IP Library Granted Patent US 12,265,645
Granted Patent B2
US 12,265,645 · App. 17/661,922 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Securely responding to queries involving mobile virtual network operators on a mobile network

Inventors: Jignesh K Karia (Thane, IN); Sudip Dutta (Kolkata, IN); Pankaj Satyanarayan Dayama (Bangalore, IN); Suman Das (Kolkata, IN)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06F21/6245H04L9/3218H04L9/50H04W12/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,265,645
App. No.
17/661,922
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an approach, a processor receives a query relating to mobile number porting on a mobile network that includes a hierarchy including a mobile network operator and a mobile virtual network operator, the query requiring access to customer private data. A processor identifies a minimal number of participants in the mobile network with access to the customer private data. A customer provides a response to the query.

Claims (53)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

maintaining, by one or more processors, customer private data in a plurality of private data collections in a distributed ledger of a blockchain network, wherein:

each respective private data collection is shared throughout a mobile network but only accessible by a respective subset of network provider participants, including a mobile network operator and a mobile virtual network operator; and

each network provider participant is involved in providing services to a customer associated with the customer private data;

receiving a query relating to mobile number porting on the mobile network that includes a network provider hierarchy comprising the network provider participants, the network provider participants including the mobile network operator and the mobile virtual network operator, the query requiring access to a first private data collection and a second private data collection of the plurality of private data collections, wherein the query is further related to a mobile number porting application;

identifying a smallest number of network provider participants in the mobile network that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection, wherein;

the smallest number of network provider participants is a plurality of the network provider participants; and

identifying the smallest number of network provider participants in the mobile network that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection comprises:

identifying a set of private data collections, comprising the first and second private data collections, having the customer private data; and

for each private data collection of the set of private data collections, identifying at least one network provider participant with access to the private data collection;

causing the smallest number of network provider participants, that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection on the distributed ledger of the blockchain network, to generate a result of the query;

sending a response to the query that includes the result of the query; and

receiving verification of the response to the query from a requestor of the query.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the query is further related to a porting complaint; and

causing the smallest number of network provider participants to generate the result of the query comprises generating the result of the query by running a secure multiparty computation protocol between the identified smallest number of network provider participants using data from the set of private data collections.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising causing generation of a zero-knowledge proof that the response to the query is correct.

4. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to maintain customer private data in a plurality of private data collections in a distributed ledger of a blockchain network, wherein:

each respective private data collection is shared throughout a mobile network but only accessible by a respective subset of network provider participants, including a mobile network operator and a mobile virtual network operator; and

each network provider participant is involved in providing services to a customer associated with the customer private data;

program instructions to receive a query relating to mobile number porting on the mobile network that includes a network provider hierarchy comprising the network provider participants, the network provider participants including the mobile network operator and the mobile virtual network operator, the query requiring access to a first private data collection and a second private data collection of the plurality of private data collections, wherein the query is further related to a mobile number porting application;

program instructions to identify a smallest number of network provider participants in the mobile network that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection, wherein:

the smallest number of network provider participants is a plurality of the network provider participants; and

program instructions to identify the smallest number of network provider participants in the mobile network that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection comprise:

program instructions to identify a set of private data collections, comprising the first and second private data collections, having the customer private data; and

program instructions to, for each private data collection of the set of private data collections, identify at least one network provider participant with access to the private data collection;

program instructions to cause the smallest number of network provider participants, that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection on the distributed ledger of the blockchain network, to generate a result of the query;

program instructions to send a response to the query that includes the result of the query; and

program instructions to receive verification of the response to the query from a requester of the query.

5. The computer program product of claim 4 , wherein:

the query is further related to a porting complaint; and

program instructions to cause the smallest number of network provider participants to generate the result of the query comprise program instructions to generate the result of the query by running a secure multiparty computation protocol between the identified smallest number of network provider participants using data from the set of one or more private data collections.

6. The computer program product of claim 4 , further comprising program instructions, collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to cause generation of a zero-knowledge proof that the response to the query is correct.

7. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to maintain customer private data in a plurality of private data collections in a distributed ledger of a blockchain network, wherein:

each respective private data collection is shared throughout a mobile network but only accessible by a respective subset of network provider participants, including a mobile network operator and a mobile virtual network operator; and

each network provider participant is involved in providing services to a customer associated with the customer private data;

program instructions to receive a query relating to mobile number porting on the mobile network that includes a network provider hierarchy comprising the network provider participants, the network provider participants including the mobile network operator and the mobile virtual network operator, the query requiring access to a first private data collection and a second private data collection of the plurality of private data collections, wherein the query is further related to a mobile number porting application;

program instructions to identify a smallest number of network provider participants in the mobile network that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection, wherein:

the smallest number of network provider participants is a plurality of the network provider participants; and

program instructions to identify the smallest number of network provider participants in the mobile network that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection comprise:

program instructions to identify a set of private data collections, comprising the first and second private data collections, having the customer private data; and

program instructions to, for each private data collection of the set of private data collections, identify at least one network provider participant with access to the private data collection;

program instructions to cause the smallest number of network provider participants, that in aggregate have access to the first private data collection and the second private data collection on the distributed ledger of the blockchain network, to generate a result of the query;

program instructions to send a response to the query that includes the result of the query; and

program instructions to receive verification of the response to the query from a requester of the query.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein:

the query is further related to a porting complaint; and

program instructions to cause the smallest number of network provider participants to generate the result of the query comprise program instructions to generate the result of the query by running a secure multiparty computation protocol between the identified smallest number of network provider participants using data from the set of one or more private data collections.

9. The computer system of claim 7 , further comprising program instructions, collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, to cause generation of a zero-knowledge proof that the response to the query is correct.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2022
From: KARIA, JIGNESH K; DUTTA, SUDIP; DAYAMA, PANKAJ SATYANARAYAN; DAS, SUMAN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059805/0459 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230359760A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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