System, method and computer program product for managing user identities

• US 7,991,843 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Guo, Yile, Krishnamurthi, Govind
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quang N.
• Application Number:
  US10/695,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,834 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/206, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/228, 709/230, 709/217, 709/227, 379/210.01, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system for managing a plurality of identities of a user includes a network entity capable of operating a user naming system (UNS). The UNS is capable of receiving, from an application, a request for an identity of a user. The UNS is also capable of automatically selecting a predefined identity based upon the application and at least one user preference independent of user input to the application. The UNS can then provide the selected identity to the application. More particularly, the UNS can receive a request for the identity of a user from a trusted application. Then, the UNS can select an identity further based upon a status of the user. The UNS can alternatively receive a request for the identity of a user from a non-trusted application. Then, the UNS can select or generate a pseudonym, which the UNS can provide to the application.

Claims

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a processor on a wireless terminal; and

a memory including computer program code,

the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

receive, from an application on the wireless terminal, a request for an identity of a user;

automatically select one of a plurality of identities selectable for use by the respective application, the respective identity being selected based upon the application and at least one user preference, and independent of user input to the application; and

cause the selected identity to be provided to the application,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select one of a plurality of identities based upon the application includes being configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the application is a trusted application or a non-trusted application, and select one of a plurality of identities based on the determination.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a request includes being configured to cause the apparatus to receive, from a trusted application, a request for an identity of a user, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select one of a plurality of identities includes being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select an identity further based upon a status of the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one user preference comprises at least one naming preference, and wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select one of a plurality of identities includes being configured to cause the apparatus to:

obtain a status of the user;

match the status of the user with a status of a naming preference that also includes a predefined identity; and

select the predefined identity of the respective naming preference.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status includes being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status of the user with a status of at least one naming preference that further includes at least one application, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to further:

match the application requesting the identity with an application of one of the at least one naming preference having a matching status, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to select the predefined identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to select the predefined identity from the naming preference having a matching status and having a matching application.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a request includes being configured to cause the apparatus to receive, from a non-trusted application, a request for an identity of a user,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select one of a plurality of identities includes being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select or generate a pseudonym, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to cause the selected identity to be provided includes being configured to cause the apparatus to cause the pseudonym to be provided.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to further:

identify a current preferred identity based upon at least one user preference and a status of the user,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a request includes being configured to cause the apparatus to receive, from a trusted application, a request for an identity of a user and select the current preferred identity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one user preference comprises at least one naming preference, and wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to identify a current preferred identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to:

obtain a status of the user;

match the status of the user with a status of a naming preference that also includes a predefined identity; and

identify the predefined identity of the respective naming preference as a current preferred identity.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status includes being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status of the user with a status of at least one naming preference that further includes at least one application,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to identify the predefined identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to identify, for each application of each naming preference having a matching status, the predefined identity of the respective naming preference as a current preferred identity of the respective application, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to select the current preferred identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to select the current preferred identity of an application matching the application requesting the identity.

9. A method of managing a plurality of identities of a user, the method comprising:

receiving, from an application on a wireless terminal, a request for an identity of a user;

on the wireless terminal, automatically selecting one of a plurality of identities selectable for use by the respective application, the respective identity being selected based upon the application and at least one user preference, and independent of user input to the application; and

causing the selected identity to be provided to the application,

automatically selecting one of a plurality of identities based upon the application includes determining whether the application is a trusted application or a non-trusted application, and selecting one of a plurality of identities based on the determination.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a request comprises receiving, from a trusted application, a request for an identity of a user, and wherein selecting an identity comprises selecting an identity further based upon a status of the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one user preference comprises at least one naming preference, and wherein selecting a predefined identity comprises:

obtaining a status of the user;

matching the status of the user with a status of a naming preference that also includes a predefined identity; and

selecting the predefined identity of the respective naming preference.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein matching the status of the user comprises matching the status of the user with a status of at least one naming preference that further includes at least one application, and wherein the method further comprises:

matching the application requesting the identity with an application of one of the at least one naming preference having a matching status,

wherein selecting the predefined identity comprises selecting the predefined identity from the naming preference having a matching status and having a matching application.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a request comprises receiving, from a non-trusted application, a request for an identity of a user, wherein selecting an identity comprises one of selecting or generating a pseudonym, and wherein causing the selected identity to be provided comprises causing the pseudonym to be provided to the application.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

identifying a current preferred identity based upon at least one user preference and a status of the user,

wherein receiving a request comprises receiving, from a trusted application, a request for an identity of a user, and wherein selecting a predefined identity comprises selecting the current preferred identity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one user preference comprises at least one naming preference, and wherein identifying a current preferred identity comprises:

obtaining a status of the user;

matching the status of the user with a status of a naming preference that also includes a predefined identity; and

identifying the predefined identity of the respective naming preference as a current preferred identity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein matching the status of the user comprises matching the status of the user with a status of at least one naming preference that further includes at least one application, wherein identifying the predefined identity comprises identifying, for each application of each naming preference having a matching status, the predefined identity of the respective naming preference as a current preferred identity of the respective application, and wherein selecting the current preferred identity comprises selecting the current preferred identity of an application matching the application requesting the identity.

17. A computer-readable storage medium on a wireless terminal and having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable storage medium and having computer-readable program code portions being configured to, with a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:

receive, from an application on the wireless terminal, a request for an identity of a user;

select one of a plurality of identities selectable for use by the respective application the respective identity being selected based upon the application and at least one user preference, and independent of user input to the application; and

cause the selected identity to be provided to the application,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select one of a plurality of identities based upon the application includes being configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether the application is a trusted application or a non-trusted application, and select one of a plurality of identities based on the determination.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a request includes being configured to cause the apparatus to receive, from a trusted application, a request for an identity of a user, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select one of a plurality of identities includes being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select an identity further based upon a status of the user.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the at least one user preference comprises at least one naming preference, and wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically select one of a plurality of identities includes being configured to cause the apparatus to:

obtain a status of the user;

match the status of the user with a status of a naming preference that also includes a predefined identity; and

select the predefined identity of the respective naming preference.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status includes being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status of the user with a status of at least one naming preference that further includes at least one application, wherein the computer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program code portions are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to further:

match the application requesting the identity with an application of one of the at least one naming preference having a matching status, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to select the predefined identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to select the predefined identity from the naming preference having a matching status and having a matching application.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a request includes being configured to cause the apparatus to receive, from a non-trusted application, a request for an identity of a user,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to select an identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to one of select or generate a pseudonym, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to cause the selected identity to be provided includes being configured to cause the apparatus to cause the pseudonym to be provided to the application.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable storage medium and computer-readable program code portions are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to further:

identify a current preferred identity based upon at least one user preference and a status of the user,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a request includes being configured to cause the apparatus to receive, from a trusted application, a request for an identity of a user and select the current preferred identity.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one user preference comprises at least one naming preference, and wherein the being configured to cause the apparatus to identify a current preferred identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to:

obtain a status of the user;

match the status of the user with a status of a naming preference that also includes a predefined identity; and

identify the predefined identity of the respective naming preference as a current preferred identity.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status includes being configured to cause the apparatus to match the status of the user with a status of at least one naming preference that further includes at least one application,

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to identify the predefined identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to identify, for each application of each naming preference having a matching status, the predefined identity of the respective naming preference as a current preferred identity of the respective application, and

wherein being configured to cause the apparatus to select the current preferred identity includes being configured to cause the apparatus to select the current preferred identity of an application matching the application requesting the identity.