SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER IDENTITY PORTABILITY IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20080130523A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neustar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neustar Incorporated
• Inventors: Volach, Ben, Makavy, Ran, FRIDMAN, Sharon
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for user identity portability in communication systems. The present invention can provide user identity portability across communication networks that do not necessarily impose a phone number as the identity, addressing, or routing identifier. According to exemplary embodiments, a user identified by any suitable user identifier can switch network operators (e.g., from operator A to operator B) and retain their user identifier. For example, an identity server can support reverse lookup ENUM usage for URI and other identity correlation. Thus, all communication contacts that the user had while with operator A can seamlessly continue communications with the user even after the user switches to operator B.

Claims

1. A system for identity portability across communication systems, comprising:

a user communication module,

wherein the user communication module is configured to utilize a first communication service provided by a first communication service operator,

wherein a network identity is associated with the user communication module,

wherein a first network address is associated with the network identity for addressing communications to the network identity via the first communication service,

wherein the user communication module is switched to utilize a second communication service provided by a second communication service operator, and

wherein a second network address is associated with the network identity for addressing communications to the network identity via the second communication service; and

an identity management server module in communication with the user communication module,

wherein the identity management server module is configured to map the first network address to the second network address for communications addressed to the network identity at the first network address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network address comprises a previous network address associated with the network identity, and

wherein the second network address comprises a current network address associated with the network identity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the identity management server module comprises:

a network identity mapping module,

wherein the network identity mapping module is configured to correlate the first network address with the second network address for each network identity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the identity management server module comprises:

a storage module,

wherein the storage module is configured to store mappings of the first network address to the second network address for each network identity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identity management server module comprises:

a preference management module,

wherein the preference management module is configured to manage preferences associated with users of the system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the identity management server module comprises:

a communication module,

wherein the communication module is configured to communicate network address information associated with each network identity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identity management server module is configured to return the second network address of the network identity when queried with the first network address of the network identity.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a communication contact for the network identity is updated with the returned second network address.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the returned second network address does not include an indication of the network identity associated with the second network address.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the identity management server module is configured to block mapping of the first network address to the second network address to maintain privacy of the network identity after switching to the second communication service provided by the second communication service operator.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a communication server module in communication with the identity management server module,

wherein the communication server module is configured to query the identity management server module for network address information associated with the network identity.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the network identity comprises one of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), an E.164 number, a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), a presence URI, and an instant messaging (IM) URI.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second network addresses comprise a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).

14. An apparatus for network identity portability, comprising:

an identity management server,

wherein the identity management server is adapted to communicate with a user communication device,

wherein the user communication device is adapted to utilize communication services of a first communication network,

wherein a network identity is associated with the user communication device,

wherein a first network address is associated with the network identity for addressing communications to the network identity via the first communication network,

wherein the user communication device is switched to utilize communication services of a second communication network, and

wherein a second network address is associated with the network identity for addressing communications to the network identity via the second communication network, and

wherein the identity management server comprises;

identity mapping structure,

wherein the identity mapping structure is adapted to correlate the first network address to the second network address for communications addressed to the network identity at the first network address.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first network address comprises a previous network address associated with the network identity, and

wherein the second network address comprises a current network address associated with the network identity.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the identity mapping structure comprises:

identity preference management structure,

wherein the identity preference management structure is adapted to manage preference information associated with network identities.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the identity mapping structure comprises:

an identity information database,

wherein the identity information database is adapted to store information associated with network identities.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the identity management server comprises:

identity communication structure in communication with the identity mapping structure,

wherein the identity communication structure is adapted to communicate information associated with network identities.

19. A method of porting network identities across communication systems, comprising the steps of:

a.) assigning a network identity to a user, wherein the user communicates information utilizing a first communication service provided by a first communication service operator;

b.) associating a first network address with the network identity for addressing communications to the network identity via the first communication service;

c.) switching from the first communication service provided by the first communication service operator to a second communication service provided by a second communication service operator;

d.) associating a second network address with the network identity for addressing communications to the network identity via the second communication service; and

e.) mapping the first network address to the second network address for communications addressed to the network identity at the first network address.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first network address comprises a previous network address associated with the network identity, and

wherein the second network address comprises a current network address associated with the network identity.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

f.) correlating the first network address with the second network address for network identities.

22. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

f.) storing mappings of the first network address to the second network address for network identities.

23. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

f.) managing preferences associated with users of the system.

24. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

f.) communicating network address information associated with network identities.

25. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

f.) returning the second network address of the network identity when queried with the first network address of the network identity.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein a communication contact for the network identity is updated with the returned second network address.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the returned second network address does not include an indication of the network identity associated with the second network address.

28. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

f.) blocking mapping of the first network address to the second network address to maintain privacy of the network identity after switching to the second communication service provided by the second communication service operator.

29. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

f.) generating a query for network address information associated with the network identity.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the network identity comprises one of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), an E.164 number, a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), a presence URI, an instant messaging (IM) URI, an eXtensible Resource Identifier (XRI) i-name, a Wireless Village ID, and an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) ID.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second network addresses comprises a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).