System and method for verifying access based on a determined geographic ...

1. A system for verifying access to a network based on geographic location of a subscriber of a service provided over a computer network, the system comprising:

a service computer providing a subscription service to a subscriber computer via a network, wherein the subscriber computer is physically located in a geographic location, and further wherein the subscription service is limited based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer; and

an event interface coupled to the service computer, wherein the event interface receives event information for a rules based event either as the rules based event is occurring or as the rules based event is requested, as applicable, wherein the subscription service includes communicating event information to the subscriber computer,

wherein the service computer verifies access by the subscriber computer to the subscription service based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer, wherein the geographic location of the subscriber computer is estimated using a first estimation process and, if the first estimation process produces a first estimate having a first confidence level below a first determined threshold, using a second estimation process to produce a second estimate having a second confidence level such that the second confidence level can be compared to a second determined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein access to the subscription service comprises entry into any one of a promotion, contest, sweepstakes, and fantasy game.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with an option to purchase any one of goods and services.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein purchases include purchase rules that vary depending on the geographic location of the subscriber computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with targeted marketing based on the estimate of the geographic location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on credit card number and billing address.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on product registration information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on entries in a table containing electronic mail addresses and geographic areas corresponding to the electronic mail addresses.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic location estimation is not made if a customer corresponding to the subscriber computer is identified as a preferred customer.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an event capturing sub-system coupled to the service computer and event interface via a second network different than the network through which the subscriber computer receives the subscription service.

11. A system for verifying access to a network based on geographic location of a subscriber of a service provided over a computer network, the system comprising:

a service computer providing a subscription service to a subscriber computer via a network, wherein the subscriber computer is physically located in a geographic location, and further wherein the subscription service is limited based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer;

an event interface coupled to the service computer, wherein the event interface receives event information for a rules based event either as the rules based event is occurring or as the rules based event is requested, as applicable, wherein the subscription service includes communicating event information to the subscriber computer; and

an event capturing sub-system coupled to the service computer and the event interface, wherein the event capturing sub-system comprises an event capturing device and an event storage device,

wherein the service computer verifies access by the subscriber computer to the subscription service based on the geographic location of the subscriber computer, wherein the geographic location of the subscriber computer is estimated using a first estimation process and, if the first estimation process produces an estimate having a confidence level below a determined threshold, a second estimation process.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein access to the subscription service comprises entry into any one of a promotion, contest, sweepstakes, and fantasy game.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with an option to purchase any one of goods and services.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein purchases include purchase rules that vary depending on the geographic location of the subscriber computer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the service computer provides the subscriber computer with targeted marketing based on the estimate of the geographic location.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on credit card number and billing address.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on product registration information.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the second estimation process determines geographic location based on entries in a table containing electronic mail addresses and geographic areas corresponding to the electronic mail addresses.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the geographic location estimation is not made if a customer corresponding to the subscriber computer is identified as a preferred customer.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the event capturing sub-system is coupled to the service computer and the event interface via a second network different than the network through which the subscriber computer receives the subscription service.