U.S. patent application number 09/808170 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-08 for method and apparatus for location dependent software applications.
Invention is credited to ST-Denis, Danny.
Application Number | 20010039210 09/808170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25681648 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010039210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ST-Denis, Danny |
November 8, 2001 |
Method and apparatus for location dependent software
applications
Abstract
The Internet provides tremendous opportunities location
dependent services such as gaming and advertising. Gaming is
geopolitically regulated, so the physical locations of the end
user, the gambling server and the gambling service provider, must
be determined. The invention provides a means for doing so, by
identifying the location of the end user's Internet Service
Provider (ISP) or Access Service Provider (ASP). Similarly,
Internet advertising is presently either indiscriminate, which is
inefficient, or is personalized, violating the end user's privacy.
The invention allows advertising content to be provided based on
the physical location of the end user's ISP. This way,
advertisements can be geographically targeted without having
personal records stored on the Internet. Also described are many
other similar applications which can exploit knowledge of the
user's geographical location by using the location of the end
user's ISP or ASP.
Inventors: |
ST-Denis, Danny; (Windsor,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
160 Elgin Street, Suite 2600
Ottawa
ON
K1P 1C3
CA
|
Family ID: |
25681648 |
Appl. No.: |
09/808170 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/51 20220501;
H04L 9/40 20220501; G06Q 30/02 20130101; H04L 67/10 20130101; A63F
2300/5573 20130101; A63F 2300/407 20130101; A63F 2300/535 20130101;
H04L 67/52 20220501 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 15, 2000 |
CA |
2,301,474 |
Sep 22, 2000 |
CA |
2,320,413 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of gaming over a communication network comprising the
steps of: an end user sending a request to an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) to access a gaming Web site; said ISP forwarding
said request to a Gaming Server for said gaming Web site, including
ISP location data; and said Gaming Server responding to said ISP
being in an acceptable location by allowing access to said gaming
Web site.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication
network comprises an Internet network.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ISP location data
comprises the media access control (MAC) address of said ISP.
4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ISP location data
comprises the IP address of said ISP.
5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ISP location data
comprises an address indicated by said ISP.
6. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of
said ISP responding to the physical location of said end user being
indeterminent by rejecting said request for access.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said request is
encrypted.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step of sending a
request further comprises sending an account name and password.
9. A method of gaming over an Internet communication network
comprising the steps of: an end user sending a request to an
Internet Service Provider (ISP) to access a gaming Web site, in
encrypted form, including an account name and password; said ISP:
responding to the physical location of said end user being
indeterminent by rejecting said request for access; and forwarding
said request to a Gaming Server for said gaming Web site, via said
Internet network, in encrypted form, including the media access
control (MAC) address of said ISP; said Gaming Server: decrypting
said request; and responding to said account name and password of
said end user corresponding to a valid account, and said MAC
address of said ISP being in an acceptable location by allowing
said end user to access said gaming Web site.
10. A system for gaming over a communication network comprising: an
end user; an Internet Service Provider (ISP); a Gaming Server
having a gaming Web site; and a communication network for
interconnecting said end user, said ISP and said Gaming Server;
said end user being operable to: send a request to an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) for access to said gaming Web site; said ISP
being operable to: forward said request to said Gaming Server,
including ISP location data; and said Gaming Server being operable
to: respond to said ISP being in an acceptable location by allowing
access.
11. A method of targeted distribution of content over a
communication network comprising the steps of: an end user sending
a request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Internet Access
Provider (IAP) for a Web page; and said ISP returning said Web page
to said end user, including targeted content based on the location
of said ISP or IAP.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of returning
comprises the step of: said ISP or IAP querying an advertising
server for local advertising software code; said a local
advertising server responding to said query by: identifying the
physical location of the ISP or IAP; indexing a database of
advertising software code using said physical location; and
returning said advertising code to said ISP or IAP; and said ISP or
IAP inserting said local advertising software code into said Web
page and sending said Web page to said end user.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of
identifying the physical location of the ISP or IAP comprises the
step of: identifying the physical location of the ISP or IAP based
on the MAC address of said ISP or IAP.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of
identifying the physical location of the ISP or IAP comprises the
step of: identifying the physical location of the ISP or IAP based
on the IP address of said ISP or IAP.
15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of
identifying the physical location of the ISP or IAP comprises the
step of: identifying the physical location of the ISP or IAP based
on an address indicated by said ISP or IAP.
16. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of returning
comprises the step of: said ISP or IAP sending a request to said
Web Site with a tag identifying said request for targeted
advertising; and said Web Site, responding to said request for a
Web page and to said request including said targeted advertising
tag, by returning said Web page to said ISP or IAP, said Web page
including identifiers for the insertion of advertising code.
17. A method of targeted advertising comprising the steps of: an
end user sending a request to an Internet Service Provider, for a
Web page from a Web Site; said ISP or IAP sending a request to said
Web Site with a tag identifying said request for targeted
advertising; said Web Site, responding to said request for a Web
page and to said request including said targeted advertising tag,
by returning said Web page to said ISP or IAP, said Web page
including identifiers for the insertion of advertising code; said
ISP or IAP responding to the receipt of said Web page with said
identifiers by querying an advertising server for local advertising
software code; said a local advertising server responding to said
query by: identifying the MAC address of the ISP or IAP; indexing a
database of advertising software code using said MAC address;
returning said advertising code to said ISP or IAP; and recording
said transaction for accounting purposes; and said ISP or IAP
inserting said local advertising software code into said Web page
and sending said Web page to said end user.
