Communications Broker for Anonymous Video Session Identity Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network protocols face challenges in enabling anonymous multimedia communication sessions, such as videoconferences, without exchanging personal information, which is crucial for user privacy and safety in online communities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a communications network with a source SIP server, communications broker, database, and SIP endpoints that translate and anonymize user contact information, allowing users to initiate and maintain multimedia sessions without revealing personal details by using a communications broker to manage and facilitate anonymous video/multimedia communication sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional network protocols are used for multimedia communication, then communication functionality is provided, but user anonymity and privacy are compromised due to exchange of personal information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communications broker as an intermediary component that mediates between SIP endpoints. The broker receives signaling messages containing personal contact information, translates them into anonymous identifiers, and facilitates communication without exposing original personal details to the endpoints. This intermediary approach enables multimedia communication while preventing direct exchange of personal information, thus resolving the contradiction between communication functionality and user privacy protection.
2Reliability
If user anonymity is implemented in multimedia sessions, then personal information privacy is protected, but system complexity increases due to additional translation and anonymization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The communications broker is designed as a universal component that handles multiple functions: receiving SIP signaling messages, translating personal contact information into anonymous identifiers, managing session establishment, and facilitating multimedia communication. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional broker, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate components for each function, while still achieving robust identity protection.
3Ease of operation
If personal contact information is exchanged during session setup, then communication establishment is simplified, but user safety and prevention of identity theft are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing contact information translation and anonymization during the session setup phase, before actual multimedia communication begins. The communications broker translates personal contact information into anonymous identifiers early in the process, so that subsequent communication steps proceed using these safe anonymous identifiers. This preliminary anonymization maintains ease of operation while preventing identity theft risks.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example embodiment, a method for facilitating an anonymous video/multimedia communication session in a communications environment over a network is provided that includes receiving, from a first endpoint, a request for a communication session involving a second endpoint. The method also includes identifying end user data associated with both endpoints. The data associated with the first endpoint is mapped to an identity of the first endpoint. The second endpoint can be shown the identity of the first endpoint and not the end user data associated with the first endpoint. Also, the data associated with the second endpoint can be mapped to an identity of the second endpoint. The first endpoint is shown the identity of the second endpoint and not the end user data associated with the second endpoint.