Methods and Apparatus for Anonymous User Identification and Content Personalization in Wireless Communication

• US 20120322429A1
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chien, Herman
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 comprising:

receiving a content request, a first device identifier, and a user identifier from a first communication device having the first device identifier, the first communication device being used with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card having the user identifier; and

customizing a content with a first user profile including a plurality of personalization parameters and a plurality of first device specific content parameters, the plurality of personalization parameters associated with the user identifier, and the plurality of first device specific content parameters associated with the first device identifier;

wherein the content is customized with a second user profile including the plurality of personalization parameters and a plurality of second device specific content parameters when the content request is received with the user identifier and a second device identifier, the second device identifier associated with a second communication device being used with the SIM card.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the plurality of personalization parameters with the user identifier and the plurality of first device specific content parameters with the first device identifier to create the first user profile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first device identifier is a mobile station international subscriber directory number (MSISDN).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identifier is a SIM card serial number.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising processing the SIM card serial number with a hash function to produce a hash value associated with a user.

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

7. A system comprising:

a first device having a first device identifier and operable to send a content request, the content request including the first device identifier and a user identifier, the first communication device being used with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card having the user identifier;

a content provider in communication with the first device and operable to receive the content request and configure a content according to a first user profile including a personalization parameter and a first device specific content parameter, the personalization parameter associated with the user identifier, and the first device specific content parameter associated with the first device identifier;

wherein the content is customized with a second user profile including the personalization parameter and a second device specific content parameter when the content request includes the user identifier and a second device identifier, the second device identifier associated with a second communication device being used with the SIM card.

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

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 content provider.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first device is further operable to send a personalization identifier to the network.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the content provider 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 at least one of the first device, a user location, and a user calendar.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the content provider is operable to communicate with the first device via a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN).

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the content provider is operable to provide at least one of financial data, entertainment, and messaging.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a content request, a first device identifier, and a user identifier from a first communication device having the first device identifier, the first communication device being used with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card having the user identifier; and

customizing a content with a first user profile including a plurality of personalization parameters and a plurality of first device specific content parameters, the plurality of personalization parameters associated with the user identifier, and the plurality of first device specific content parameters associated with the first device identifier;

wherein the content is customized with a second user profile including the plurality of personalization parameters and a plurality of second device specific content parameters when the content request is received with the user identifier and a second device identifier, the second device identifier associated with a second communication device being used with the SIM card.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 17, wherein the first device identifier is a mobile station international subscriber directory number (MSISDN).

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 17, wherein the MSISDN is combined with a hash function.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium in claim 17, wherein the first device identifier is a device serial number, the device serial number and a SIM card serial number defining the first user profile.