Method and system for determining a location of a mobile device and utilizing the location in content services

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a mobile device at a headend includes the mobile device communicating a request for content to the headend. The headend requests geographic coordinate location data from the mobile device and, when geographic coordinate data is available, determines a first geographic region associated with the mobile device in response to the geographic coordinate location data. When geographic coordinate data is not available from the mobile device, the headend extracts an IP address from the request and determines a second geographic region based on the IP address and a confidence level. When the confidence level is below a threshold, the headend determines a third geographic region based on subscriber data for the mobile device. The headend controls the mobile device in response to one of the first geographic region, the second geographic region and the third geographic region.

1 . A method comprising:
 communicating a request for content from a mobile device to a headend;   requesting geographic coordinate location data from the mobile device;   when geographic coordinate data is available, determining geographic coordinate location data at the mobile device, communicating the geographic coordinate location data to the headend, and determining a first geographic region associated with the mobile device in response to the geographic coordinate location data;   when geographic coordinate data is not available from the mobile device, extracting an IP address from the request, and determining a second geographic region based on the IP address and a confidence level;   when the confidence level is below a threshold, determining a third geographic region based on subscriber data for the mobile device; and   controlling the mobile device in response to one of the first geographic region, the second geographic region and the third geographic region.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein controlling the mobile device comprises preventing access to a content stream. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein preventing access comprises receiving blackout data from a content provider at the headend. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein receiving blackout data comprises receiving advanced blackout data at first module of the headend. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4  wherein receiving blackout data comprises receiving advanced blackout data at first module of the headend periodically. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 4  further comprising communicating the advanced blackout data from the first module to a second module within the headend. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6  further comprising communicating dynamic blackout data to the first module of the headend, generating a notification signal at the first module in response to receiving dynamic blackout data and communicating the notification signal to the second module. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7  further comprising retrieving the dynamic blackout data from the first module at the second module. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a blackout module retrieving the advanced blackout and dynamic blackout data from the second module and wherein controlling the mobile device comprises controlling the mobile in response to blackout data in the blackout module. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein determining the first geographic region comprises determining the first geographic region at the headend in response to the geographic coordinate location data. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein controlling the mobile device comprises communicating location-based advertising to the mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein determining the second geographic region is performed by communicating the IP address from the headend to a location module external to the headend and wherein determining the second geographic region comprises determining the second geographic region at the location module. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a headend;   a mobile device communicating a request for content to the headend;   said headend requesting geographic coordinate location data from the mobile device and when geographic coordinate data is available, determining a first geographic region associated with the mobile device in response to the geographic coordinate location data;   said headend, when geographic coordinate data is not available from the mobile device, extracting an IP address from the request and determining a second geographic region based on the IP address and a confidence level;   said headend, when the confidence level is below a threshold, determining a third geographic region based on subscriber data for the mobile device; and   said headend controlling the mobile device in response to one of the first geographic region, the second geographic region and the third geographic region.   
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 13  wherein the headend control the mobile device by preventing access to a content stream. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the headend receives blackout data from a content provider. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the blackout data comprises advanced blackout data received on a periodic basis. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein the headend receives blackout data at first module of the headend. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the headend communicates advanced blackout data from the first module to a second module within the headend. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 18  wherein the headend receives dynamic blackout data at the first module, said first module communicates a notification signal to the second module in response to receiving dynamic blackout data in response to the notification signal. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19  wherein the second module retrieves the dynamic the blackout data from the first module in response to the notification signal. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a blackout module that retrieves the advanced blackout and dynamic blackout data from the second module and wherein the headend controls the mobile device in response to blackout data in the blackout module. 
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  claim 13  wherein the headend controls the mobile device by communicating location-based advertising to the mobile device. 
     
     
         23 . The system as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a location module eternal to the headend that determines the second geographic region.