Method and apparatus for master privacy policy mechanism in a communications network

1. A method for providing a master privacy policy in a communications network, comprising:

receiving, via a processor of an application server deployed within the communications network, a privacy control parameter from a user to configure the master privacy policy of the user;

storing, via the processor, the master privacy policy of the user that is configured in the communications network; and

applying, via the processor, the master privacy policy of the user to configure a third party service provider privacy policy of a third party service provider providing a service to the user based upon the master privacy policy of the user, wherein the applying comprises:

determining a mapping is found between the master privacy policy for one control parameter of a plurality of control parameters of the third party service provider privacy policy; and

configuring the one control parameter of the third party service provider privacy policy in accordance with the master privacy policy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the privacy control parameter comprises a plurality of privacy control parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the mapping is not found for any one of the plurality of control parameters, then sending a request to the user for requesting a clarification as to any one of the plurality of control parameters of the third party service provider privacy policy that is not found.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a change to a control parameter of the master privacy policy;

updating the master privacy policy in accordance with the change;

storing the master privacy policy that is updated; and

proliferating the master privacy policy that is updated to the third party service provider.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the proliferating is performed automatically without a request from the third party service provider.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third party service provider comprises a plurality of third party service providers, wherein a third party service provider privacy policy for each one of the plurality of third party service providers is configured based upon the master privacy policy.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a transaction with the third party service provider; and

enforcing the third party service provider privacy policy that was configured based upon the master privacy policy.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the enforcing is performed by an endpoint device having a copy of the master privacy policy.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the privacy control parameter comprises an overall level of privacy.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the privacy control parameter comprises a sharing parameter.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of an application server deployed within a communication network, cause the processor to perform operations for providing a master privacy policy in the communications network, the operations comprising:

receiving a privacy control parameter from a user to configure the master privacy policy of the user;

storing the master privacy policy of the user that is configured in the communications network; and

applying the master privacy policy of the user to configure a third party service provider privacy policy of a third party service provider providing a service to the user based upon the master privacy policy of the user, wherein the applying comprises:

determining a mapping is found between the master privacy policy for one control parameter of a plurality of control parameters of the third party service provider privacy policy; and

configuring the one control parameter of the third party service provider privacy policy in accordance with the master privacy policy.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the privacy control parameter comprises a plurality of privacy control parameters.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein when the mapping is not found for any one of the plurality of control parameters, then sending a request to the user for requesting a clarification as to any one of the plurality of control parameters of the third party service provider privacy policy that is not found.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a change to a control parameter of the master privacy policy;

updating the master privacy policy in accordance with the change;

storing the master privacy policy that is updated; and

proliferating the master privacy policy that is updated to the third party service provider.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the proliferating is performed automatically without a request from the third party service provider.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the third party service provider comprises a plurality of third party service providers, wherein a third party service provider privacy policy for each one of the plurality of third party service providers is configured based upon the master privacy policy.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

detecting a transaction with the third party service provider; and

enforcing the third party service provider privacy policy that was configured based upon the master privacy policy.

18. An apparatus for providing a master privacy policy in a communications network, comprising:

a processor of an application server deployed within the communication network; and

a computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a privacy control parameter from a user to configure the master privacy policy of the user;

storing the master privacy policy of the user that is configured in the communications network; and

applying the master privacy policy of the user to configure a third party service provider privacy policy of a third party service provider providing a service to the user based upon the master privacy policy of the user, wherein the applying comprises:

determining a mapping is found between the master privacy policy for one control parameter of a plurality of control parameters of the third party service provider privacy policy; and

configuring the one control parameter of the third party service provider privacy policy in accordance with the master privacy policy.