AUTOMATIC LOCATION DETECTION IN A COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
Automatic position location detection, such as satellite position information is used along with a computer to enhance an operation over a remote information channel or a network. This may be used over the Internet to enhance an Internet transaction by determining the origin of the transaction and determining if that origin is authorized. It can also be used for determining a person's location and seeing if the person has moved more than a specified amount in the specified time. It can be used for a biometric scan to determine certain characteristics about the person. Another aspect uses automatic position location to detect handwriting. Yet another application is an automatically determining the source of a request for information from a website, and returning information from that website. This system can also be used in chat room environment.
1 . A method comprising:
automatically determining a position of a computer and producing an automatic position location signal indicative thereof;
sending said automatic position location signal over a remote communication medium, along with operation information indicative of an operation to be conducted; and
receiving said signal indicative of automatic position location and said information in a server of the remote communication medium, comparing said signal indicative of automatic position location to information in a database of said server, and using said automatic position location signal to automatically determine a language for the information to be returned from said website.
2 . A method as in claim 1 wherein said sending comprises encrypting said automatic position location signal, prior to said sending.
3 . A method as in claim 1 wherein said automatic position location signal is a signal from a satellite positioning system.
4 . A method comprising:
automatically determining a position of a computer and producing an automatic position location signal indicative thereof;
sending said automatic position location signal over a remote communication medium, along with operation information indicative of an operation to be conducted;
receiving said signal indicative of automatic position location and said information in a server of the remote communication medium which stores information about a plurality of different products and stores geographical information associated with said products; and using said automatic position location signal to automatically determine which of a plurality of products will be displayed based on a geographic region determined from said automatic position location signal, and returning information of only certain products for said geographic region that is automatically determined from said automatic position location information signal.
5 . A method as in claim 4 wherein said information comprises information indicating whether a particular location is authorized to receive information from a particular website.
6 . A method, comprising:
automatically determining a location of a request for information from a server; and
returning information from said server that is based on said location, and is automatically different for one location than for another location.
7 . A method as in claim 6 wherein said automatic position location information includes satellite positioning information.
8 . A method as in claim 7 wherein said returning comprises failing to return certain information to specified locations.
9 . A method as in claim 6 wherein said returning comprises determining a type of information which should be returned to specified geographic locations based on said location.
10 . A method as in claim 9 wherein said type of information is a language of the information.
11 . A method as in claim 9 wherein said type of information is products which are allowed in specified geographic locations.
12 . A method as in claim 6 wherein said returning comprises an indication of whether entry to a chat room is allowed.
13 . An apparatus comprising:
a computer, and
a position location element, associated with said computer, said position location element automatically producing a position information signal that indicates a position of said computer; and
said computer including a memory storing information, and running a specified routine based on a request, which compares said position with said information, and returns information from a website based on both on said signal, and said request.
14 . An apparatus as in claim 13 , wherein said computer returns a language of said website based on said position.
15 . An apparatus as in claim 13 , wherein said computer returns a subset of available products, based on said position, where some products are allowed in some positions, and not in other positions.
16 . An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said position detecting element is a satellite positioning system detecting element.
17 . An apparatus as in claim 13 further comprising an encrypting layer, encrypting at least said position information.