`
`124
`
`FIG. 7
`
`END
`
`126
`
`Page 00008
`
`

`

`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`1
`IDENTITY BLOCKING SERVICE FROM A
`WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDER
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`(Not Applicable)
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
`
`(Not Applicable)
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention broadly relates to connnunication
`services, and more particularly, to a teleconnnunication
`service that offers information about the location of a mobile
`subscriber to a third party without disclosing the identity of
`the subscriber to the third party.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Telephone connnunication has seen a phenomenal growth
`since its inception because of its extreme usefulness in
`today's world. It is hard, and almost impossible, to conceive
`of a world without telephones. Telephones have become an
`integral part of a civilized society. Modem telephones
`include generic desk-top telephone units, cordless tele(cid:173)
`phones and more advanced cellular telephones ( or "cell
`phones"). In contrast to a cordless telephone unit, a cellular
`telephone allows portability in that a cell phone operator can
`use the cell phone many miles away from home and the use
`is supported by a sophisticated teleconnnunications system.
`Because a cell phone imparts mobility to the user while on
`the phone, quick detection of the location of the cell phone
`is important in the event of fraud or when there is a need to
`locate a cellular telephone (and, hence, its user) that placed
`a phone call for emergency assistance, e.g., a "911 call." It 40
`is also desirable to locate the cell phone operator or mobile
`subscriber (MS) for marketing reasons, e.g., for targeting
`location-specific advertisements to the cell phone operator
`upon determining the location of the cell phone operator. For
`example, one or more stores in a shopping complex ( e.g., a
`mall) may wish to inform the cell phone operator about any
`current promotions or offers when the cell phone operator is
`found to be in the vicinity of the shopping complex.
`In a cellular telephone network operated by a wireless
`service provider (SP), a mobile switching center (MSC) may
`serve more than one cell-site. Therefore, to locate a cellular
`phone within the network, a switch engineer may need to
`manually visit the MSC location and identify the cell-site
`within which the cellular phone is operative. Such a process
`may not be efficient when there are a large number of cell
`phone operators and in the event of frequent fraudulent or
`"911" calls. Further, it is also possible that the cell phone
`operator may swiftly change cells if the detection of the cell
`phone location takes more than a few minutes and especially
`when the cell phone operator is located near a cell boundary.
`In such an event, the earlier cell identification may prove
`wrong and the whole process may be repeated to identify the
`new cell site to which the cell phone operator has moved.
`It is known to locate a cellular telephone having a
`predetermined telephone number by using time difference of
`arrival measurements ( on signals transmitted from the spe(cid:173)
`cific cell phone) at a multiplicity of cell-phone base-stations.
`
`45
`
`5
`
`15
`
`2
`However, a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna and a
`corresponding GPS receiver need to be added to each base
`station for use in locating the cell phone in this manner.
`It is also known to locate the source of radio transmissions
`(including cellular phone transmissions) within a multipath
`signal environment. A hand-held sensor unit with a built-in
`non-directional or onmidirectional antenna can be used to
`capture signal transmissions from the source of radio trans-
`10 missions to be located. Phase change measurements and
`other calculations are performed during processing of the
`captured signals and the signal-emitting source (e.g., a cell
`phone) is then located based on the outcome of the process(cid:173)
`ing.
`Furthermore, the identity of the cell phone operator may
`already be known to the wireless service provider serving
`the cell phone. For example, the wireless service provider
`may request information about the identity of the mobile
`subscriber (e.g., name, gender, age, employment informa-
`20 tion, etc.) when the mobile subscriber signs up to operate the
`cell phone in the wireless service provider's network. In
`another configuration, the identity of the cell phone operator
`may be available to an Internet world wide web advertiser
`with the help of, for example, cookies. The web advertiser
`25 may employ cookies to store information about and prefer-
`ences of individual mobile subscribers who access particular
`websites on the Internet using web browser-equipped cell
`phones. It is known that cookies are digital text files placed
`30 in the cell phone's memory by a web server when the cell
`phone operator visits a web site served by the web server.
`Cookies are connnonly used to store registration data such
`as the user's (here, the mobile subscriber's) name and
`address, the user's preferences, and so on. Cookies make it
`35 possible for web servers to personalize information to fit the
`user's specific needs and preferences when the user is
`visiting a web site on the Internet.
`A wireless service provider may wish to supply a mobile
`subscriber's location information to a third party ( e.g., a web
`advertiser) as part of the service provider's marketing activ(cid:173)
`ity. Also, a web advertiser (or any other marketing entity)
`may send location-specific advertisements to a mobile sub(cid:173)
`scriber upon being informed of the current location of the
`subscriber. Because of various reasons (e.g., privacy con(cid:173)
`cerns), it may be desirable that the wireless service provider
`not disclose the mobile subscriber's identity to the third
`party when sending the subscriber's location information to
`the third party. It may also be desirable that the web
`50 advertiser not transmit the mobile subscriber's identity
`information when connnunicating with the mobile sub(cid:173)
`scriber over the Internet.
`Alternatively, it may be desirable that the wireless service
`provider block the mobile subscriber's location information
`55 while supplying the subscriber's identity information to a
`third party. For example, a cell phone operator may wish to
`receive operator-specific advertisements over the cell phone
`from the third party without having the third party know of
`the physical location of the operator. Similarly, it may
`60 further be desirable that the web advertiser block any
`reference to the mobile subscriber's current physical loca(cid:173)
`tion when sending any subscriber-specific advertisements to
`the mobile subscriber over the Internet. It may also be
`desirable for any other (i.e., non-Internet) advertiser to not
`65 disclose the cell phone operator's current location in or
`through the messages connnunicated between the advertiser
`and the cell phone.
`
`Page 00009
`
`