18. A system for targeted distribution of content over a
communication network comprising: an end user; an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) or Internet Access Provider (IAP); and a
communication network for interconnecting said End user and said
ISP or IAP; said end user being operable to: send a request to said
Internet Service Provider (ISP or IAP) for a Web page; and said ISP
or IAP being operable to: return said Web page to said end user,
including targeted content based on the location of said ISP or
IAP.
19. A computer readable memory medium for storing software code
executable to perform the method steps of claim 1.
20. A carrier signal incorporating software code executable to
perform the method steps of claim 1.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates generally to computers and
communications, and more specifically, to a method and system of
implementing location dependent software applications over computer
networks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known that data communication networks such as
the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs) and Local Area Networks
(LANs), offer tremendously efficient means of organizing and
distributing computerized data. These efficiencies have resulted in
their widespread use for both business and personal applications.
For example, the Internet is now a common medium for operating
online auctions, academic and public forums, distributing
publications such as newspapers and magazines, and performing
electronic commerce and electronic mail transactions.
[0003] Two types of transactions for which the Internet appears
particularly attractive are on-line gaming and advertising. As will
be explained, proper implementation of these and similar
application require the end user's location to be determined,
Currently, the Internet does not offer a simple, inexpensive way of
determining the end user's location.
[0004] Current gaming and betting systems typically require some
manner of direct interaction in a common physical location, for
example: casinos, bingo halls, video lottery terminals, sports
betting halls and the like. However, it is not always possible for
interested participants to visit such establishments, for example,
people who are confined to a hospital or nursing home cannot
physically attend a bingo session. Of course, operators of casinos
and betting services would also like their clientele to have
easier, twenty-four hour access to their services, which on-line
systems would easily accommodate.
[0005] Because gambling is a regulated industry all over the world,
one cannot simply create an on-line gambling site without regard
for the regulations. These regulations are set by individual
nations and vary from total prohibition to nearly complete
permissive wagering on almost unlimited subject matter. In the
United States, for example, the states have the authority to
regulate gambling within their state borders. State-sanctioned
lotteries, casinos, bingo halls, card parlours, and off-track
paramutual betting on horse racing over the telephone are but a few
examples. These activities are governed by a Gambling Commission in
each state, who controls the licensing of all games and businesses
permitted to offer games.
[0006] Internationally, the scene is much the same; that is,
individual nation states regulate gambling within their borders. As
no nation has successfully regulated gambling beyond its
geopolitical boundaries, clearly telecommunication systems present
the opportunity for regulatory problems.
[0007] In order to regulate and enforce the gaming industry, it is
necessary to identify where the gambling occurs and who the parties
are. This is of particular concern relative to remote gambling
transactions made using a wide area communication network such as
the Internet.
[0008] FIG. 1 presents an exemplary layout of an Internet
communications system 30. The Internet 32 itself is represented by
a number of routers 34 interconnected by an Internet backbone 36
network designed for high-speed transport of large amounts of data.
User's computers 38 may access the Internet in a number of manners
including modulating and demodulating data over a telephone line
using audio frequencies, which requires a modem 40 and connection
to the Public Switched Telephone Network 42, which in turn connects
to the Internet 32 via an Internet Service Provider 44. Another
manner of connection is the use of set top boxes 50 which modulate
and demodulate data onto high frequencies which pass over existing
telephone or television cable networks 52 and are connected
directly to the Internet via Hi-Speed Internet Service Provider 54.
Generally, these high frequency signals are transmitted outside the
frequencies of existing services passing over these telephone or
television cable networks 52.
[0009] Web sites are maintained on servers 56 also connected to the
Internet 32 which provide content and applications to the user's
computers 38. Communications between user's computers 38 and the
rest of the system 30 are standardized by means of defined
communication protocols.
[0010] Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 44, 54 or Internet Access
Providers (IAPs), are companies that provide access to the
Internet. ISPs 44, 54 are considered by some to be distinguished
from IAPs in that they also provide content and services to their
subscribers, but in the context of this disclosure the distinction
is irrelevant. For a monthly fee, ISPs 44, 54 generally provider
end users with the necessary software, user name, password and
physical access. Equipped with a telephone line modem 40 or set top
box 50, one can then log on to the Internet 32 and browse the World
Wide Web, and send and receive e-mail.
[0011] FIG. 1 is something of a simplification, as ISPs are often
connected to the Internet 32 through Network Access Points (NAPs),
rather than directly as shown in FIG. 1. As well, the Internet
itself is far more complex than that shown in FIG. 1, consisting of
a vast interconnection of computers, servers, routers, computer
networks and public telecommunication networks which allows two
parties to communicate via whatever entities happen to be
interconnected at any particular time. However, these details would
be well known to one skilled in the art.
