Privacy control of location information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016353277-A1
Application number	US-201615231351-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 8, 2016
Priority date	May 12, 2006
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

One embodiment of the present is a method of implementing privacy control of location information. Such a method comprises defining a geographic zone for which pseudo-location information is to be reported as the current location of the user, wherein the pseudo-location information is not the current location of the user; receiving the current location of the user; determining that the current location is in the geographic zone; and reporting the pseudo-location information as the current location of the user when the current location is determined to be in the geographic zone. Other methods and systems are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising: determining a zone; determining a substitute-location; determining a first group of persons eligible to receive an indication of the substitute-location; determining a current location at which a communication session is initiated; determining if the current location is within the zone; determining if an intended recipient of the communication session is a member of the first group; and upon a determination that the current location is within the zone and the intended recipient is a member of the first group, incorporating in the communication session, an indication of the substitute-location as the current location.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
upon a determination that the current location is not within the zone and the intended recipient is not a member of the first group, determining if the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and upon a determination that the intended recipient is not a member of the second group, incorporating in the communication session, an indication of the current location.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
determining that the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and incorporating no indication of location in the communication session.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substitute-location comprises a predetermined location based on time.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substitute-location is determined by the apparatus physically moving to an area and selecting a location address of the area as the substitute-location.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substitute-location is determined based on the intended recipient.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the substitute-location is determined by adding a distance to the current location.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the zone comprises any location visited by the apparatus.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the zone is determined by the apparatus physically moving to an area defining a perimeter of the zone and selecting that area as part of the zone.

10 . A method comprising:
determining a zone; determining a substitute-location; determining a first group of persons eligible to receive an indication of the substitute-location; determining a current location of a device when a communication session is initiated; determining if the current location is within the zone; determining if an intended recipient of the communication session is a member of the first group; and upon a determination that the current location is within the zone and the intended recipient is a member of the first group, incorporating in the communication session, an indication of the substitute-location as the current location.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
upon a determination that the current location is not within the zone and the intended recipient is not a member of the first group, determining if the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and upon a determination that the intended recipient is not a member of the second group, incorporating in the communication session, an indication of the current location.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining that the intended recipient is a member of a second group of persons not eligible to receive location information; and incorporating no indication of location in the communication session.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the substitute-location comprises a predetermined location based on time.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the substitute-location is determined by the device physically moving to an area and selecting a location address of the area as the substitute-location.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the substitute-location is determined based on the intended recipient.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the zone is determined by the device physically moving to an area defining a perimeter of the zone and selecting that area as part of the zone.

17 . A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
determining a current location of an apparatus; determining a pseudo-location associated with the apparatus; defining a selected list of parties authorized to access a current location; determining if a party is a member of the selected list; and reporting a reported location of the apparatus to the party, the reported location is the current location upon a determination that the party is a member of the selected list, and the reported location is the pseudo-location upon a determination that the party is not a member of the selected list.

18 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the operations comprising:
identifying at least one privacy rule associated with the apparatus; and changing the pseudo-location based on evaluation of the privacy rule.

19 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , the privacy rule is based on at least one of the current location, characteristics of the current location, a user schedule, time of day, and date.

20 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the operations comprising:
determining a zone; determining the current location is within the zone; and changing the pseudo-location upon a determination that the current location is within the zone.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Frank Scott
• Starr Robert
• Ruckart John
• Tischer Steven
• Zellner Samuel

Classifications

• H04M2242/10

  Secret communications · CPC title

• H04M3/42348

  Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04W12/02 Primary

  Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII] · CPC title

• H04M2242/15

  Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber · CPC title