Patent ID: 9084218
Filing Date: 2015-07-14
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for a user to receive a location-based service on a mobile device without having to divulge a current location of the user unless the user is near a user approved location, the method comprising: determining, by the mobile device, a current location of the user based on a grid cell identifier; creating, by the mobile device, a blinded current location using the determined grid cell identifier and a random number; sending, by the mobile device, the blinded current location to a server; receiving, by the mobile device, a first digital signature generated by the server for the blinded current location; processing, by the mobile device, the first digital signature for the blinded current location using the random number to obtain a second digital signature for the grid cell identifier; comparing the second digital signature for the grid cell identifier to digital signatures for grid cell identifiers in which user approved locations are located that are stored in the mobile device; determining, by the mobile device, that the user is near a user approved location when the second digital signature of the grid cell identifier matches a digital signature for a user approved location that is stored in the mobile device; sending, by the mobile device, the current location of the user to the server; and receiving, by the mobile device, a location-based service based on the current location of the user.