`

`3
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`The present invention contemplates a method of provid(cid:173)
`ing an identity-blocking service, wherein the method com(cid:173)
`prises obtaining an identity of a user operating a wireless
`communication device; obtaining information about a loca(cid:173)
`tion of the user; and transferring the information about the
`location of the user to a third party without disclosing the
`identity of the user to the third party. A wireless service
`provider (e.g., a cellular telephone service provider) may
`commercially offer the identity-blocking service to the user
`for a fee. The third party may be an advertiser (e.g., a web
`advertiser) that is desirous of sending advertisements, mes(cid:173)
`sages or data to the wireless communication device (and,
`hence, to the user of the wireless device). The identity of the
`user may be obtained from the user when the user signs up
`for a communication service that allows the user to operate
`the wireless communication device in the wireless service
`provider's telephone network. In one embodiment, the pro(cid:173)
`moter of the identity-blocking service may charge a fee to
`the third party for supplying information about the location
`of the user.
`The present invention further contemplates a method of
`sending an advertisement over a communication network to
`a user operating a wireless communication device, wherein
`the method comprises receiving first information about a
`location of the user; receiving second information about the
`identity of the user; searching a database containing a
`plurality of location-specific advertisements; selecting one
`of the plurality oflocation-specific advertisements based on
`one or more criteria pre-selected by the user; and sending the
`one of the plurality oflocation-specific advertisements to the
`wireless communication device over the communication
`network without transmitting the identity of the user there(cid:173)
`with. The communication network may be one or more of
`the Internet, the PSTN (public switched telephone network),
`and a cellular telephone network. A web advertiser may
`commercially offer such an identity-blocking service to, for
`example, cellular phone operators (i.e., mobile subscribers).
`The web advertiser may obtain identity and location 40
`information for the user by paying a fee to an information
`provider (e.g., a wireless service provider). Furthermore, the
`one of the plurality of location-specific advertisements may
`be sent over the communication network in the form of a
`TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) 45
`message.
`The present invention further contemplates a method of
`providing a location-blocking service, wherein the method
`comprises obtaining identity information for a user operat(cid:173)
`ing a wireless communication device; obtaining location
`information for the user; and transferring the identity infor(cid:173)
`mation for the user to a third party without disclosing the
`location information for the user to the third party. As
`mentioned hereinbefore, the third party user may be an
`advertiser ( e.g., a web advertiser) who is desirous of sending 55
`advertisements, messages or data to the wireless communi(cid:173)
`cation device (e.g., a cell phone) and, hence, to the user. A
`wireless service provider may offer the location-blocking
`service for a fee to the user. The location of the user may be
`obtained by monitoring and then analyzing one or more 60
`signals transmitted by the wireless communication device
`operated by the user. In one embodiment, the wireless
`communication device may be configured to supply the
`location information to the wireless service provider.
`The present invention further contemplates a method of 65
`sending an advertisement over a communication network to
`a user operating a wireless communication device, wherein
`
`4
`the method comprises receiving first information about the
`identity of the user; receiving second information about a
`location of the user; searching a database containing a
`plurality of user-specific advertisements; selecting one of the
`5 plurality of user-specific advertisements based on one or
`more criteria pre-selected by the user; and sending the one
`of the plurality of user-specific advertisements to the wire(cid:173)
`less communication device over the communication net(cid:173)
`work without transmitting the second information about the
`10 location of the user therewith. A web advertiser may com(cid:173)
`mercially offer such a location-blocking service to, for
`example, cellular phone operators (i.e., mobile subscribers).
`The web advertiser may send the one of the plurality of
`user-specific advertisements over the communication net-
`15 work in the form of a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Pro(cid:173)
`tocol/Internet Protocol) message.
`The present invention also contemplates an unblocking
`option where the user may access on Internet a website for
`one or more service promoters to "unblock" disclosure of
`20 the user's identity and/or location information. In alternative
`embodiments, various identity-blocking and location-block(cid:173)
`ing services may "unblock" transmission of respective iden(cid:173)
`tity and/or location information when the user ( or the mobile
`subscriber) dials an emergency phone number (e.g., "911")
`25 or indicates a desire to access an emergency service provider
`( e.g., a fire station, a hospital, or the police).
`Blocking of a user's identity or location information may
`be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a govern(cid:173)
`ment regulation, or to implement a telecommunication ser-
`30 vice option selected by the user. Information blocks may be
`implemented in hardware and/or software, and at various
`places in a communication arrangement. Various identity(cid:173)
`blocking and location-blocking services require an adver(cid:173)
`tiser to not disclose the user's identity and current location,
`35 respectively, in or through the messages communicated
`between the advertiser and the wireless communication
`device operated by the user.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`Further advantages of the present invention may be better
`understood by referring to the following description taken in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates interaction between a wireless device,
`such as a cell phone, and a wireless network to determine the
`cell phone location when the cell phone operator approaches
`a location;
`FIG. 2 shows an arrangement wherein the cell phone
`operator receives queried information or unsolicited adver-
`50 tisements over a combination of the wireless network and
`the Internet from a remote content server;
`FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing circuit
`blocks constituting a web browser-equipped cell phone;
`FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary flowchart for an identity(cid:173)
`blocking service provided by a cellular service provider;
`FIG. 5 shows an exemplary flowchart for an identity(cid:173)
`blocking service provided by an Internet or web advertiser;
`FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart for a location-blocking
`service provided by a cellular service provider; and
`FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary flowchart for a location(cid:173)
`blocking service provided by an Internet or web advertiser.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates interaction between a wireless device,
`such as a cell phone 10, and a wireless network ( or a cellular
`
`Page 00010
`
`

