Communication identifier padding in a communication network

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Networking (H04L)

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

USPTO granted patent US12592791B2 to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) covering a method for padding communication identifiers to hide their actual length for privacy purposes. The patent describes determining padding extent so identifiers conform to a set of allowed lengths with uniform differences between most lengths. The assignee and named inventors are John Mattsson and Prajwol Kumar Nakarmi.

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What changed

The USPTO issued Patent No. US12592791B2 to Ericsson on March 31, 2026, covering communication equipment that pads communication identifiers to lengths within a predefined set. The allowed lengths follow a pattern where most consecutive lengths differ by a common increment, except the longest lengths may differ by more. CPC classifications include H04L 1/0008, H04W 12/02, and H04W 12/72, indicating relevance to telecommunications and wireless privacy/security technologies.

Entities developing communications equipment with privacy features should review this patent to determine whether their implementations may fall within the scope of the 20 claims. The patent grant does not impose compliance obligations, but third parties manufacturing similar technology may face potential licensing requirements or infringement exposure if their products practice the claimed methods.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Communication identifier padding in a communication network

Grant US12592791B2 Kind: B2 Mar 31, 2026

Assignee

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)

Inventors

John Mattsson, Prajwol Kumar Nakarmi

Abstract

Communication equipment (20) is configured for use in a communication network (10). The communication equipment (20) determines an extent (24) to which a communication identifier (16) for the communication network (10) is to be padded in order for the communication identifier (16) to have a length that is included in a set (30) of allowed lengths. For each of at least two allowed lengths in the set (30), the allowed length differs from the next shortest or longest allowed length in the set (30) by a common length difference, and the longest allowed length among said at least two allowed lengths differs from the next longest allowed length in the set (30) by more than the common length difference. The communication equipment (20) performs, or assists other communication equipment (20) to perform, padding of the communication identifier (16) to the determined extent (24).