[0012] Prior to today's widespread accessibility to the Internet,
remote gaming and betting had to be implemented in a "hard-wired"
manner to ensure participants were located within an acceptable
jurisdiction. This required the establishment of complicated and
expensive secured virtual private networks (VPN), secure wide area
networks (WAN), or private telephone lines. Such techniques are
known in the art and will not be described in detail herein.
[0013] These hard-wired networks were costly and complex, and could
not be easily setup or modified. Therefore, they could not be
applied to participants with a casual interest in the gaming
activity.
[0014] With the pervasiveness of the Internet, a large number of
on-line gaming and betting services have recently appeared.
Typically, these services use very weak techniques to verify the
location of customers, which may explain why many of these services
have located themselves beyond the legal reach of regulators in
their main markets. For example, many on-line casinos directed
towards the United States market are located in Antigua, Belize and
Dominican Republic.
[0015] These systems generally ask the user to supply a street
address which confirms they are currently in the acceptable
jurisdiction. Some services even verify the end user's name,
telephone number and address against a database to confirm that
they should be allowed to use the service, but such controls can be
circumvented simply by the end user entering a valid set of
personal data for someone else in the acceptable area. Such
approaches are therefore completely ineffective against a
determined user.
[0016] It has been proposed that databases be created which will
provide geographic locations based on the IP address of the user.
In addition to the cost of creating and maintaining these
databases, which would require continuous modification and
updating, this approach requires the user's actual IP address,
which raises privacy concerns. Furthermore, many dial up ISPs use
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) which dynamically
assigns IP addresses to subscribers when they call up. Therefore, a
device can have a different IP address every time it connects to
the network, and in some systems, the device's IP address can even
change while it is still connected.
[0017] DHCP simplifies network administration because the software
keeps track of IP addresses rather than requiring an administrator
to manage the task. This means that a new computer can be added to
the network without the inconvenience of manually assigning it a
unique IP address. Because the end user is not associated with a
unique IP address, the IP address does not reliably correspond with
the geographic location of an end user.
[0018] Another approach is to use the existing global positioning
system (GPS) to identify the geographic location of end users. The
GPS is a system of 24 satellites for identifying earth locations,
launched by the U.S. Department of Defense. By triangulation of
signals from three of the satellites, a receiving unit can pinpoint
its current location anywhere on earth to within a few meters.
However, such systems require the end user to install special,
expensive hardware and software. Since the GPS equipment is on the
end user's premises and out of control of the regulators, it may be
subject to tampering. An end user could, for example, alter the
data the GPS equipment provides to indicate that he is residing in
any jurisdiction that he wishes.
[0019] It has also been proposed that IPv6 be designed to
accommodate location information. IPv6 is the next generation IP
protocol, which among other things, expands the address space from
32 to 128 bits. Therefore, the address space has sufficient room to
include both a backward compatible IP address, as well as
geographic data. However, this would require universal agreement or
standardization, which has not occurred. As well, IPv6 has not been
widely implemented, and will likely require some time to replace
the currently pervasive IPv4 legacy hardware and software.
[0020] If the above problems could be overcome, geographical
locating could be used for far more than simply gaming and betting.
For example, any services which a Web site wishes to restrict to
end users in a certain geographic area may be so restricted,
including government publications, help lines or counselling
services. As well, any content which is of regional interest could
be distributed, including local news, stock quotations, weather
reports, road conditions and public meetings. The system could also
determine which state and national taxes apply to the sale of goods
by determining the location of the buyer and seller.
[0021] For example, the Internet is an excellent medium for
advertising because of the rich formatting, including sound,
animation and personal interaction with the end user. As well, the
Internet is pervasive in developed countries and the cost of making
advertising content available once it is created, is minimal. The
hardware and software used to implement the Internet, as well as
the content that is carried, all have a cost. In many other media,
such as television and radio, the cost to end users is nominal
because advertisers pay for most of the cost of the infrastructure.
However, there are no effective ways of managing advertising over
the Internet.
[0022] While the Internet is an international communication
network, advertising and much other content has only local value.
Hence, in order for advertising to be effective, some efficient
manner of targeting advertising to users based on their
geographical location is required. Like the location determining
techniques used in gaming applications, none are effective.
[0023] There is therefore a need for a means of determining the
geographic location of end users over the Internet and similar
networks, provided with consideration for the problems outlined
above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
method and system which obviates or mitigates at least one of the
disadvantages described above.
[0025] One aspect of the invention is broadly defined as a method
of gaming over a communication network comprising the steps of: an
end user sending a request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
for access to a gaming Web site; the ISP forwarding the request to
a Gaming Server for the gaming Web site, including ISP location
data; and the Gaming Server responding to the ISP being in an
acceptable location by allowing access to the gaming Web site.
[0026] Another aspect of the invention is defined as a system for
targeted distribution of content over a communication network
comprising: an end user; an Internet Service Provider (ISP); a
Gaming Server having a gaming Web site; and a communication network
for interconnecting the end user, the ISP and the Gaming Server;
the end user being operable to: send a request to an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) for access to the gaming Web site; the ISP
being operable to: forward the request to the Gaming Server,
including ISP location data; and the Gaming Server being operable
to: respond to the ISP being in an acceptable location by allowing
access.
