Patent · US Expired

Method for determining internet users geographic region

US6859791B1 · kind B1 · utility

164Cited by
43References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 2000
Grant dateFeb 22, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L2463/102
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method at a clearing house to verify the geographic region of an end user device for receiving encrypted digital content. In one embodiment the geographic region is a country. The method comprising three sub-methods. In the first sub-method the address is verified by determining the credit card clearing address of the end user using an address verification system. In the second sub-method the address is verified by determining the IP address of the end user device requesting delivery of the encrypted digital content. And in the third sub-method the address is verified by checking that the IP address of the end user device requesting delivery of the encrypted digital content is the identical IP address of the end user device requesting a license to use the encrypted digital content. Depending on predetermined system settings, one or more of the above combination of the three sub-methods is then checked, before authorizing the decrypting of the encrypted digital content includes decrypting the encrypted digital content if the address verification system returns an address in a predetermined geographic region and the IP address of the end user device is in a predetermined geographic…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.