Universal temporary communication ID with service integration

• US 20060141981A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lin, Jyh-Han
• Application Number:
  US11/021,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20060141981A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A method is provided for obtaining a temporary ID. A request is created for a temporary ID for a first user that has a permanent ID for being contacted through a first mode of communication. The request, which includes at least one usage rule provided by the first user, is sent to an ID generator. A temporary ID that allows a second user to contact the first user through the first mode of communication without knowing the permanent ID of the first user is received from the ID generator. The temporary ID is mapped to the permanent ID of the first user and is mapped with the at least one usage rule. The at least one usage rule limits use of the temporary ID to contact the first user through the first mode of communication. Akso provided are a method for providing a temporary ID and a method for using a temporary ID.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

creating a request for a temporary ID for a first user that has a permanent ID for being contacted through a first mode of communication, the request including at least one usage rule provided by the first user;

sending the request to an ID generator; and

receiving from the ID generator a temporary ID that allows a second user to contact the first user through the first mode of communication without knowing the permanent ID of the first user, the temporary ID being mapped to the permanent ID of the first user and being mapped with the at least one usage rule,

wherein the at least one usage rule limits use of the temporary ID to contact the first user through the first mode of communication.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first user has a second permanent ID for being contacted through a second mode of communication, and

the temporary ID is also mapped to the second permanent ID of the first user so as to allow the second user to contact the first user through the second mode of communication without knowing the second permanent ID of the first user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the permanent ID is an email address, and the second permanent ID is one of a telephone number and a VoIP ID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one usage rule comprises a source filter that limits who can use the temporary ID to contact the first user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one usage rule comprises an expiration rule that prevents use of the temporary ID to contact the first user after at least one of a set number of uses and an expiration time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a request to revoke the temporary ID so that the second user can no longer contact the first user through the first mode of communication using the temporary ID.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a temporary ID from a first user that has a permanent ID for being contacted through a first mode of communication, the request including at least one usage rule provided by the first user;

generating the temporary ID;

mapping the temporary ID to the permanent ID of the first user so as to allow a second user to contact the first user through the first mode of communication without knowing the permanent ID of the first user,

mapping the temporary ID with the at least one usage rule so as to limit use of the temporary ID to contact the first user through the first mode of communication; and

sending the temporary ID to the first user.

8. The method of claim 7,

wherein the first user has a second permanent ID for being contacted through a second mode of communication, and

the method further comprises the step of mapping the temporary ID to the second permanent ID of the first user so as to allow the second user to contact the first user through the second mode of communication without knowing the second permanent ID of the first user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the permanent ID is an email address, and the second permanent ID is one of a telephone number and a VoIP ID.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one usage rule comprises a source filter that limits who can use the temporary ID to contact the first user.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one usage rule comprises an expiration rule that prevents use of the temporary ID to contact the first user after at least one of a set number of uses and an expiration time.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to revoke the temporary ID from the first user; and

removing the mapping between the temporary ID and the permanent ID of the first user so that the second user can no longer contact the first user through the first mode of communication using the temporary ID.

13. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication from a second user through a first mode of communication, the communication being directed to a temporary ID of a first user;

determining a permanent ID of the first user that is mapped with the temporary ID of the first user;

evaluating at least one usage rule that is mapped with the temporary ID of the first user in order to determine if the second user is permitted to use the temporary ID to contact the first user through the first mode of communication at this time; and

if it is determined that contact is permitted, forwarding the communication through the first mode of communication to the permanent ID of the first user.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second communication from the second user through a second mode of communication, the communication being directed to the temporary ID of the first user;

determining a second permanent ID of the first user that is mapped with the temporary ID of the first user;

evaluating at least one usage rule that is mapped with the temporary ID of the first user in order to determine if the second user is permitted to use the temporary ID to contact the first user through the second mode of communication at this time; and

if it is determined that contact is permitted, forwarding the communication through the second mode of communication to the permanent ID of the first user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the permanent ID is an email address, and the second permanent ID is one of a telephone number and a VoIP ID.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one usage rule comprises a source filter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the source filter prevents anyone other than the second user from using the temporary ID to contact the first user.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one usage rule comprises an expiration rule.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the expiration rule prevents use of the temporary ID to contact the first user after at least one of a set number of uses or an expiration time.