Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting information

• US 20060166649A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Inventors: Roach, Peter O. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/336,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20060166649A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• 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 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A mobile-oriented information system that requires a grant of permission from a mobile subscriber to release information requested by a requesting party while retaining the identity of the requesting party. The identity of the requesting party can be stored in an electronic telephone book or storage area for a mobile communication device operated by the mobile subscriber. The mobile subscriber can have the option of editing the identity-related information in connection with storage of that information within the telephone book or storage area.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a release of information on behalf of a mobile subscriber of a mobile telephone network, comprising the steps of

receiving a permission release request at a mobile communication device associated with the mobile subscriber, the permission release request issued by an information system that is independent of the mobile telephone network, the permission release request seeking permission for release of information about the mobile subscriber to a requesting party and providing identifying information for the requesting party;

determining whether to release the requested information based on identifying information about the requesting party as presented by a user interface of the mobile communication device; and

adding the identifying information of the requesting party to an electronic phonebook.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of presenting the mobile subscriber with an option to modify the identifying information for the requesting party prior to adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the identifying information is completed in response to an attempt by the mobile subscriber to initiate a communication with the requesting party via the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of issuing a permission release response from the mobile communication device to the information system in response to a determination to release the requested information for distribution to the requesting party, the permission release response providing permission for communication of the requested information from the information system for use by the requesting party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook comprises storing the identifying information within a contact information mechanism maintained by the mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook comprises storing the identifying information within a SIM card associated with the mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook comprises storing the identifying information within a database that is accessible by the mobile communication device via a communication path.

8. A method for acquiring information about a party requesting information from a mobile subscriber, comprising the steps of

receiving a permission release request at a mobile communication device associated with the mobile subscriber, the permission release request seeking permission for release of information about the mobile subscriber to a requesting party and providing identifying information for the requesting party;

presenting the mobile subscriber with an option to add the identifying information of the requesting party to an electronic phonebook maintained by the mobile communication device; and

adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook in response to a selection of the option by the mobile subscriber.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of presenting the mobile subscriber with an option to modify the identifying information for the requesting party prior to adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adding the identifying information is completed in response to an attempt by the mobile subscriber to initiate a communication with the requesting party via the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of presenting the mobile subscriber with an option to add identifying information of the requesting party to an electronic phonebook is completed only if the identifying information comprises a telephone number for the requesting party.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of determining whether to release the requested information based on identifying information about the requesting party as presented by a user interface of the mobile communication device.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of issuing a permission release response from the mobile communication device in response to a determination to release the requested information for distribution to the requesting party, the permission release response providing permission for communication of the requested information for use by the requesting party.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook comprises storing the identifying information within a contact information mechanism maintained by the mobile communication device.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook comprises storing the identifying information within a SIM card associated with the mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook comprises storing the identifying information within a database that is accessible by the mobile communication device.

17. A method for communicating information, comprising the steps of

receiving a permission release request at a mobile communication device associated with a mobile subscriber, the permission release request seeking permission for release of information about the mobile subscriber to a requesting party and providing identifying information for the requesting party;

determining whether to release the requested information based on identifying information about the requesting party as presented by a user interface of the mobile communication device;

issuing a permission release response from the mobile communication device in response to a determination to release the requested information for distribution to the requesting party, the permission release response providing permission for communication of the requested information for use by the requesting party; and

adding the identifying information of the requesting party to an electronic phonebook.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of presenting the mobile subscriber with an user-selectable control to modify the identifying information for the requesting party prior to adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of adding the identifying information is completed in response to an attempt by the mobile subscriber to initiate a communication with the requesting party via the mobile communication device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook comprises one of storing the identifying information within a SIM card associated with the mobile communication device or storing the identifying information within a database that is accessible by the mobile communication device via a communications path.