EP1265151A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network and method for identifying entities sharing a common network location
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 2001-07-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A computerized method identifies entities accessing locations in a communications network. A unique identification is associated with a private identification for each entity accessing the network. A known list is maintained for each entity. Each entry in the known list for a particular entity includes the unique identification and private identification of other entities known to the particular entity. A location list is maintained. Each entry in the location list includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having shared a common location in the network. A message is generated only if at least two unique identifications of a particular entry of the location list are identical to at least two unique identifications found in the known list of the particular entity. The message includes the associated private identifications of the at least two identical unique identifications.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Terry
- 👤 Kathleen Ryall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A computerized method for identifying entities accessing locations in a
communications network, comprising: associating a unique identification and a private identification with
each entity accessing the network; maintaining a known list for each entity, each entry in the known list
for a particular entity including the unique identification and private
identification of other entities known to the particular entity; maintaining a location list where each entry in the location list
includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having shared a
common location in the network; and generating a message only if at least two unique identifications of a
particular entry of the location list are identical to at least two unique
identifications found in the known list of the particular entity, the message
including the associated private identifications of the at least two identical
unique identifications.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computerized method for identifying entities accessing locations in a
communications network, comprising: associating a unique identification and a private identification with
each entity accessing the network; maintaining a known list for each entity, each entry in the known list
for a particular entity including the unique identification and private
identification of other entities known to the particular entity; maintaining a location list where each entry in the location list
includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having shared a
common location in the network; and generating a message only if at least two unique identifications of a
particular entry of the location list are identical to at least two unique
identifications found in the known list of the particular entity, the message
including the associated private identifications of the at least two identical
unique identifications.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network is local and
mobile, and network locations are physical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network is wide area,
and the network locations are virtual.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the each entry in the location list is
associated with an encounter record, the encounter record storing a date,
time, and duration of each instance when entities have shared a common
location in the network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the message is generated only if the
number of encounter record for a particular unique identification exceeds a
predetermined threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the local area network includes a plurality
of portable communications devices, each communication device associated
with one of the entities, and wherein each device stores the private and
associated public identification, and further comprising: broadcasting the unique identification of each device via a public
communications channel; receiving the unique identification of the other entities having shared
the common shared location via the public communications channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device use a short-range radio
frequency signal to broadcast the unique identification.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein devices exchange the unique and private
identifications using a private point-to-point communications channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual network locations are identified
by Universal Resource Locators.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the private identification is a name of the
entity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
A communications network for identifying entities accessing locations in
the network, comprising: means for associating a unique identification and a private
identification with each entity accessing the network; means for maintaining a known list for each entity, each entry in the
known list for a particular entity including the unique identification and
private identification of other entities known to the particular entity; means for maintaining a location list where each entry in the location
list includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having
shared a common location in the network; and means for generating a message only if at least two unique
identifications of a particular entry of the location list are identical to at least
two unique identifications found in the known list of the particular entity, the
message including the associated private identifications of the at least two
identical unique identifications.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A communications network for identifying entities accessing locations in
the network, comprising: means for associating a unique identification and a private
identification with each entity accessing the network; means for maintaining a known list for each entity, each entry in the
known list for a particular entity including the unique identification and
private identification of other entities known to the particular entity; means for maintaining a location list where each entry in the location
list includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having
shared a common location in the network; and means for generating a message only if at least two unique
identifications of a particular entry of the location list are identical to at least
two unique identifications found in the known list of the particular entity, the
message including the associated private identifications of the at least two
identical unique identifications.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications network of claim 10 wherein the communications
network is local and mobile, and network locations are physical.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The communications network 11 wherein the local area network includes
a plurality of portable communications devices, each communication device
associated with one of the entities, and wherein each device stores the
private and associated public identification, and wherein the unique
identification of each device is broadcast via a public communications
channel, and the unique and private identifications are exchanged using a
private point-to-point communications channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The communications network 11 wherein the local area network includes
a plurality of portable communications devices, each communication device
associated with one of the entities, and wherein each device stores the
private and associated public identification, and wherein the unique
identification of each device is broadcast via a public communications
channel, and the unique and private identifications are exchanged using a
private point-to-point communications channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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