MOBILE PHONE NUMBER ANONYMIZER

• US 20110159861A1
• Filed: 12/27/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: PRATT, JAMES, Everett, Sarah Peterson, Sullivan, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• 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: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity

Abstract

A method, computer readable media and apparatus for temporarily mapping an anonymous number to a mobile endpoint device are disclosed. For example, the method assigns a first temporary anonymous number to a mobile endpoint device having a mobile number, and receives a call request to reach the mobile endpoint device in accordance with the first temporary anonymous number. The method forwards the call request to the mobile endpoint device if the first temporary anonymous number has not expired.

Claims

1. A method for mapping an anonymous number to a mobile endpoint device in a communication network, comprising:

assigning a first temporary anonymous number to a mobile endpoint device having a mobile number;

receiving a call request to reach the mobile endpoint device in accordance with the first temporary anonymous number; and

forwarding the call request to the mobile endpoint device if the first temporary anonymous number has not expired.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication network further comprises a wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding the call request comprises mapping the first temporary anonymous number to the mobile number in a database.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the forwarding the call request further comprises substituting the mobile number for the first temporary anonymous number in a call setup signaling message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first temporary anonymous number expires after a predefined time period or a predefined number of uses.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the first temporary anonymous number to the mobile endpoint device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending a second temporary anonymous number to the mobile endpoint device if the first temporary anonymous number has expired.

9. A method for mapping an anonymous number to a mobile endpoint device in a communication network, comprising:

assigning a first temporary anonymous number to a mobile endpoint device having a mobile number;

receiving a request for location information for the mobile endpoint device in accordance with the first temporary anonymous number; and

providing the location information for the mobile endpoint device if the first temporary anonymous number has not expired.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication network further comprises a wireless network.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing the location information comprises mapping the first temporary anonymous number to the mobile number in a database.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first temporary anonymous number expires after a predefined time period or a predefined number of uses.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending the first temporary anonymous number to the mobile endpoint device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending a second temporary anonymous number to the mobile endpoint device if the first temporary anonymous number has expired.

16. A method for using an anonymous number associated with a mobile endpoint device in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a first temporary anonymous number by the mobile endpoint device, wherein the mobile endpoint device has a mobile number; and

sending the first temporary anonymous number by the mobile endpoint device wirelessly to another device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a call from the another device in accordance with first temporary anonymous number.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the another device comprises a point of sale device or another mobile endpoint device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first temporary anonymous number expires after a predefined time period or a predefined number of uses.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

sending a second temporary anonymous number to the mobile endpoint device if the first temporary anonymous number has expired.