Granted Patent B2

US 6,895,236 · App. 09/938,137 · Granted May 17, 2005

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A method for verifying a purported location of a wide area network user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving information from a user via a wide area network, the information including a purported geographical location of the user;

recording a first network address from which the information is received;

generating and recording an access code; and

transmitting the access code for broadcasting in a defined region, the defined region including the purported geographical location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a user access code via a second network address of the wide area network.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising comparing the user access code with the access code generated in the generating step, and comparing the first network address to the second network address.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising validating the user if the user access code matches the access code generated in the generating step, and the first network address matches the second network address.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising assigning a limited life to the access code, wherein after expiration of the life, the access code is not acceptable for matching to any user access code.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving a confirmation of receipt of the access code from the user through a communication link separate from the wide area network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving a confirmation step further comprises receiving a confirmation code, and further comprising recording the confirmation code.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving a user confirmation code from the user via the wide area network, and invalidating the user unless the user confirmation code matches the confirmation code recorded in a memory.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting a broadcasting method for broadcasting the access code in the defined region.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the selecting step further comprises selecting a broadcast method from a cellular phone broadcast, a wireless pager broadcast, a UHF television broadcast, a VHF television broadcast, an AM radio broadcast, an FM radio broadcast, a shortwave radio broadcast, a CB radio broadcast, a microwave broadcast, a cable television broadcast, or a satellite broadcast.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising selecting an alternate broadcasting method if an initially selected broadcasting method is not capable of broadcasting to a region including the purported geographical location.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the selecting step further comprises selecting a broadcasting method including broadcasting with a scanning beam.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the selecting step further comprises selecting a single antenna of a multi-antenna network for broadcasting the access code exclusively from the single antenna.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the selecting step further comprises selecting a plurality of antennas having an overlapping broadcast area including the purported geographical location, and further comprising segmenting the access code in segments, wherein unique ones of the segments are designated for broadcast from unique ones of the plurality of antennas.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing the user with instructions for ordering the segments to produce the user access code.

16. A system for verifying a purported location of a wide area network user, the system comprising:

a computer operable to connect to a wide area network;

a memory connected to the computer; and

instructions in the memory, the instructions operable to perform the steps of:

receiving information from a user via the wide area network, the information including a purported geographical location of the user;

recording a first network address from which the information is received;

generating and recording an access code for broadcast in a defined region, the defined region including the purported geographical location of the user;

receiving a user access code via the wide area network from a second network address;

comparing the user access code with the access code recorded in the recording step, and comparing the first network address to the second network address; and

validating the user if the user access code matches the access code recorded in the recording step and the first network address matches the second network address.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further operable to perform the step of receiving a confirmation of receipt of the access code from the user through a communication link separate from the wide area network.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further operable to perform the steps of receiving a confirmation code with the confirmation of receipt, and recording the confirmation code in a memory.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further operable to perform the steps of receiving a user confirmation code from the user via the wide area network, and invalidating the user unless the user confirmation code matches the confirmation code recorded in a memory.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising assigning a limited life to the access code, wherein after expiration of the life, the access code is not acceptable for matching to any user access code.

Assignments (7)