US 11,716,426 B2
Techniques for implementing phone number-based user accounts with permissions to access varying levels of services utilizing visible and hidden contact addresses
Xudong Liu, Campbell, CA (US); Guozhi Huang, San Mateo, CA (US); and Jonathon Sodos, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc.
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/17,560.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/041,912, filed on Jun. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0400148 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. H04M 15/00 (2006.01); H04M 3/42 (2006.01); H04M 1/27457 (2020.01)
CPC H04M 15/7556 (2013.01) [H04M 1/27457 (2020.01); H04M 3/42382 (2013.01); H04M 2203/6081 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for managing phone number-based user accounts, the method comprising, at a server computing device:
receiving, from a first client computing device, a request to create a user account based on a phone number;
authenticating that the first client computing device is associated with the phone number;
creating the user account based on the phone number;
creating a hidden contact address based on the phone number, wherein the hidden contact address permits the first client computing device to access only a subset of services that otherwise are accessible using a counterpart visible contact address that is based on the phone number;
assigning the hidden contact address to the user account; and
in response to receiving a notification that a second client computing device is associated with the phone number:
requiring the user account to be updated to be based on a different phone number, or assigning, to the user account, the counterpart visible contact address.