Secure service provider identification to content provider partner

• US 20030185240A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Vuong, Thai Hoa
• Application Number:
  US10/115,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185240A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys

Abstract

Secure service provider identification to content provider partner. Secure service provider identification is provided to a content provider partner by embedding a service provider digital signature on the user transaction request. The present invention provides an ISP/BW'"'"'s secure identification between a user and a content provider, in each transaction between them. The ISP/BW'"'"'s secure identification may be provided in each transaction between them. A content provider may have a partnership with an ISP, through which a user may purchase its contents. The content provider and/or ISP may provide an incentive, such an offered discount on the item and/or download cost, to stimulate business. The profit from the transaction may be shared between the ISP and the content provider. The content provider is then able to identify the user'"'"'s transaction coming from a certain ISP for logging and verifying. The identifier to the content provider is employed using digital signature technology.

Claims

1. A secure communication network, comprising:

an Internet service provider, comprising header insertion functionality, that receives a user'"'"'s request, the header insertion functionality being operable to insert a digital signature header of the Internet service provider in the user'"'"'s request; and

a content provider that receives the user'"'"'s request and extracts the digital signature header there from to identify the Internet service provider; and

wherein the digital signature header comprises a public key corresponding to the Internet service provider and encryption of at least one of an Internet protocol address and a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider; and

the encryption being supported using a private key associated with the public key.

2. The secure communication network of claim 1, wherein the content provider uses the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider.

3. The secure communication network of claim 1, further comprising a wireline network segment that communicatively couples to the Internet service provider;

the user communicatively couples to the wireline network segment; and

the content provider uses the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider thereby identifying an Internet service provider of the user.

4. The secure communication network of claim 1, further comprising a wireless network segment interface that communicatively couples to the Internet service provider;

the user employs a wireless device to communicatively couple to the wireline network segment; and

the content provider uses the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider thereby identifying the wireless device.

5. The secure communication network of claim 1, wherein the content provider and the Internet service provider having a predetermined business relationship;

and

the content provider offers a discount from at least one of a good and a service offered to the user at the content provider according to the predetermined business relationship.

6. The secure communication network of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s request comprises a hyper text transfer protocol request.

7. The secure communication network of claim 1, wherein the content provider supports statistical analysis of a transaction performed by the user and at least one additional transaction performed by at least one additional user.

8. A secure communication network, comprising:

an Internet service provider, comprising header insertion functionality, that receives a user'"'"'s hyper text transfer protocol request, the header insertion functionality being operable to insert a digital signature header of the Internet service provider in the user'"'"'s hyper text transfer protocol request; and

a content provider that receives the user'"'"'s hyper text transfer protocol request and extracts the digital signature header there from to identify the Internet service provider; and

wherein the digital signature header comprises a public key corresponding to the Internet service provider and encryption of at least one of an Internet protocol address and a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider;

the content provider uses the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider;

the content provider supports statistical analysis of a transaction performed by the user and at least one additional transaction performed by at least one additional user; and

the content provider and the Internet service provider having a predetermined business relationship.

9. The secure communication network of claim 8, wherein the statistical analysis comprising at least one of tracking a number of user transactions and tracking a number of repeat transactions.

10. The secure communication network of claim 8, further comprising a wireline network segment that communicatively couples to the Internet service provider;

the user communicatively couples to the wireline network segment; and

the content provider uses the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider thereby identifying an Internet service provider of the user.

11. The secure communication network of claim 8, further comprising a wireless network segment interface that communicatively couples to the Internet service provider;

the user employs a wireless device to communicatively couple to the wireline network segment; and

the content provider uses the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider thereby identifying the wireless device.

12. The secure communication network of claim 11, wherein the wireless network segment interface comprises a gateway general packet radio service support node.

13. The secure communication network of claim 8, wherein the content provider supports billing functionality that is operable to perform billing a user purchase to a user Internet service provider account.

14. A secure identification method, comprising:

providing a user'"'"'s data packet to an Internet service provider;

inserting a header within the user'"'"'s data packet, the header comprising a digital signature header that comprises a public key corresponding to the Internet service provider and encryption of at least one of an Internet protocol address and a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider;

authenticating the public key of the Internet service provider against a plurality of stored Internet service provider public keys; and

using the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the header is inserted within the user'"'"'s data packet within the Internet service provider;

and

the user'"'"'s data packet comprises a hyper text transfer protocol request.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the user'"'"'s data packet is provided from a gateway general packet radio service support node;

and

wherein the header is inserted within the user'"'"'s data packet within the gateway general packet radio service support node.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the user employs at least one of a wireline Internet device and a wireless device;

the wireline Internet device being operable to interface with the Internet service provider;

the wireless device being operable to with a wireless provider; and

each of the Internet service provider and the wireless provider being operable to interface with the Internet.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the authenticating of the public key of the Internet service provider against a plurality of stored Internet service provider public keys being performed within a content provider; and

the using of the public key to decode the encryption of at least one of the Internet protocol address and the mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number of the user using the Internet service provider being performed within the content provider.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the content provider and the Internet service provider having a predetermined business relationship that comprises offering a discount from at least one of a good and a service offered to the user at the content provider.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising performing statistical analysis of a transaction performed by the user and at least one additional transaction performed by at least one additional user.