[0027] One aspect of the invention is broadly defined as a method
of targeted distribution over a communication network comprising
the steps of: an end user sending a request to an Internet Service
Provider (ISP), for a Web page from a Web Site; and the ISP
returning the Web page to the end user, including targeted content
based on the location of the ISP.
[0028] Another aspect of the invention is defined as a system for
targeted distribution of content over a communication network
comprising: an end user; an Internet Service Provider (ISP); and a
communication network for interconnecting the End user and the ISP;
the end user being operable to: send a request to the Internet
Service Provider (ISP) for a Web page; and the ISP being operable
to: return the Web page to the end user, including targeted content
based on the location of the ISP.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is made
to the appended drawings in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a physical layout of an exemplary communication
network as known in the prior art;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method of gaming in a preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system of gaming in a
preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of gaming in a preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of targeted distribution
of advertising in a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system of targeted
distribution of advertising in a preferred embodiment of the
invention; and
[0036] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of targeted distribution
of advertising in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0037] A methodology which addresses the objects outlined above, is
presented as a flow chart in FIG. 2. This figure presents a method
of gaming over a communication network which is initiated when an
end user sends a request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to
access a gaming Web site at step 60. The ISP forwards this request
to the Gaming Server which supports the gaming Web site at step 62,
but also includes ISP location data with this request. This ISP
location data allows the Gaming Server at step 64 to check the
location of the ISP and allow access to the gaming Web site if the
ISP is in an acceptable location.
[0038] The communication network may be one of many known in the
art, and may consist of several different networks working
together, including wireless networks such as cellular telephone
networks, the public switched telephone network, cable television
networks, the Internet, ATM networks, frame relay networks, local
area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).
[0039] The end user may send his request to his ISP using a number
of different devices including a computer, smart terminal, personal
digital assistant, Interne-tready telephone, a dedicated gaming
device or other similar interface. Such devices are well known in
the art.
[0040] The gaming Web site could be similar to one known in the
art, and could include text, graphics, audio files, executable
applets, data files or attachments such as software files, or other
data and files known in the art. The gaming content is not limiting
on the invention, and could include, for example, amusement games,
games of chance or betting systems. Additional examples are
described hereinafter.
[0041] The ISP may obtain the gaming Web site data from a number of
sources, though generally it will be from the Gaming Server
maintaining the Web site. Often, however, the same content may be
available in a memory cache on the ISP's equipment, or in a similar
cache elsewhere on the communication network. As well, the gaming
Web sites may have mirror sites to which the request may be
directed.
[0042] In order to entitle the end user to commence legal gambling
or betting, the regulators having jurisdiction over the end users
and the casino must be established. Jurisdiction is established by
determining the physical locations of the casino, the player and
possibly the server. The location of the casino is known, and the
location of the server is controlled by the casino. What must be
specifically determined is the location of the player.
[0043] The invention verifies the location of the end user by
identifying the location of the Internet Service Provider (ISP), or
Internet Access Provider (IAP). While there is a distinction
between an ISP and ASP in the art, the distinction is not
significant for the purposes of the invention. As the ISP controls
the manner in which the end user makes his physical connection to
the Internet, he will be in a position to determine whether the end
user's physical location can be confirmed sufficiently to allow
access. Methods of determining the end user's physical location and
methods for communicating the ISP's position are described in
greater detail hereinafter.
[0044] The invention of FIG. 2 addresses the problems in the art.
It allows remote users to legally gamble at legal casino sites
using a common and inexpensive communications network such as the
Internet, as the connecting medium.
[0045] No additional hardware is required as in the case of the GPS
solutions, and DNS routers do not need to be modified to include
location data. Therefore, there is no additional cost to the end
user and the invention may be applied without affecting the
existing network. As well, the invention is independent of whether
IPv4 or IPv6 is being used.
[0046] Because the targeting is determined by the location of the
ISP and does not require the IP address of the end User, the
invention also operates with Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
(DHCP) systems. As well, because the determination of location is
made by the ISP, there is no opportunity for the end user to tamper
with the verification process.
[0047] Thus, the invention allows twenty-four hour a day, seven day
a week gaming and amusement services without the inconvenience of
having to attend a physical location. As well, regulators'
requirements can easily be accommodated. The invention offers many
other advantages, which would be clear to one skilled in the art.
For example, it allows organizations using casinos to launder
money, to easily be identified and monitored.
[0048] The preferred embodiment of the invention is presented by
means of the block diagram in FIG. 3, and the flow chart of FIG. 4.
FIG. 3 focuses on the relevant parties in the transaction of the
invention, and does not present the same level of detail as FIG.
1.
[0049] A number of end users 70 are presented, who have access to
the Internet 32 via their ISP 72. The end users 70 may employ
computers 38 as in FIG. 1, or other interface devices as known in
the art, and as will emerge as technology evolves. These end users
70 may access their ISP 72 in different ways, such as via cable
modem, telephone line mode, or wireless methods, which is not
limited by the invention. Via the Internet 32, the end users 70
then have access to various gaming servers 74, who provide them
with the software code to effect online gaming.
