Method and apparatus for establishing an ad hoc communication with an unknown contact

• US 9,277,573 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chien, Ginger, Arasavelli, Yehoshuva
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US14/086,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20150140932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455418-420, 455/422.1, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/440.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for establishing an ad hoc communication with an unknown contact are disclosed. For example, the method receives an authentication token from a recipient endpoint device for authentication of an unsolicited message from a sender endpoint device, wherein the recipient endpoint device is an unknown contact to the sender endpoint device and the unsolicited message is sent over an open communications protocol, authenticates the authentication token, and sends a confirmation that the authentication token is authenticated to the recipient endpoint device to allow the recipient endpoint device to establish a connection to the sender endpoint device to begin the ad hoc communication.

Claims

1. A method for establishing an ad hoc communication, comprising:

identifying, by a processor, an endpoint device associated with an available unknown contact within a range of an open communications protocol that is ready to receive a message;

sending, by the processor, the message and an authentication to the endpoint device associated with the available unknown contact;

receiving, by the processor, a confirmation that the available unknown contact has accepted the message;

establishing, by the processor, the ad hoc communication with the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact;

detecting, by the processor, that the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact is moving out of a signal range associated with the open communications protocol;

sending, by the processor, a request to a communications network service provider to continue the ad hoc communication over a cellular communications network;

receiving, by the processor, a one-time temporary telephone number to continue the ad hoc communication; and

establishing, by the processor, cellular communication with the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact via the cellular communications network to continue the ad hoc communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the open communications protocol is a bluetooth communications protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the processor, a registration request to the communications network service provider to subscribe to an ad hoc communications service; and

receiving, by the processor, an authentication token that is sent as the authentication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises one of a plurality of predefined categories of messages.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a request for a higher level of authentication to establish the ad hoc communication; and

sending, by the processor, the higher level of authentication until the ad hoc communication is established.

6. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

identifying an endpoint device associated with an available unknown contact within a range of an open communications protocol that is ready to receive a message;

sending the message and an authentication to the endpoint device associated with the available unknown contact;

receiving a confirmation that the available unknown contact has accepted the message;

establishing the ad hoc communication with the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact;

detecting that the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact is moving out of a signal range of the open communications protocol;

sending a request to a communications network service provider to continue the ad hoc communication over a cellular communications network;

receiving a one-time temporary telephone number to continue the ad hoc communication; and

establishing cellular communication with the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact via the cellular communications network to continue the ad hoc communication.

7. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

identifying an endpoint device associated with an available unknown contact within a range of an open communications protocol that is ready to receive a message;

sending the message and an authentication to the endpoint device associated with the available unknown contact;

receiving a confirmation that the available unknown contact has accepted the message;

establishing the ad hoc communication with the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact;

detecting that the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact is moving out of a signal range of the open communications protocol;

sending a request to a communications network service provider to continue the ad hoc communication over a cellular communications network;

receiving a one-time temporary telephone number to continue the ad hoc communication; and

establishing cellular communication with the endpoint device associated with the unknown contact via the cellular communications network to continue the ad hoc communication.