Patent ID: 6603974
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method of processing permanent identifiers, comprising:a) storing at least one permanent identifier of a first type, permanent identifiers of the first type being expanded permanent identifiers; b) receiving a permanent identifier of the first type and a permanent identifier of a second type; c) determining if a predetermined portion of the received permanent identifier of the first type matches a corresponding portion in one of the stored permanent identifiers of the first type; d) sending the received permanent identifiers of the first and second types to a destination entity if the step c) determines a match exists; e) storing a permanent identifier of the second type associated with each stored permanent identifier of the first type; f) determining if the received permanent identifier of the second type matches the stored permanent identifier of the second type associated with the stored permanent identifier of the first type that the step c) determined had a corresponding portion which matched the predetermined portion of the received permanent identifier of the first type when the step c) determines a match exists; and wherein the step d) sends the received permanent identifiers of the first and second types to a destination entity associated with the received permanent identifier of the first type when the step c) determines a match exists and the step f) determines that a match does not exist.