Method for anonymous identification of the profiles of subscribers in a communication system and corresponding module

• US 7,310,515 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Enderlein, Janos-Gerold, Klassen, Volker, Riemann, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US10/501,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412- 413, 4554141-4143, 455/456.3, 455/459, 455517-518, 455/519, 4555521-5531, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452.2, 455/432.3, 340/539.23
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for anonymous identification of the profiles of subscribers in a communication system, wherein subscribers define and store subscriber-specific profiles via a respective input unit in a respective communication terminal and/or in a respective module respectively coupled to a respective communication terminal. Each respective module communication terminal is used to collect the profiles of other subscribers of the communication system on the basis of a wireless, locally defined network technology which are compared to the profiles defined and stored in the respective communication terminal whereupon they are discarded according to a subscriber-specific correlation threshold or communicated to the respective subscriber. A communication link is set up by an intermediate coupled provider of the communication system between subscribers when the respective subscriber activation occurs. A module is also disclosed that can be integrated in a mobile communication terminal or on a mobile communication terminal via an interface. The module includes a memory unit for storing profiles, a collector unit functioning on the basis of a wireless, locally defined network technology for collecting (scanning) profiles of subscribers, a correlation unit for comparing profiles, and a signaling/synchronizing unit.

Claims

1. A method for anonymous identification of profiles of subscribers in a communications system comprising:

defining subscriber-specific profiles via an input unit of a communication appliance and storing the subscriber-specific profiles in at least one of the communication appliance and a module that is coupled to the communication appliance, wherein the subscriber specific profile comprises an ID number;

collecting a profile of another subscriber in the communications system through the module coupled to the communication appliance using wireless, locally restricted network technology, wherein the other subscriber profile comprises an ID number;

comparing the collected profile with the profile defined and stored in one of the communication appliance and module, wherein the profile is one of rejected or signaled to another subscriber based on comparison with a subscriber specific correlation threshold; and

establishing a communication connection between the subscribers via an intermediate provider in the communications system whenever subscriber end activation takes place, wherein the step of establishing a communication connection comprises (1) setting up a communication link between the subscriber and the intermediate provider, (2) signaling the stored ID numbers of the subscriber and the other subscriber to the intermediate provider, (3) setting up a communication link between the other subscriber and the intermediate provider, (4) signaling the stored ID numbers of the other subscriber and the subscriber to the intermediate provider,

wherein the intermediate provider allocates a first neutral telephone number to the subscriber and allocates a second neutral telephone number to the other subscriber, and makes the each neutral telephone number available to the other subscriber, wherein a communication link is set up between the subscribers via the intermediate provider.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless, locally limited network technology is one of a local area network (LAN) and a personal area network (PAN) utilizing Bluetooth technology.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a respective mobile communication appliance, which operates in accordance with a standard, is used as the respective communication appliance, with the standard being selected from a group consisting of GSM, GPRS, EDGE and UMTS.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each module of a subscriber is allocated an ID number.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a computer.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the neutral telephone numbers are assigned temporarily.

7. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of modules communicatively coupled to respective mobile communication appliances assigned to subscribers, each module comprising;

a memory unit for storage of profiles received from other subscribers, wherein each profile comprises an III) number;

a collecting unit that operates using wireless, locally limited network technology, and is configured to collect profiles of subscribers in a communications system;

a correlation unit configured to compare the collected profiles with one another;

a signaling/synchronization unit; and

an intermediate provider, communicatively coupled to the module, wherein the intermediate provider establishes a communication connection to at least two subscribers by (1) setting up a cofrimunication link between a first subscriber and the intermediate provider, (2) signaling the stored ID numbers of the first subscriber and a second subscriber to the intermediate provider, (3) setting up a communication link between the second subscriber and the intermediate provider, (4) signaling the stored ID numbers of the second subscriber and the first subscriber to the intermediate provider,

wherein the intermediate provider allocates a first neutral telephone number to the first subscriber and allocates a second neutral telephone number to the second subscriber, and makes each neutral telephone number available to the two subscribers, wherein a communication link is set up between the two subscribers via the intermediate provider.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the collecting unit is configured to operate on the basis of at least one of local area network (LAN) and personal area network (PAN) technologies.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the memory unit comprises a RAM.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the correlation unit comprises a microcomputer.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the signaling/synchronization unit comprises a software assisted circuit.