Patents by Inventor Alastair John Angwin

Alastair John Angwin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9825916
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Heather Maria Hinton, Alastair John Angwin, Mark Pozefsky
  • Patent number: 8320882
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Heather Maria Hinton, Alastair John Angwin, Mark Pozefsky
  • Patent number: 8160566
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair John Angwin, Chang Jie Guo, Jun Shen, Song Song, Pei Sun, Jian Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 8107952
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Heather Maria Hinton, Alastair John Angwin, Mark Pozefsky
  • Publication number: 20080293411
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Heather Maria Hinton, Alastair John Angwin, Mark Pozefsky
  • Publication number: 20080293378
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Heather Maria Hinton, Alastair John Angwin, Mark Pozefsky
  • Publication number: 20080293379
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Heather Maria Hinton, Alastair John Angwin, Mark Pozefsky
  • Publication number: 20020078352
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program for secure electronic communication by modifying a security code for use in a plurality of separate electronic communications between a first party and a second party involves the initial secure exchange of a seed value. Additionally, a relatively simple advance function and a one-way hash function are exchanged. When a new communication, for example following a disconnection, is required, both parties apply the advance function to the seed value and then hash the result to each create a new security code. If the tokens at the two parties are the same, the communication is allowed to proceed. The invention is applicable to both client and server in a client/server system, where the client may be a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair John Angwin, Stefan Georg Hild, Sandeep Singhal
  • Patent number: 6246688
    Abstract: 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 “stand-alone” 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Alastair John Angwin, David George Bevis, James C. Colson, Michael L. Fraenkel, Ajei S. Gopal, Sandeep K. Singhal
  • Patent number: 6167450
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair John Angwin, Stefan George Hild