[0050] The corresponding method of the invention is presented as a
flow chart in FIG. 4. This method is initiated by an end user
logging onto a Gaming Server's 74 Web site at step 80. This step
will generally be effected by the end user searching through the
resources of the World Wide Web, using his Web browser. A Web
browser is an application program that runs on the end user's
computer 38 and provides a way to look at and interact with all the
information on the World Wide Web. A Web browser uses HTTP to make
requests of Web servers throughout the Internet on behalf of the
Web browser user. Currently, most Web browsers are implemented as
graphical user interfaces.
[0051] When the end user enters file requests by either "opening" a
Web file, typing in a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or clicking
on a hypertext link, the Web browser builds an HTTP request and
sends it to the Internet Protocol address indicated by the URL. The
HTTP software in the destination server machine receives the
request and, after any necessary processing, the requested file is
returned.
[0052] The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the set of rules
for exchanging files on the World Wide Web, including text, graphic
images, sound, video, and other multimedia files. HTTP also allows
files to contain references to other files whose selection will
elicit additional transfer requests (hypertext links). Typically,
the HTTP software on a Web server machine is designed to wait for
HTTP requests and handle them when they arrive.
[0053] The details of the login step may vary from application to
application, and are well known in the art. In the preferred
embodiment of the invention, the following would be included:
[0054] 1. the end user either types in the uniform resource locator
(URL) of the casino Web site, clicks on a previously bookmarked
URL, or clicks on a hypertext link from another Web site, to reach
the home page of the gaming Web site;
[0055] 2. the Gaming Server 74 on which the gaming Web site
resides, returns the main Web page to the end user;
[0056] 3. the end user selects the login page on the gaming Web
site;
[0057] 4. the Gaming Server 74 returns the login page, requesting
that the end user enter his account and password, or similar secure
identification such as a personal identification number (PIN) or
digital signature; and
[0058] 5. the end user returns the requested login information to
the Gaming Server 74.
[0059] Next, at step 82, the ISP 72 receives the login response
from the end user and forwards it to the Gaming Server 74,
including ISP location data.
[0060] The physical location of the ISP 72 may be determined at
step 82, in a number of manners including the following:
[0061] 1. Indication by ISP 72
[0062] Of course, the ISP 72 could simply identify its physical
location to the gaming server when it places its request. To
streamline the process, the gaming server could standardize the
references, rather than using latitude and longitude, it could for
example, provide listings of towns, cities and counties that the
ISP 72 associates itself with.
[0063] 2. IP Address
[0064] Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are identifiers for
computers or devices on an Internet network, which are used to
route messages. The format of an IP address in IPv4 is a 32-bit
number which consists of a network prefix, and a host number. In
"subnet" networks, the 32-bits are shared with a third
component--the "subnet number".
[0065] The network prefix, or network prefix and subnet number in
combination (sometimes referred to as the extended network prefix),
identifies the ISP 72, or at least its network access point (NAP).
Therefore, this information can be used to identify the physical
ISP that an end user is connected to. With this information, the
gaming server 74 can send the proper regional content to the end
user.
[0066] The number of unassigned Internet addresses is running out,
so a new "classless" scheme called Classless Inter-Domain Routing
(CIDR) is gradually replacing the system based on classes A, B, and
C and is tied to adoption of IPv6. With CIDR, IP addresses still
have a network prefix and subnet number, but the formatting has
changed. Therefore, the invention can be applied to CIDR just as
easily as the existing IP class system.
[0067] 3. MAC or DLC Address
[0068] In networks, a node is a processing location, and can be a
computer or some other device, such as a printer. Every node has a
unique network address, sometimes called a Data Link Control (DLC)
address or Media Access Control (MAC) address.
[0069] A Media Access Control (MAC) address is a hardware address
that uniquely identifies each node of a network. In IEEE 802
networks, the Data Link Control (DLC) layer of the OSI Reference
Model is divided into two sublayers: the Logical Link Control (LLC)
layer and the Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The MAC layer
interfaces directly with the network media.
[0070] On networks that do not conform to the IEEE 802 standards
but do conform to the OSI Reference Model, the node address is
called the Data Link Control (DLC) address.
[0071] If the ISP 72 does not transmit its physical address in its
request, the gaming server may use the Address Resolution Protocol
(ARP) to convert the IP address into a physical address, such as a
DLC address. The gaming server wishing to obtain a physical address
broadcasts an ARP request onto the Internet. The server on the
network that has the IP address in the request (the ISP 72 in this
case) then replies with its physical hardware address.
[0072] At step 84, the gaming server 74 authenticates the player's
identity (via the account and password for example), and confirms
that the ISP 72 lies within the acceptable jurisdiction, using a
method complementary to that used in the method at step 82.
[0073] Note that if the ISP 72 allows telephone dial-up access
which an end user could access from another jurisdiction by long
distance dialling, for example, the ISP 72 may simply use call
display to confirm the dialled number. If an end user is outside
the jurisdiction, the ISP 72 may then allow the end user regular
access to the Internet 32, but reject logon attempts to gaming
sites.
