Method and device for processing a request for anonymisation of a source IP address, method and device for requesting anonymisation of a source IP address

A method for requesting anonymization of a source IP address of an IP packet transmitted by a transmitting device to a recipient device via a communications network, said transmitting device being connected to said network via a network terminal apparatus, said method being carried out by said network terminal apparatus and comprising:

• detecting a configuration to request anonymization;
• upon said detection, inserting a marking information item in a field of said IP packet, said marking information item being representative of said request for anonymization of said source IP address and interpretable by an anonymization device, which is positioned for cutting the flow between said network terminal apparatus and said recipient device;
• and
• sending said IP packet to said recipient device.

An anonymization device, configured to process a request for anonymization of a source IP address of an IP packet transmitted by a transmitting device to a recipient device via a communications network, said transmitting device being connected to said network via a network terminal apparatus, said anonymization device being positioned for cutting the flow between said communication network terminal apparatus and said recipient device, said anonymization device comprising:

• communication means configured to receive said IP packet;
• a verificator configured to establish whether said source IP address of said IP packet has to be anonymized or not;
• and
• a router configured to route said IP packet to said recipient device, said IP packet being routed via an apparatus of said network having an address translation function if said anonymization device does not have an address translation function and if and only if a result of said verification is positive.

A network terminal apparatus configured to request anonymization of a source IP address of an IP packet sent by a transmitting device to a recipient device via a communications network, said transmitting device being connected to said network via said network terminal apparatus, said network terminal apparatus comprising:

• a detector configured to detect a configuration to request the anonymization of said source IP address;
• and
• a requester configured to insert, upon said detection, a marking information item in a field of said IP packet, said marking information item being representative of the anonymization request that can be interpreted by an anonymization device, which is positioned for cutting the flow between said network terminal apparatus and said recipient device;
• and
• communication module configured to send said IP packet to said recipient device.