Methods and Systems for Handling Online Request Based on Information Known to a Service Provider

Abstract

Methods and systems for handling online requests based on information known to a service provider. One method may comprise: obtaining first information, the first information relating to an online request made using a communication apparatus; using a logical identifier assigned to the communication apparatus to obtain second information, the second information pertaining to a profile associated with the logical identifier; comparing the first information to the second information; and performing an action related to handling of the online request based on a result of the comparing.

1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining first information, the first information relating to an online request made using a communication apparatus to which has been assigned a logical identifier used to route data associated with the online request over a packet-switched network;   using the logical identifier to obtain second information, the second information pertaining to a profile associated with the logical identifier;   comparing the first information to the second information; and   performing an action related to handling of the online request based on a result of said comparing.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises consulting a database on a basis of the logical identifier. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises:
 transmitting a first message conveying the logical identifier; and   receiving a second message conveying the second information.   
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first information comprises receiving a message conveying the first information. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first information comprises receiving a message conveying information provided via the communication apparatus and consulting a database on a basis of the information provided via the communication apparatus to obtain the first information. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein performing an action related to handling of the online request comprises generating and transmitting a message indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein performing an action related to handling of the online request comprises:
 handling the online request in a first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information corresponds to the second information; and   handling the online request in a second manner different from the first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information does not correspond to the second information.   
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the online request is a request for an online transaction, and wherein the action related to handling of the online request is an action related to validation of the online transaction. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises consulting a database on a basis of the logical identifier. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises:
 transmitting a first message conveying the logical identifier; and   receiving a second message conveying the second information.   
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein obtaining the first information comprises receiving a message conveying the first information. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein obtaining the first information comprises receiving a message conveying transaction object information provided via the communication apparatus and consulting a database on a basis of the transaction object information provided via the communication apparatus to obtain the first information. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein performing an action related to validation of the online transaction comprises generating and transmitting a message indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein performing an action related to validation of the online transaction comprises:
 validating the online transaction in a first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information corresponds to the second information; and   validating the online transaction in a second manner different from the first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information does not correspond to the second information.   
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the online request is a request for a delivery of a product or service to a particular place. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to online private content. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to a private network. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the online request is a request for a download of data to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises personal information regarding a party. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the personal information regarding the party comprises at least one of: a name, a gender, a date of birth or an age, a nationality, a correspondence language, a civic address, a phone number, an email address, an instant messaging identifier, and financial information. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises a service point location associated with the logical identifier. 
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises a bandwidth available to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus comprising:
 an interface for receiving messages; and   a processing unit coupled to said interface, said processing unit being responsive to receipt of a message at said interface for:
 obtaining first information, the first information relating to an online request made using a communication apparatus to which has been assigned a logical identifier used to route data associated with the online request over a packet-switched network; 
 using the logical identifier to obtain second information, the second information pertaining to a profile associated with the logical identifier; 
 comparing the first information to the second information; and 
 performing an action related to handling of the online request based on a result of said comparing. 
   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises consulting a database on a basis of the logical identifier. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the message is a first message, and wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises:
 transmitting a second message conveying the logical identifier via said interface; and   receiving a third message conveying the second information via said interface.   
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the message conveys the first information, and wherein obtaining the first information comprises processing the message to obtain the first information. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the message conveys information provided via the communication apparatus, and wherein obtaining the first information comprises consulting a database on a basis of the information provided via the communication apparatus to obtain the first information. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the message is a first message, and wherein performing an action related to handling of the online request comprises generating and transmitting a second message indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein performing an action related to handling of the online request comprises:
 handling the online request in a first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information corresponds to the second information; and   handling the online request in a second manner different from the first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information does not correspond to the second information.   
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the online request is a request for an online transaction, and wherein the action related to handling of the online request is an action related to validation of the online transaction. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises consulting a database on a basis of the logical identifier. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the message is a first message, and wherein using the logical identifier to obtain the second information comprises:
 transmitting a second message conveying the logical identifier; and   receiving a third message conveying the second information.   
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the message conveys the first information, and wherein obtaining the first information comprises processing the message to obtain the first information. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the message conveys transaction object information provided via the communication apparatus, and wherein obtaining the first information comprises consulting a database on a basis of the transaction object information provided via the communication apparatus to obtain the first information. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the message is a first message, and wherein performing an action related to validation of the online transaction comprises generating and transmitting a second message indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein performing an action related to validation of the online transaction comprises:
 validating the online transaction in a first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information corresponds to the second information; and   validating the online transaction in a second manner different from the first manner if the result of said comparing is that the first information does not correspond to the second information.   
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the online request is a request for a delivery of a product or service to a particular place. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to online private content. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to a private network. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the online request is a request for a download of data to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the second information comprises personal information regarding a party. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the personal information regarding the party comprises at least one of: a name, a gender, a date of birth or an age, a nationality, a correspondence language, a civic address, a phone number, an email address, an instant messaging identifier, and financial information. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the second information comprises a service point location associated with the logical identifier. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the second information comprises a bandwidth available to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         45 . A computer-readable medium storing a program element for execution by a computer, said program element comprising:
 first program code for causing the computer to obtain first information, the first information relating to an online request made using a communication apparatus to which has been assigned a logical identifier used to route data associated with the online request over a packet-switched network;   second program code for causing the computer to use the logical identifier to obtain second information, the second information pertaining to a profile associated with the logical identifier;
 third program code for causing the computer to perform a comparison of the first information to the second information; and 
 fourth program code for causing the computer to perform an action related to handling of the online request based on a result of the comparison. 
   
