Method and device for preventing misuse of personal information

• US 8,111,815 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DASS Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mask.it LLC
• Inventors: Zehnbacht, Alexander, Finkelstein, Steve S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Zoobi, Maria
• Application Number:
  US12/028,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20090202053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 379/201.01, 379/211.02, 379/88.22, 379/218.01, 379/93.01
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• 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 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers

Abstract

The invention disclosed comprises a method and device for receiving an order request from a first party along with contact information for the first party, routing at least some communication made using, or to, second contact information, such as may be provided to the first party, and providing at least part of the order request and first contact information to a third party. The contact information may be a phone number or an e-mail address or a plurality of same.

Claims

1. A method for preventing misuse of personal information comprising the steps of:

receiving an order request and a first phone number from a first party;

routing a telephone call made to a second phone number to said first party;

providing information comprising at least a part of said order request and said second phone number to at least one third party

recording a log of phone calls made to said second phone number; and

using said log to detect unauthorized usage of at least a part of said provided information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing is limited to telephone calls originating from said at least one third party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing is to said first phone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing is to voicemail.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said voicemail is sent to said first party as an e-mail attachment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first party is provided with a method of selecting a delivery method of said telephone call.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first party is provided with a method to discontinue said routing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a first e-mail address from said first party,

providing a second e-mail address to at least one third party, and

configuring at least one e-mail sent to said second e-mail address to route to said first party.

9. A method for preventing misuse of personal information comprising the steps of:

receiving an order request contact information, and an optionally

selected request to anonymize at least a part of said contact information from a first party;

providing second contact information for said first party;

routing at least some communication made using said second contact information to said first party;

providing information comprising at least a part of said order request and said second contact information to at least one third party;

recording a log of phone calls made to said second phone number;

and using said log to detect unauthorized usage of at least a part of said provided information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said contact information is a phone number.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said contact information is an e-mail address.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one third party is selected by said second party.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said routing is limited to communications originating from said at least one third party.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said routing is via a phone number of said first party.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said routing is to voicemail.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said voicemail is sent to said first party as an e-mail attachment.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein said first party is provided with a method of selecting a delivery method of at least one said communication.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first party is provided with a method to discontinue said routing.

19. A device for preventing misuse of personal information configured to

receive an order request and a phone number from a first party;

route a telephone call made to a second phone number to said first party;

provide information comprising at least a part of said order request and said second phone number to at least one third party; and

provide an alert when a party other than said at least one third party attempts to communicate using said second contact information.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said route is limited to telephone calls originating from said at least one third party.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein said route is to said first phone number.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein said route is to voicemail.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said voicemail is sent to said first party as an e-mail attachment.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein said first party is provided with a method of selecting a delivery method of said telephone call.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said first party is provided with a method to discontinue said routing.

26. The device of claim 19, further configured to provide an alert when a party other than said at least one third party calls said second telephone number.

27. The device of claim 19, wherein said receiving further comprises receiving a first e-mail address from said first party, and said device is further configured to route at least one e-mail directed towards a second e-mail address to said first e-mail address, and said second e-mail address is provided to said at least one third party.

28. A device for preventing misuse of personal information configured to:

receiving an order request, and contact information, and an optionally

selected request to anonymize at least a part of said contact information from a first party;

provide second contact information for said first party;

forward at least some communication made using said second contact information to said first party;

provide information comprising at least a part of said order request and said second contact information to at least one third party; and

provide an alert when a party other than said at least one third party attempts to communicate using said second contact information.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein said contact information is a phone number.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein said contact information is an e-mail address.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said at least one third party is selected by said second party.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein said routing is limited to communication originating from said at least one third party.

33. The device of claim 28, wherein said routing is via a phone number of said first party.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein said routing is to voicemail.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein said voicemail is sent to said first party as an e-mail attachment.

36. The device of claim 28, wherein said first party is provided with a method of selecting a delivery method of said at least some communication.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein said first party is provided with a method to discontinue said routing.