METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THE GRANT OF A SUBSCRIBER'S PERMISSION
Confirmation of a mobile subscriber's permission to release their personal information is completed prior to transmitting the information to a requesting party. The mobile subscriber can view the requesting party's identity prior to making a decision to release their directory information. In the alternative, the mobile subscriber can contact the requesting party directly without a release of their personal information. Other types of information, such as location information, can also be communicated to a requesting party by this permission grant methodology.
1 . A method for offering location-based information services, the method comprising:
receiving a query based on a request from a requesting party for location information about a mobile communication device associated with a mobile device user;
responsive to the query, issuing a permission release request to a mobile communication device, the permission release request seeking permission for release of the requested location information on behalf of the requesting party; and
releasing the requested location information for distribution to the requesting party in response to receipt of a permission release response output by the mobile communication device, the permission release response providing permission for communication of the requested location information to the requesting party.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
requesting the location of the mobile communication device associated with the mobile device user and storing the location information in advance of issuing the permission release request.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
requesting the location of the mobile communication device associated with the mobile device user and storing the location information at regular intervals.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested location information comprises location information relevant to the mobile device, the location information comprising at least one of an address, location description, network, coordinates, and a mapped location specific to the mobile device user.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the permission release request comprises at least one of an identity of the requesting party and a telephone number for the requesting party.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the permission release response is output by the mobile communication device in response to an automated decision made by logic of the mobile communication device.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the permission release response is output by the mobile communication device in response to a decision made by the mobile device user based on interactions with a user interface of the mobile communication device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the permission release response is output by the mobile communication device in response to a decision made by the mobile device user as a result of a presentation by a user interface of the mobile communication device, the presentation providing an identity of the requesting party.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the requested location information is distributed to the requesting party in the form comprising one of the following: a text message transmitted to the mobile communication device of the requesting party; an integrated voice response device (IVR) speaking the requested location information to the requesting party; an operator calling the requesting party with the requested location information; a web page presenting the requested location information; a video message transmitted to the mobile communication device of the requesting party; a multimedia message transmitted to the mobile communication device of the requesting party; and an electronic mail message presenting the requested location information.
10 . A method for offering location-based information services, comprising the steps of:
receiving a query based on a request from a requesting party for location information about a mobile communication device associated with a mobile device user;
responsive to the request, communicating with a mobile device user to seek permission for release of the requested location information on behalf of the requesting party;
receiving a communication from the mobile device user granting permission for release of the requested location information to the requesting party; and
transmitting the requested location information to the requesting party.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
requesting the location of the mobile communication device associated with the mobile device user and storing the location information in advance of transmitting the requested location information.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
communicating the location of the mobile communication device associated with the mobile device user at regular intervals.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the requested location information comprises location information relevant to the mobile device, the location information comprising at least one of an address, location description, network, coordinates, and a mapped location specific to the mobile device user.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein communicating with a mobile device user to seek permission for release comprises transmitting at least one of an identity of the requesting party and a telephone number for the requesting party.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the requested location information is distributed to the requesting party in the form comprising one of the following: a text message transmitted to the mobile communication device of the requesting party; an integrated voice response device (IVR) speaking the requested location information to the requesting party; an operator calling the requesting party with the requested location information; a web page presenting the requested location information; a video message transmitted to the mobile communication device of the requesting party; a multimedia message transmitted to the mobile communication device of the requesting party; and an electronic mail message presenting the requested location information.
16 . A system for offering location-based information services, the system comprising:
a receiver configured to receive one or more queries from a requesting party for location information about a mobile communication device associated with a mobile device user,
a processor configured to generate one or more permission release requests to a mobile communication device, wherein the permission release request seeks permission for release of the requested location information on behalf of the requesting party; and
a database configured to store the information associated with the mobile device users;
an information release component configured to retrieve the requested location information from the database and further configured to transmit the location information to the requesting party in response to receipt of a permission release response output by the mobile communication device, the permission release response providing permission for communication of the requested location information to the requesting party.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the database is configured to store the location information in the in advance of the processor generating a permission release request.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the requested location information comprises location information relevant to the mobile device, the location information comprising at least one of an address, location description, network, coordinates, and a mapped location specific to the mobile device user.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the permission release response is received from the mobile communication device in response to a decision made by the mobile device user as a result of a presentation by a user interface of the mobile communication device, the presentation providing an identity of the requesting party.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the location of the mobile communication device at regular intervals.