Methods and apparatus for anonymous user identification and content personalization in wireless communication

• US 8,254,892 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chien, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US12/468,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4144, 455418-420, 455/458, 380/274, 705/74
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• 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 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing personalized content to a user of a wireless network include establishing an anonymous user identifier and delivering the user identifier to a content provider. Based on the user identifier, communication with a predetermined data source is established or predetermined data content is selected. In some embodiments, a device identifier is provided in addition to the user identifier and device specific, personalized content is delivered to the user. In one example, a device identifier and a user identifier are based on a mobile station serial number and a subscriber identity module, respectively, and are used in an HTTP header. The anonymous user identifier can be based on a subscriber identity module (SIM) serial number, or a hash of the SIM serial number so that user information such as a user phone numbers is not available to content providers.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting personalized content to a first communication device that has processed a SIM card serial number of a SIM card with a hash function to produce a hash value associated with a user, the hash value combined with a first device identifier from the first communication device being used with the SIM card to create a first user profile, and has transmitted the combined hash value and first device identifier to a communication network, the method comprising:

associating a plurality of personalization parameters with the combined hash value and a plurality of first device specific content parameters with the first device identifier in a first user profile,

wherein when the first communication device requests a content, the personalization parameters and the first device specific content parameters are delivered to a content provider and the content provider provides the first communication device with personalized and device specific content,

wherein the plurality of personalization parameters are combined with a plurality of second device specific content parameters associated with a second communication device sent from the second communication device when the SIM card is in the second communication device to create a second user profile, the first user profile and the second user profile together creating a family of user profiles for the user, wherein second user profile is accessed when content is requested from the second communication device, and the first user profile is accessed with content is requested from the first communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device identifier is an MSISDN to further identify the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the MSISDN is combined with a second hash function, the second hash function provided by the communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device identifier is a device serial number, the device serial number and the SIM card serial number defining a first user profile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the personalization parameters are entered using a keypad of one of the first and second communication devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device identifier is an international mobile station equipment identity (IMEI) to further identify the user.

7. A system for transmitting personalized content, comprising:

a communication network;

a first device on the communication network, wherein the first device sends a request for personalized content through the communication network, the request for personalized content including a personalization parameter, the personalization parameter associated with a a hash value, and a first device specific content parameter, the first device specific content parameter associated with the first device identifier, to create a first user profile, the hash value created by processing a SIM card serial number of a SIM card being used with the first device and a hash function;

a content provider in communication with the network which

receives the request for personalized content including the personalization parameter and the first device specific content parameter from the network once the network identifies the first user profile as corresponding to the hash value and the first device identifier,

configures a content according to the personalization parameter and the first device specific content parameter, and

sends the content to the network;

wherein the hash value is combined with a second device identifier from a second device when the SIM card is in the second device to create a second user profile, the first user profile and the second user profile together creating a family of user profiles for a user, wherein the second user profile is accessed when content is requested from the second device, and the first user profile is accessed with content is requested from the first device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the personalization parameter is specified in a header.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the personalization parameter is associated with a user of the first device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device specific content parameter is associated with a serial number of the first device.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a mobile switching center (MSC) in communication with the network.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device further sends personalization identifiers to the network.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the network stores the first user profile and the second user profile, the first user profile and second user profile each including a content identifier.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the content is based on one or more of properties of the first device, a user location, and a user calendar data.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device is a cellular phone.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the content provider is configured to communicate with the first device via a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN).

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the content provider is configured to provide one or more of financial data, entertainment, and messaging.