[0074] If the end user attempts to access the gaming Web site by
reaching his ISP 72 using a cellular telephone, the ISP 72 may
verify the location of the end user by identifying the cellular
tower serving the end user. Such technology is known in the art.
Cellular systems are local systems. As a car travels from one cell
to the next, the cellular network tracks the user in order to
maintain the communication, and necessarily knows which cell the
user is in. As Web sites would recognize the MAC address of the
cellular provider, the MAC address must be verified as the end user
moves from one cell to the next.
[0075] If the logon attempt at step 84 fails, the Gaming Server 74
returns an "access denied" message at step 86 and the routine is
complete.
[0076] If authentication is successful then the routine proceeds to
perform whatever steps are necessary to effect the desired game, at
steps 88 through 94. These steps will vary widely, but may
include:
[0077] the end user being prompted to select a game and making such
a selection at step 88. Typically, the software routine will sit in
a loop until such a selection is made;
[0078] the Gaming Server 74 then determines whether the end user
has sufficient funds to play the requested game at step 90. If not,
access is denied at step 86, otherwise, control passes to step
92;
[0079] the game is then played at step 92. This may include many
steps, as known in the art;
[0080] after the completion of the game, at step 94, the gaming
server makes whatever adjustments are necessary to the end user's
account, crediting or debiting his account in respect of the wins
or losses in the game. Generally, these accounts are managed using
debit cards and credit cards, but many other systems could be used
such as prepaid accounts or smart cards.
[0081] As the game is completed, the end user is queried as to
whether he wishes to play another game at step 96.
[0082] The invention has been described with respect to a specific
example, but it would be clear to one skilled in the art that the
invention may be applied to many amusement games, games of chance,
for betting or entertainment purposes, including without
limitation: video lottery terminals, keno, roulette, dice games
such as craps, ma jong, jai lai, pai gow, horse racing, dog racing,
lotteries, slot machines, baseball, football, golf, basketball,
fantasy sports leagues and fantasy sports games, and card games
which may include poker, black jack, solitaire, and baccarat. The
invention may, for example, be used to collect participants in
different geographical areas to compete against one another as
teams.
[0083] Geographical locating in the manner of the invention could
also be used for far more than simply gaming and betting, in fact
any services which a Web site wishes to restrict to end users in a
certain geographic area may be so restricted. As noted above, these
services may include for example: government publications, help
lines or counselling services. The system could also determine
which state and national taxes apply to the sale of goods by
determining the location of the buyer and seller.
[0084] Large parts manufacturers in the automotive and aerospace
industries could use the invention to route parts to distributors
on a geographic basis, or for added security. The large automobile
manufacturers intend to implement an online parts distribution
system in which different types of customers have different levels
of access. The invention could be applied to such a scenario, for
large or small parts, by verifying the location and integrity of
the source and customer requesting the parts.
[0085] As noted above, advertising is another application for which
location dependent processing is desirable.
[0086] Targeted Advertising
[0087] Typically, advertising on the Internet today is
non-discriminant. The same advertisements are presented to any end
user who accesses a given Web page, regardless of who they are or
where they are. Some Web pages have a large number of
advertisements that are cycled through, so that a different
advertisement may appear each time one accesses the page, but
again, this is done in a non-discriminant basis.
[0088] Obviously, this approach is not efficient, as some viewers
will not be in the geographic marketing area of the advertiser,
which may be limited to a continent, country or region. While it is
known how to monitor the number of end users who have viewed a Web
page or an advertisement, it is not possible to determine how many
of those end users are part of the targeted group. Therefore, this
method of advertising has questionable commercial value.
[0089] Some Web sites monitor the preferences of end users
accessing their Web sites, and record those specifics. One method
of doing this is to collect "cookies" from end users. Cookies are
messages given to a Web browser by a Web server when the end user
accesses that Web server, which the browser stores in a text file.
The cookie is then sent back to the Web server each time the Web
browser requests a Web page from the Web server.
[0090] The main purpose of cookies is to identify end users and
possibly prepare customized Web pages for them. However, the
creation of user preference databases are generally considered by
the public to be an invasion of privacy, so there is pressure to
create laws or apply existing laws to prevent such monitoring. Such
monitoring has also encouraged the development of anonymous
servers, which serve as intermediaries to disguise end users from
the Web sites they wish to access.
[0091] A methodology which allows for location-targeted
advertising, without the problems noted herein above, is presented
as a flow chart in FIG. 5. This figure presents a method of
targeted distribution over a communication network which is
initiated when an end user sends a request to his Internet Service
Provider (ISP) for a Web page at step 160. The ISP returns the
requested Web page to the end user at step 162, including targeted
content based on the location of the ISP, rather than the location
of the end user.
[0092] As in the gaming embodiment above, the communication network
may be one of many known in the art, and may consist of several
different networks working together. The end user may send his
request to his ISP using a number of different devices including a
computer, smart terminal, personal digital assistant,
Interne-tready telephone or other similar interface. Such devices
are well known in the art.
[0093] The Web page that has been requested is not intended to
limit the claimed invention, and could include text, graphics,
audio files, executable applets, data files or attachments such as
software files, or other data and files known in the art.
