Method and apparatus for acquiring, processing, using and brokering location information associated with mobile communication devices
US6961562B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W64/00
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An information broker operates a location server coupled to a wireless network and a wireline network, which acquires and processes information indicating locations of mobile communication devices on the wireless network. The information broker provides the processed information to one or more recipients. The processed information may be provided by the information broker to a recipient in exchange for payment, as part of a business transaction. The raw or processed location related information may include a history of locations of a mobile communication device and times and durations associated with the locations. The processed information may include graphs or maps of geographic areas in which the mobile devices have been located, movement trends, or other behavioral patterns of mobile users. The processed location data can also be used in performing location-based searches and other location-related applications and for customer analysis, among other uses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.