METHODS, APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND MECHANISMS FOR SECURE ATTRIBUTE BASED FRIEND FIND AND PROXIMITY DISCOVERY

摘要

Methods, apparatus and system for managing a group of users operating on one or more networks are disclosed. One method includes determining whether a second user is a user of interest; and forming the group of users based on at least the determination. A second method includes sending, in an initial stage first anonymized information of the first user to enable a second user to determine whether the first user is of interest to the second user; on condition that the first user is of interest to the second user, receiving, in the initial stage, second anonymized information of the second user to enable the first user to determine whether the second user is of interest to the first user; on condition that the second user is of interest to the first user, sending, in second stage, first non-anonymized information of the first user to enable the second user to form a group with the first user; and on condition that the first user is of interest to the second user, receiving, in the second stage, second non-anonymized information of the second user to enable the first user to form the group with the second user.

主权项

1. A method implemented in a node of a telecommunications network for grouping a plurality of users based on stored profiles of the users, the plurality of users operating on one or more networks, the method comprising:
obtaining access, via the one or more networks, to at least one database of user profiles maintained by at least a first entity (target entity); receiving from a second entity (source entity), via the one or more networks, a grouping request message requesting a search of user profiles having attributes meeting at least one criterion set forth in the request; searching the at least one database for user profiles meeting the at least one criterion; transmitting a grouping response message to the source entity via the one or more networks, the grouping response message including an indicator that at least one user profile meeting the at least one criterion has been found; receiving from the source entity, via the one or more networks, a user identity request message requesting an identity of the user associated with the at least one user profile meeting the at least one criterion (target user); responsive to the user identity request message, transmitting to the target entity, via the one or more networks, a user identity request forward message requesting from the target entity the identity of the target user; and receiving from the target entity, via the one or more networks, a user identity response message, the user identity response message including an identity of the target user.