[0094] The ISP may obtain the Web page from a number of sources,
though generally it will be from the Web Site maintaining the page.
Often, however, the same content may be available in a memory cache
on the ISP's equipment, or in a similar cache elsewhere on the
communication network. As well, Web Sites may have mirror sites to
which the request may be directed.
[0095] Once the ISP obtains the Web page data, it inserts targeted
content which is determined by the location of the ISP itself. The
targeted content will most likely include advertising, but may also
include other information of regional interest, including road
maps, weather reports, local news and announcements, stock
quotations and public meetings. As well, geographical targeting
could be used to tailor the language used on a Web site or portal
to the local requirements. Yahoo, for example, could default to
send English Web pages to ISPs in North America, and German Web
pages to ISPs in Germany. This information may be stored on the
ISP's equipment, or obtain from any other location accessible over
the communication network.
[0096] The invention of FIG. 5 addresses the problems in the art.
It allows advertisements and other content to be directed
geographically, which makes such advertising far more effective and
should address the cost issues which presently hinder growth of the
Internet.
[0097] As in the case of the gaming application, no additional
hardware is required as in the case of the GPS solutions, and DNS
routers do not need to be modified to include location data. There
is no additional cost to the end user and the invention may be
applied without affecting the existing network. As well, the
invention is independent of whether IPv4 or IPv6 is-being used.
[0098] Because the targeting is determined by the location of the
ISP and does not require the IP address of the end User, the
invention also operates with Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
(DHCP) systems.
[0099] The preferred embodiment of the invention is presented by
means of the block diagram in FIG. 6, and the flow chart of FIG. 7.
FIG. 6 identifies the relevant parties in the transaction of the
invention, and does not present the same level of detail as FIG.
1.
[0100] As in FIG. 3, this system includes a number of end users 70
who have access to the Internet 32 via their ISP 72. The end users
70 may employ computers 38 as in FIG. 1, or other interface devices
as known in the art, and as will emerge as technology evolves.
These end users 70 may access their ISP 72 in different ways, such
as via cable modem, telephone line mode, or wireless methods, which
is not limited by the invention.
[0101] Via the Internet 32, the end users 70 then have access to
various Web Sites 174, who provide them with Web pages and other
content. The Web Sites 174 and ISP 72 also have secure access to an
advertising server 176 which stores the regional content. The
advertising server 176 is described in greater detail
hereinafter.
[0102] The corresponding method of the invention is presented as a
flow chart in FIG. 7. This method is initiated by the end user 70
sending a request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 72, for a
Web page from a Web Site 174, at step 80. This step will generally
be effected by the end user 70 searching through the resources of
the World Wide Web, using his Web browser as described above with
respect to FIG. 4.
[0103] Next, at step 182, the ISP 72 receives the request from the
end user 70 and sends a request to the Web Site 174 with a tag
indicating that targeted advertising is to be applied.
[0104] The Web Site 174 identifies the tag and returns the
requested Web page with identifiers in place of the usual
advertising that they generate themselves, at step 184. As well,
this Web page still has the targeted advertising tag intact.
[0105] When the Web page with the tag is received by the ISP 72, it
responds at step 86 by querying an advertising server 176 to obtain
the local advertising software code, or other regional content.
[0106] The local advertising server 176 responds at step 188
by:
[0107] 1. identifying the physical location of the ISP 72;
[0108] 2. indexing a database of advertising software code or other
regional content, using the physical location of the ISP 72;
[0109] 3. returning the advertising software code to the ISP 72;
and
[0110] 4. recording the transaction for accounting purposes.
[0111] Upon receipt of the local advertising software code at step
190, the ISP 72 simply inserts the software code into the Web page
and sends it to the end user 70.
[0112] As described above, the physical location of the ISP 72 may
be determined at step 182, in a number of manners including an
indication by the ISP 72, use of the IP Address of the ISP 72, or
use of its MAC or DLC Address.
[0113] The invention is not limited by the nature of the Web page
being transmitted. The invention could be used to insert simple
banners into Web pages, or more sophisticated multimedia
advertisements. As well, these advertisements could be sent along
with real audio, real video, telephone over Internet, video
conferencing over Internet, or other data and software
applications. Like the gaming embodiment, the advertising
embodiment could also be applied to cellular wireless applications,
with advertising changing as the end user 70 moves from one cell to
the next.
[0114] In the preferred embodiment, an advertising server 176 is
used which will administer advertising in an effective and secure
manner, accounting for the financial agreement between the various
Web Server and ISPs. However, the Web site may perform this
functionality itself, in fact, it may implement the invention
without the knowledge of either the ISP 72 or the end user 70.
Alternatively, the ISP 72 could replace advertising in Web pages
received from Web Sites with its own content, or simply add its own
advertising banners or headers to Web pages.
[0115] Additional Embodiments
[0116] The system and method of the invention may also be applied
in many other manners, which would be clear to the skilled
technician from the teachings herein. For example:
[0117] 1. Correlating web page accesses with geographic areas
allows valuable marketing and statistical data to be easily
collected.