     
     
         46 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first message conveying a logical identifier used to route data over a packet-switched network;   consulting a database on a basis of the logical identifier to obtain information known to a service provider involved in assigning the logical identifier;   processing the information to generate a second message to be used in handling an online request made using a communication apparatus to which is assigned the logical identifier; and   transmitting the second message.   
     
     
         47 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the information is first information, wherein the first message further conveys second information, the second information relating to the online request, wherein processing the first information comprises comparing the first information to the second information, and wherein the second message is indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         48 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the second message conveys the information. 
     
     
         49 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the online request is a request for an online transaction. 
     
     
         50 . A method as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the information is first information, wherein the first message further conveys second information, the second information relating to the request for the online transaction, wherein processing the first information comprises comparing the first information to the second information, and wherein the second message is indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         51 . A method as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the second message conveys the information. 
     
     
         52 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the online request is a request for a delivery of a product or service to a particular place. 
     
     
         53 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to online private content. 
     
     
         54 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to a private network. 
     
     
         55 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the online request is a request for a download of data to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         56 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the information pertains to a profile associated with the logical identifier. 
     
     
         57 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the information comprises personal information regarding a party. 
     
     
         58 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the personal information regarding the party comprises at least one of: a name, a gender, a date of birth or an age, a nationality, a correspondence language, a civic address, a phone number, an email address, an instant messaging identifier, and financial information. 
     
     
         59 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the information comprises a service point location associated with the logical identifier. 
     
     
         60 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the information comprises a bandwidth available to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         61 . An apparatus comprising:
 an interface for receiving a first message conveying a logical identifier used to route data over a packet-switched network; and   a processing unit coupled to said interface, said processing unit being operative for:
 consulting a database on a basis of the logical identifier to obtain information known to a service provider involved in assigning the logical identifier; 
 processing the information to generate a second message to be used in handling an online request made using a communication apparatus to which is assigned the logical identifier; and 
 causing said interface to transmit the second message. 
   
     
     
         62 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the information is first information, wherein the first message further conveys second information, the second information relating to the online request, wherein processing the first information comprises comparing the first information to the second information, and wherein the second message is indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         63 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the second message conveys the information. 
     
     
         64 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the online request is a request for an online transaction. 
     
     
         65 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 64 , wherein the information is first information, wherein the first message further conveys second information, the second information relating to the request for the online transaction, wherein processing the first information comprises comparing the first information to the second information, and wherein the second message is indicative of whether the first information corresponds to the second information. 
     
     
         66 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 64 , wherein the second message conveys the information. 
     
     
         67 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the online request is a request for a delivery of a product or service to a particular place. 
     
     
         68 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to online private content. 
     
     
         69 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the online request is a request for an access to a private network. 
     
     
         70 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the online request is a request for a download of data to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         71 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the information pertains to a profile associated with the logical identifier. 
     
     
         72 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the information comprises personal information regarding a party. 
     
     
         73 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the personal information regarding the party comprises at least one of: a name, a gender, a date of birth or an age, a nationality, a correspondence language, a civic address, a phone number, an email address, an instant messaging identifier, and financial information. 
     
     
         74 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the information comprises a service point location associated with the logical identifier. 
     
     
         75 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the information comprises a bandwidth available to the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         76 . A computer-readable medium storing a program element for execution by a computer, said program element comprising:
 first program code for causing the computer to receive a first message conveying a logical identifier used to route data over a packet-switched network;   second program code for causing the computer to consult a database on a basis of the logical identifier to obtain information known to a service provider involved in assigning the logical identifier;   third program code for causing the computer to process the information to generate a second message to be used in handling an online request made using a communication apparatus to which is assigned the logical identifier; and   fourth program code for causing the computer to transmit the second message.   
     
     
         77 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the logical identifier comprises an IP address. 
     
     
         78 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises location information indicative of a location of the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         79 . A method as claimed in  claim 78 , wherein the location information comprises a service point location of the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         80 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second information is provided by a service provider involved in assigning the logical identifier. 
     
     
         81 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the logical identifier comprises an IP address. 
     
     
         82 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the second information comprises location information indicative of a location of the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         83 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 82 , wherein the location information comprises a service point location of the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         84 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the second information is provided by a service provider involved in assigning the logical identifier. 
     
     
         85 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the logical identifier comprises an IP address. 
     
     
         86 . A method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein the second information comprises location information indicative of a location of the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         87 . A method as claimed in  claim 86 , wherein the location information comprises a service point location of the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         88 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the logical identifier comprises an IP address. 
     
     
         89 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein the second information comprises location information indicative of a location of the communication apparatus. 
     
     
         90 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 89 , wherein the location information comprises a service point location of the communication apparatus.