Ad hoc communications

• US 9,961,064 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• 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.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chien, Ginger, Arasavelli, Yehoshuva
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/005,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20160142395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 726 7
• 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

Ad hoc communications are established between unknown contacts. For example, in today'"'"'s mobile communications environment, there are many instances in which a user of smart phone may wish to send a message to an unknown user'"'"'s smartphone. An ad hoc communication thus allows messaging with an unknown user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server, an electronic token sent from a recipient device, the electronic token to authenticate an unsolicited message sent to the recipient device from a sending device, wherein the sending device is an unknown contact to the recipient device;

determining, by the server, a confirmation of authentication using the electronic token;

approving, by the server, an ad hoc communication between the recipient device and the sending device in response to the confirmation of authentication using the electronic token; and

sending, by the server, a temporary telephone number to the recipient device, the temporary telephone number causing the recipient device to initiate the ad hoc communication with the sending device sending the unsolicited message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the sending device is a cellular subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a telephone number associated with the sending device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a name associated with the sending device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the recipient device is a cellular subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a telephone number associated with the recipient device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a name associated with the recipient device.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed causing the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an electronic token sent from a recipient device, the electronic token to authenticate an unsolicited message sent to the recipient device from a sending device, wherein the sending device is an unknown contact to the recipient device;

determining a confirmation of authentication using the electronic token;

approving an ad hoc communication between the recipient device and the sending device in response to the confirmation of authentication using the electronic token;

retrieving a one-time temporary telephone number in response to the approving of the ad hoc communication; and

sending the one-time temporary telephone number to the recipient device for establishing the ad hoc communication between the recipient device and the sending device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining the sending device is a cellular subscriber.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a telephone number associated with the sending device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a name associated with the sending device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining the recipient device is a cellular subscriber.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a telephone number associated with the recipient device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a name associated with the recipient device.

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

receiving an electronic token sent from a recipient device, the electronic token to authenticate an unsolicited message sent to the recipient device from a sending device, wherein the sending device is an unknown contact to the recipient device;

determining a confirmation of authentication using the electronic token;

approving an ad hoc communication between the recipient device and the sending device in response to the confirmation of authentication using the electronic token;

retrieving a one-time temporary telephone number in response to the approving of the ad hoc communication; and

sending the one-time temporary telephone number to the recipient device for establishing the ad hoc communication as a cellular call between the recipient device and the sending device.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining the sending device is a cellular subscriber.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a telephone number associated with the sending device.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a name associated with the sending device.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining the recipient device is a cellular subscriber.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a telephone number associated with the recipient device.