[0118] 2. The distribution of movies can be better controlled to
increase their viewing rates. Rather than making a complete
collection of movies available to all users at one time, in which
case users will only view the best ones, the method of the
invention can be used to roll out certain movies in certain areas,
at certain times. A movie distributor could, for example, roll out
ten new movies each month, encouraging users to fall into a pattern
of viewing new movies as they are released. The controlled release
makes it easier to market the movies.
[0119] By rolling out movies in different regions at different
times, public interest and anticipation can be built, increasing
demand.
[0120] The same technique can be used for other electronic content
or on-line applications such as music and video games.
[0121] 3. A movie distributor could also avoid making certain
movies available in certain areas, to manage public image. For
example, a producer of family movies may be concerned that
releasing a risque movie in a religious region may damage their
reputation, while it might be overlooked in another area. With the
invention, the movie distributor could release the movie in some
regions and block it in others.
[0122] 4. The invention could be used to enforce publication bans
in court cases.
[0123] 5. The invention allows entertainment content to be
distributed far more efficiently to smaller markets. Currently,
movies are only produced if they have very broad appeal. The
invention would allow a documentary to be produced on the Walkerton
water treatment scandal, for example, and be marketed and
distributed in the area that has an interest in the product, rather
than nationwide or internationally. Web portals in the region of
interest could be provided with the marketing material, while web
page requests from users outside the targeted jurisdiction would
receive marketing content appropriate to their own area.
[0124] 6. Like gaming, censorship is also generally regulated by
geopolitical region.
[0125] The invention would allow censorship of video, text, audio
and audio/visual content by correlating the end user's location
with a censorship database or flags within the web pages providing
the content.
[0126] Some measure of protection would be required to prevent
users from downloading content inside an area in which certain
content is allowed, and re-distributing it into an area in which it
is censored. Such techniques are known in the art.
[0127] 7. Language laws may be enforced using the invention. If for
example, a particular province or state requires business to be
carried out in a particular language, then the invention can
identify requests coming from users in that state and only return
web pages that comply with those language requirements.
[0128] Similarly, the invention may be used to identify the default
language for the end user. For example, it may be assumed that all
users in United States will be able to read English, so English web
pages would be returned to users in the United States by
default.
[0129] 8. Prices for electronic commerce (e-commerce) products and
services can be presented to users in their local currency, using
local prices sheets, and taking into account shipping and/or
handling costs to reach that locale.
[0130] 9. Encryption software is also controlled by geopolitical
regions. The United States, for example, does not allow export of
certain strong encryption software in an effort to prevent foreign
organized crime from obtaining access to secure communication. The
method of the invention could be used to enforce such laws.
[0131] 10. Marketing can be regionalised. For example, electronic
sales flyers and brochures may be targeted on a geographic basis,
so that they include prices and products which vary from region to
region.
[0132] 11. The invention allows marketing techniques which
communicate a higher level of "trust" than traditional Internet
marketing techniques. For example, the web page of a large bank may
be tailored for each branch, on a geographic basis, so that users
believe they are communicating with the local bank, rather than a
nation-wide server.
[0133] 12. Sports content can be tailored by geographic region. For
example, hockey may be assumed to have higher priority in Canada,
and baseball, a higher priority in United States. If a small-town
fastball team is playing in the state finals, it may be assumed
that this will be of interest to users in the small town but not to
users in other states. Thus, web portals, menus and web pages in
general may be tailored for regional content using the
invention.
[0134] On-line software applications and operating systems could
tailor functionality based on location, using a number of the
concepts outlined above. Parameters of an on-line operating system
that could be modified by geographic location could include:
encryption techniques (see item 9 above), language (see item 7),
advertising and marketing materials, and identification of national
and state holidays in a calendar application. Default spelling of
words could also be determined by geographical location. The word
"colour", for example, is typically spelled "color" in United
States and "colour" in Canada.
[0135] In the preferred embodiment of the location dependent
processing applications, all Internet communications are to be
encrypted as a security precaution, using one of many techniques
known in the art. Currently, the preferred method is that of
public-key/private-key encryption. Encryption preserves the privacy
of the transactions, prevents tampering with the game or results,
and protects against unauthorized access to a player's financial
accounts.
[0136] The method steps of the invention may be embodiment in sets
of executable machine code stored in a variety of formats such as
object code or source code. Such code is described generically
herein as programming code, or a computer program for
simplification. Clearly, the executable machine code may be
integrated with the code of other programs, implemented as
subroutines, by external program calls or by other techniques as
known in the art.
[0137] The embodiments of the invention may be executed by a
computer processor or similar device programmed in the manner of
method steps, or may be executed by an electronic system which is
provided with means for executing these steps. Similarly, an
electronic memory medium such computer diskettes, CD-Roms, Random
Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM) or similar computer
software storage media known in the art, may be programmed to
execute such method steps. As well, electronic signals representing
these method steps may also be transmitted via a communication
network.
[0138] The invention could, for example, be applied to computers,
smart terminals, personal digital assistants and Internet-ready
telephones. Again, such implementations would be clear to one
skilled in the art, and do not take away from the invention.
* * * * *