Systems and methods for using geo-location information in sensitive internet transactions
View Patent ↗A computer-implemented method for using geo-location information in sensitive Internet transactions is disclosed. In one example, such a method may include: 1) receiving, from a client device, a request to conduct an Internet transaction, 2) requiring geo-location information from the client device in order to conduct the Internet transaction, 3) receiving the geo-location information from the client device, 4) verifying the validity of the geo-location information, and then 5) conducting the Internet transaction. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
1. A computer-implemented method for using geo-location information in sensitive Internet transactions, at least a portion of the method being performed by a server comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
receiving, by the server from a client device, a request to conduct an Internet transaction;
requesting, by the server from the client device, geo-location information in order to conduct the Internet transaction, the geo-location information comprising signal strengths of raw GPS satellite signals obtained from at least one GPS satellite via a GPS device;
receiving the geo-location information at the server from the client device;
verifying, by analyzing at the server the signal strengths of the raw GPS satellite signals received from the GPS satellite, that the geo-location information is not false or illegitimate;
conducting, by the server, the Internet transaction based on the verifying of the geo-location information.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on the geo-location information, the location of a user of the client device.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising at least one of:
storing the geo-location information in a database;
storing the location of the user of the client device in a database.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising at least one of:
associating the geo-location information with the Internet transaction;
associating the location of the user of the client device with the Internet transaction.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the database is maintained by a trusted third party.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geo-location information further comprises at least one of:
identification information for at least one GPS satellite;
latitude and longitude coordinates;
a timestamp associated with the geo-location information.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
determining whether the signal strengths of the raw GPS satellite signals exceed a predetermined threshold;
determining whether the signal strengths of the raw GPS satellite signals vary by more than a predetermined threshold;
comparing the signal strengths of the raw GPS satellite signals with a known location of at least one GPS satellite allegedly responsible for generating the raw GPS satellite signals.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the location of a user involved in a prior Internet transaction by retrieving, from a database, geo-location information associated with the prior Internet transaction.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Internet transaction comprises:
an e-commerce transaction;
an e-banking transaction;
an electronic communication with a minor;
an electronic transaction with a government entity.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein requiring the geo-location information comprises at least one of:
requesting the geo-location information via a low-level authentication protocol;
requesting the geo-location information via a high-level web API;
requesting the geo-location information via a web form.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising enabling an administrator of a client account to require geo-location information in order to conduct an Internet transaction involving the client account.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a server, cause the processor to perform the method of:
receiving, by the server from a client device, a request to conduct an Internet transaction;
requesting, by the server from the client device, geo-location information in order to conduct the Internet transaction, the geo-location information comprising signal strengths of raw GPS satellite signals obtained from at least one GPS satellite via a GPS device;
receiving the geo-location information at the server from the client device;
verifying, by analyzing at the server the signal strengths of the raw GPS satellite signals received from the GPS satellite, that the geo-location information is not false or illegitimate;
conducting, by the server, the Internet transaction based on the verifying of the geo-location information.