International Business Machines Corporation

Alastair John Angwin

Heather Maria Hinton

Sandeep Kishan Singhal

Mark Pozefsky

David George Bevis

Stefan Georg Hild

Song Song

Chang Jie Guo

Ajei Sarat Gopal

Michael L Fraenkel

James Campbell Colson

Jun Shen

Jian Ming Zhang

Pei Sun

Brian Innes

Stefan George Hild

A mobile device identifier (such as an MSISDN) that typically accompanies a mobile device request is replaced with an 'enriched' identifier that exposes the mobile device user's home operator but obfuscates the mobile device's (and, thus, the device user's) identity. In one embodiment, the identifier comprises a first part, and a second part. The first part comprises a data string that identifies (either directly or through a database lookup) the mobile device user's home operator. The second part, however, is an opaque data string, such as a one-time-use unique identifier (UID) or a value that is otherwise derived as a function of the MSISDN (or the like). The opaque data string encodes the mobile device's identity in a manner that preferably can be recovered only by the user's home operator (or an entity authorized thereby). When the mobile device user roams into a foreign network, that network receives the enriched identifier in lieu of an MSISDN. The foreign network uses the first part to identify the mobile device user's home network, e.g., to determine whether to permit the requested access (or to provide some other value-added service). The foreign network, however, cannot decode the second part; thus, the mobile device's identity (as well as the identity of the mobile device user) remains obscured. This ensures that the user's privacy is maintained, while preventing third parties from building a profile of the device based on the requests that include the MSISDN or similar identifier.

Method and apparatus for accessing a foreign network with an obfuscated mobile device user identity

A data processing system comprises a client device, a server system and a network connecting the client device to the server system. The client device is arranged to transmit a data request to the server system, the data request including a URL pointer to a repository address. The server system is arranged to receive the data request, to access the repository address defined by the URL pointer, and to receive data from the repository address, the data defining a plurality of media file types supported by the client device.

Data processing of media file types supported by client devices

A mobile device identifier (such as an MSISDN) that typically accompanies a mobile device request is replaced with an 'enriched' identifier that exposes the mobile device user's home operator but obfuscates the mobile device's (and, thus, the device user's) identity. In one embodiment, the identifier comprises a first part, and a second part. The first part comprises a data string that identifies (either directly or through a database lookup) the mobile device user's home operator. The second part, however, is an opaque data string, such as a one-time-use unique identifier (UID) or a value that is otherwise derived as a function of the MSISDN (or the like). The opaque data string encodes the mobile device's identity in a manner that preferably can be recovered only by the user's home operator. The present invention describes a method and apparatus for use in a home network to manage the generation, storage and use of the unique identifiers.

Method and apparatus for managing obfuscated mobile device user identities

The present invention relates to a mobile phone and a method for its operation and control. The mobile phone is capable of receiving the message sent by other mobile phones through a message transmission system. The method comprises: receiving the message from another mobile phone, wherein the received message comprises a presentation part and an associated control part, the control part being used for the control and management of the processing of the received message; extracting the control part from the received message; and executing the operation related to the message based on the extracted control part. According to an embodiment, if the control part received by the mobile phone comprises the notification mode control command, the mobile phone issues a message notification according to the notification mode control command, disregarding the message notification mode pre-configured on the mobile phone. Thus the requirement of the sender personalized message service can be satisfied.

Message sender controllable messaging system

Mobile device with an obfuscated mobile device user identity

A system for providing position data in a pre-determined format to a device (e.g. a smartphone, laptop etc.), whereby the device is capable of executing an application. The system utilizes a plurality of position determination systems (e.g. GPS), which provide position data. The system further comprises an application program interface (API), which receives a request for position data from the application and passes this request to one of a plurality of position adapters. Each position adapter receives position data from a respective position determination system. The system further comprises an interface program providing data handling functions. The interface program determines whether the received position data is in a pre-determined format preferred by the application and if it is not, the respective position adapter creates position data in a pre-determined format.

Providing position information to a device

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for accessing an alternative display from a data processing system by automatically discovering the accessibility of a display server operably associated with a network upon connection of the data processing system with the network. Display information corresponding to display content to be rendered by a display of the data processing system is generated and provided to the display server over the network so as to allow the corresponding display content to be rendered by the display server on a display associated with the display server.

Methods, systems and computer program products for providing alternative displays for networked devices

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for the automated discovery of a services menu of a processing system such as a pervasive computing device by broadcasting to a plurality of devices connected to a network, a Request Services Menu message. The Request Services Menu message provides information about the pervasive computing device broadcasting the message. In response to the broadcast message, a services menu associated with the pervasive computing device is received and provided to a user of the pervasive computing device. The services menu may also be updated by sending a Services Menu Update to the device.

Methods, systems and computer program products for the automated discovery of a services menu

A method, system, and computer-readable code for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network. The proposed technique defines a novel way for using the phone's protocol stack and transmission capabilities (together with an adapter) to enable devices on a network in a vehicle to communicate with an external network, while still allowing the phone to work in &ldquo;stand-alone&rdquo; mode (i.e. not connected to the vehicle network) where it can communicate to a remote computer as a network client. Further, while the phone is plugged into the automotive network, it retains the ability to operate as a first-class network client. Devices in the vehicle no longer need to include transmission capabilities, thereby reducing their cost. The vehicle owner no longer needs to have a separate wireless subscription for both the phone and the automotive network devices, reducing costs even further.

Method and system for using a cellular phone as a network gateway in an automotive network

Provided is a data communications management system which enables the use of conventional network applications across mobile communications links, addressing the problem that these applications (which are written for fast, reliable and cheap wired connections) are not well adapted for mobile communications. A set of call handler components are provided for each of a plurality of different network communication applications, and a call manager component which intercepts and analyses all communication calls from applications on the local system and redirects them to the appropriate call handler. The call handler then performs functions transparently impersonating the remote target of the communication, and replaces the initial protocol of the call with a different protocol which is optimised for the particular service. In some cases, a second call handler is provided at the remote end which replaces the protocol again before delivering the call to the target.

Growing community of inventors

Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Alastair John Angwin