Variable Subscriber Identifier Enabler for Privacy Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Application developers and non-trusted entities can monitor and track communication device users through unique identifiers, compromising user privacy, as existing solutions fail to effectively prevent profiling and tracking across apps and websites.

Innovation Solution

The system generates and utilizes variable subscriber identifiers (V-SubIds) to mask user identities from unauthorized entities, employing SIM-based authentication to differentiate between trusted and untrusted networks, and inserting V-SubIds into requests to untrusted entities, thereby protecting user privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If unique identifiers are used to identify users across apps and websites, then user identification and service personalization are improved, but user privacy and protection against tracking are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser identification accuracyVSAvoiduser tracking and profiling

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic identifier assignment where the subscriber identifier changes periodically or based on specific conditions. The network gateway assigns different subscriber identifiers to the same user at different times, making tracking difficult while maintaining service continuity. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by preventing static identification without compromising service personalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network gateway acts as an intermediary between the user equipment and external entities. It intercepts requests, assigns anonymous subscriber identifiers, and forwards them to destinations. This intermediary layer protects user privacy by decoupling the user's real identity from the identifiers used in communications, while still enabling service providers to deliver personalized services through the gateway's mediation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If subscriber identifiers are changed periodically to protect privacy, then user tracking prevention is improved, but service continuity and user recognition may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser activity trackingVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network gateway monitors and tracks anonymous subscriber identifiers to maintain service continuity. Even though identifiers change, the gateway maintains internal mappings and state information to ensure that services can be continuously delivered to the correct user context. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by enabling privacy protection through identifier changes while maintaining service stability through intelligent routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous service delivery despite identifier changes by implementing session management and context preservation mechanisms. The network gateway maintains the continuity of useful actions (service delivery) by tracking anonymous identifiers and routing them appropriately, ensuring that services remain uninterrupted even as the identifying information changes periodically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If anonymous identifiers are used to protect user privacy, then user tracking prevention is improved, but the ability of service providers to identify and serve users is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofiling by untrusted entitiesVSAvoidservice personalization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different quality levels of identification to different contexts. For untrusted external entities, completely anonymous identifiers are used to prevent tracking. For trusted service providers, the system maintains the ability to deliver personalized services through the network gateway's internal mechanisms. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing strong privacy protection where needed while maintaining service personalization capability where appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9544765B2Anonymous customer reference services enabler

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Variable subscriber identifiers (V-SubIds) for protecting subscriber privacy are generated and managed. In one aspect, an Anonymous Customer Reference Services (ACRS) component generates a V-SubId, which is a short-lived subscriber identifier that is inserted in a request received from a user equipment during request enrichment. Moreover, a different V-SubId can be inserted in subsequent request from the user equipment and thus, cross-site behavior tracking can be mitigated. In one aspect, the V-SubId can be exchanged for a subscriber identifier (SubId) associated with the user equipment, upon query by trusted systems/applications. Further, the V-SubId can be exchanged for a site-specific Anonymous Customer Reference (ACR) upon query by untrusted systems/applications, if user authorization is received. Moreover, the life cycle of the ACR is managed by the ACRS component, based on subscriber input.