Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Network client location obscurity
- Patent Title (中): 网络客户端位置模糊
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Application No.: US12388017Application Date: 2009-02-18
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Publication No.: US08494549B1Publication Date: 2013-07-23
- Inventor: Saveeta Pillai , Christopher J. Mateski , Elizabeth P. Grimbergen , Lyle T. Bertz
- Applicant: Saveeta Pillai , Christopher J. Mateski , Elizabeth P. Grimbergen , Lyle T. Bertz
- Applicant Address: US KS Overland Park
- Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
- Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
- Current Assignee Address: US KS Overland Park
- Main IPC: H04W24/00
- IPC: H04W24/00

Abstract:
A service may request the location of a network client in order to deliver advertisements for goods and services that are geographically near the client. It is desirable for the network to provide an obscured, or approximate, location to protect the privacy of the client. The network queries the client for its PN list. From the PN list, the network determines the active cell sectors and active cell towers. The network determines all cell sectors associated with the active cell towers, and excludes the sectors that encompass the client. From the non-excluded sectors, a cell sector is randomly selected. A geographic location is randomly selected from within the cell sector. A region that encompasses the geographic location is determined, and an identifier associated with the region, such as a ZIP code, is sent to the service. The exact location of the client cannot be determined from the regional identifier.
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