Patent ID: 8566433

Claim:
A system, for providing location-based ratings services to a device using a communications network, comprising: a location-based ratings server comprising a memory having computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of the location-based ratings server, causes the processor to perform operations comprising: recognizing received data as ratings data submitted by the device; determining if location information associated with the device can be obtained, the determining comprising: receiving device data; examining the device data received; determining, based on the device data, whether the device is location-based-ratings-server compatible; and determining, if the device is determined to be location-based-ratings-server compatible, that the location information can be obtained; obtaining, if it is determined that the location information associated with the device can be obtained, the location information associated with the device, wherein obtaining the location information associated with the device comprises: passing an identification string associated with the device to a user identification server, the user identification server comprising a home location register of the communications network; recognizing received data as identification data associated with the device; passing the identification data to a location server; and recognizing received data as the location information associated with the device; associating the location information to the ratings data; and storing the ratings data and the location information in a storage medium associated with the system.