Recipient Identifier Masking for Communication Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems with large screens struggle to maintain recipient confidentiality, especially in multi-terminal environments like homes, where outgoing calls can be easily noticed by others, and there is no effective solution to erase communication traces from terminals or operator records.
Innovation Solution
A method that modifies the recipient's identifier signal by replacing characters with masking characters, allowing the masked identifier to be displayed on the user's terminal and other networked terminals, while also erasing the original identifier from communication histories and operator databases, with optional activation phases for selective or permanent masking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the recipient's identifier is displayed on large screens of multiple terminals, then the user can easily view communication information, but the recipient's confidentiality is compromised and third parties can easily notice outgoing calls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying different information on different terminals based on user authorization. The originating terminal displays the full recipient identifier for the calling user, while other terminals display only masked versions (e.g., XXX-XXX-1234). This selective information display resolves the contradiction by allowing easy viewing for authorized users while protecting confidentiality from unauthorized viewers.
Solution Approach 2:
The network entity acts as an intermediary that receives the recipient identifier, applies masking rules, and distributes appropriate versions to different terminals. The masking mechanism (replacing characters with X) serves as an intermediary layer between the full identifier and its display, enabling both visibility for authorized users and protection for unauthorized users simultaneously.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the user isolates themselves and multiple terminals to maintain call secrecy, then recipient confidentiality is preserved, but the operation becomes complex and difficult to execute
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically managing identifier masking without requiring user action. When a call is initiated, the network entity automatically masks the recipient identifier on all terminals except the originating terminal. This eliminates the need for users to manually isolate themselves or multiple terminals, as the system autonomously protects confidentiality while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The masking of the recipient identifier is performed in advance before the call is established and before any other terminal can display the information. The network entity applies masking rules proactively, ensuring confidentiality is maintained from the outset without requiring the user to take additional protective actions during or after the call.
3Loss of information
If the identifier is stored in communication history and transmitted to large screens, then communication records are maintained for reference, but traces of confidential communications persist and cannot be erased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality to communication history by storing different versions of the identifier in different locations. The originating terminal stores the full recipient identifier in its communication history for the calling user's reference, while the network entity stores and transmits only the masked version to other terminals. This resolves the contradiction by preserving complete records where needed while eliminating traces where confidentiality is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication history is segmented into different components stored at different locations. The full identifier is stored locally at the originating terminal, while only the masked portion is stored in the network entity's database and transmitted to other terminals. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both complete records and confidential traces simultaneously in appropriate locations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method (30) for establishing a communication between a user (A) and at least one recipient (D). According to the invention, the method comprises, prior to establishing the communication, an identifier masking phase comprising the following steps, for at least one recipient: interception (32) of an identifier of a recipient, that has been input by the user; and modification (33) of a signal comprising said identifier and used to display said identifier or to set up said communication.