Method and arrangement for concealing true identity of user in communications system

• US 20040111376A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kokko, Marko H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for concealing the true identity of a user in a communications system comprising a first user equipment having a first characteristic identifier, a second user equipment having a second characteristic identifier, a service network serving the first and the second user equipment. The method according to the invention comprises: requesting (200) a virtual identifier by means of the first user equipment; establishing (202) the virtual identifier for the first user equipment; linking (202) the virtual identifier of the first user equipment to the first characteristic identifier of the first user equipment and using (210) the virtual identifier of the first user equipment for communication between the first and the second user equipment.

Claims

1. A method for concealing the true identity of a user in a communications system comprising a first user equipment having a first characteristic identifier, a second user equipment having a second characteristic identifier, a service network serving the first and the second user equipment, the method comprising:

requesting a virtual identifier by means of the first user equipment;

establishing the virtual identifier for the first user equipment;

linking the virtual identifier of the first user equipment to the first characteristic identifier of the first user equipment; and

using the virtual identifier of the first user equipment for communication between the first and the second user equipment.

2. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising requesting the virtual identifier from the service network.

3. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising requesting multiple virtual identifiers from the service network.

4. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising establishing the virtual identifier in the service network.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the service network comprises a set of virtual identifiers, one or more of which are linked to the first characteristic identifier of the first user equipment.

6. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising selecting, in the service network, the virtual identifier to be used for communication between the first and the second user equipment.

7. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising establishing the virtual identifier in the first user equipment.

8. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising transmitting to the service network a request for establishing a communications connection between the first and the second user equipment, the request comprising the virtual identifier of the first user equipment.

9. A method of claim 8, the method further comprising using a short message service for transmitting the request for establishing the communications connection between the first and the second user equipment.

10. A method of claim 8, the method further comprising using an electronic mail server service for transmitting the request for establishing the communications connection between the first and the second user equipment.

11. A method of claim 8, the method further comprising transmitting the request for establishing the communications connection between the first and the second user equipment from the second user equipment.

12. A method of claim 11, the method further comprising receiving, in the first user equipment, information about the use of the virtual identifier of the first user equipment.

13. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising predetermining a given validity period during which the virtual identifier is valid.

14. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising predetermining one or more user equipment that have the right to use the virtual identifier.

15. An arrangement for concealing the true identity of a user in a communications system comprising:

a first user equipment having a first characteristic identifier, a second user equipment having a second characteristic identifier, a service network connecting the first and the second user equipment, wherein the arrangement is configured to;

request a virtual identifier by means of the first user equipment;

establish the virtual identifier for the first user equipment;

link the virtual identifier of the first user equipment to the first characteristic identifier of the first user equipment; and

use the virtual identifier of the first user equipment for communication between the first and the second user equipment.

16. An arrangement of claim 15, wherein the arrangement is configured to request the virtual identifier from the service network.

17. An arrangement of claim 15, wherein the arrangement is configured to establish the virtual identifier in the service network.

18. An arrangement of claim 15, wherein the arrangement is configured to establish multiple virtual identifiers in the service network.

19. An arrangement of claim 15, wherein the service network comprises a set of virtual identifiers and the arrangement is configured to link one or more of the virtual identifiers to the first characteristic identifier of the first user equipment.

20. An arrangement of claim 15, wherein the arrangement is configured to transmit to the service network a request for establishing a communications connection between the first and the second user equipment, the request comprising the virtual identifier of the first user equipment.