`

`US 7,110,749 B2
`
`25
`
`5
`6
`16 not to send advertisements related to the location 14
`telephone network) 12 to determine the cell phone location
`when the cell phone operator approaches a location 14. The
`because of the high probability that the cell phone operator
`location 14 may be, for example, a shopping mall. It is to be
`may not visit the location 14.
`understood that the cell phone 10 is powered on and is being
`FIG. 1 illustrates that the cell phone 10 is in wireless
`carried by a cell phone operator or mobile subscriber (MS) 5
`communication with the wireless network 12 using, for
`approaching the location 14. It is also noted that the arrange(cid:173)
`example, radio channels for voice and/or data communica(cid:173)
`ment shown in FIG. 1 is for illustrative purpose only. In
`tion. It is noted that the term "wireless network", as used
`practice, the cell phone operator may visit a number of
`herein, is contemplated to include analog or digital cellular
`different locations (including, but not limited to, the location
`mobile networks irrespective of the underlying transmission
`14) carrying the cell phone 10. The location of the cell phone 10
`technology, e.g., CDMA (code division multiple access),
`10 may then be tracked at appropriate cell sites (not shown)
`TDMA (time division multiple access), etc., and any other
`in the wireless network 12 that the cell phone operator visits.
`radio network that employs intersystem messaging ( e.g., the
`As discussed in more detail hereinbelow with reference to
`IS-41 based messaging scheme) as part of mobile wireless
`FIG. 3, the cell phone 10 may include a display screen 28,
`communication. The wireless network 12 may include a
`a keyboard 30, a microphone 34 and an RF (radio frequency) 15
`combination of one or more of, for example, an analog
`antenna 66. Additional circuit blocks constituting the cell
`wireless network ( e.g., the AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone
`phone 10 are shown in FIG. 3.
`System) network), a digital wireless network including
`The location of the cell phone 10 may be determined
`cellular networks (e.g., TDMA or CDMA-based wireless
`periodically (i.e., at predetermined time intervals, e.g., every
`networks), a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and a
`30 seconds) by the wireless service provider or the cellular 20
`WLL (Wireless Local Loop) configuration. A portion of the
`service provider (SP) 16. Through the arrangement shown in
`wireless carrier network 12 may include one or more micro(cid:173)
`FIG. 1, the SP 16 may transmit user-specific or location(cid:173)
`wave links for satellite-based communication.
`specific voice and/or data advertisements to the cell phone
`Furthermore, the SP 16 is shown as being part of the
`10 as discussed hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 4. For
`wireless network 12 because it is well known in the art that
`cell phone location determination, the SP may employ one
`the wireless service provider 16 may operate in one or more
`or more of the methods discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,908
`of the cell sites (not shown) in the wireless network 12. In
`("the '908 patent") (issued on Apr. 30, 1996) and in U.S. Pat.
`fact, the SP 16 may operate in almost all cell sites within the
`No. 5,625,364 ("the '364 patent) (issued on Apr. 29, 1997),