# US 11,910,192 B2 · Device identifier access method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,910,192 B2 - Document ID: US11910192B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/508,671 - Filed: 2021-10-22 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-22 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Kao Zhao; Zhen Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910192B2 ## CPC - H04W 12/08: Access security - H04W 12/02: Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII] - H04W 12/37: Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications - H04W 12/40: Security arrangements using identity modules - H04W 12/68: Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent - H04W 12/71: Hardware identity - H04W 12/75: Temporary identity - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A device identifier access method and in the field of communications technologies. The method, implemented by a terminal, includes receiving request information for accessing a first device identifier by a target application; determining first access permission used when the target application accesses the first device identifier, where the first access permission includes one of the following: prohibiting access to the first device identifier, allowing access to a real value of the first device identifier, and allowing access to a dummy value of the first device identifier; and when the first access permission is allowing access to the dummy value of the first device identifier, returning the dummy value of the first device identifier to the target application. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, performed by a terminal, comprising: receiving request information for accessing a first device identifier by a target application; determining first access permission in association with the target application accessing the first device identifier; and returning, in response to determining that the first access permission is allowing access to a dummy value of the first device identifier, the dummy value of the first device identifier to the target application, wherein the dummy value of the first device identifier is a preset value different from a real value of the first device identifier, or wherein the method further comprises: obtaining the dummy value of the first device identifier by performing anonymization processing on the real value of the first device identifier using at least one of a randomized algorithm or a generalization algorithm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: returning, in response to determining that the first access permission is allowing access to the real value of the first device identifier, the real value of the first device identifier to the target application. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: prohibiting, in response to determining that the first access permission is prohibiting access to the first device identifier, the target application to access the first device identifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first device identifier comprises at least one of an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a mobile equipment identifier (MEID), a serial number (SN), a media access control layer (MAC) address, or a phone number. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first access permission is stored in the terminal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, before the receiving the request information for accessing the first device identifier by the target application, the method further comprises: receiving a first operation on a configuration interface from a user to set access permission for accessing the first device identifier by the target application, wherein the target application is installed on the terminal, and the configuration interface is displayed on the terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining the first access permission further comprises: determining the first access permission based on a type of the target application. ### Claim 8 A terminal, comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for execution by the one or more processors, the program including instructions to enable the terminal to perform: receiving request information for accessing a first device identifier by a target application; determining first access permission in association with the target application accessing the first device identifier; and returning, in response to determining that the first access permission is allowing access to a dummy value of the first device identifier, the dummy value of the first device identifier to the target application, wherein the dummy value of the first device identifier is a preset value different from a real value of the first device identifier, or wherein the terminal is further enabled to perform: obtaining the dummy value of the first device identifier by performing anonymization processing on the real value of the first device identifier using at least one of a randomized algorithm or a generalization algorithm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the terminal is further enabled to perform: returning, in response to determining that the first access permission is allowing access to the real value of the first device identifier, the real value of the first device identifier to the target application. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the terminal is further enabled to perform: prohibiting, in response to determining that the first access permission is prohibiting access to the first device identifier, the target application to access the first device identifier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the first device identifier comprises at least one of an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a mobile equipment identifier (MEID), a serial number (SN), a media access control layer (MAC) address, or a phone number. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the first access permission is stored in the terminal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the terminal is further enabled to perform: before the receiving the request information for accessing the first device identifier by the target application: receiving a first operation on a configuration interface from a user to set access permission for accessing the first device identifier by the target application, wherein the target application is installed on the terminal, and the configuration interface is displayed on the terminal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the determining the first access permission further comprises: determining the first access permission based on a type of the target application. ### Claim 15 A terminal, comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for execution by the one or more processors, the program including instructions to enable the terminal to perform: receiving request information for accessing a first device identifier by a target application; determining first access permission in association with the target application accessing the first device identifier, wherein the first access permission comprises at least one of prohibiting access to the first device identifier, allowing access to a real value of the first device identifier, or allowing access to a dummy value of the first device identifier; and returning, in response to determining that the first access permission is allowing access to the dummy value of the first device identifier, the dummy value of the first device identifier to the target application, wherein the dummy value of the first device identifier is a preset value different from the real value of the first device identifier, or wherein the terminal is further enabled to perform: obtaining the dummy value of the first device identifier by performing anonymization processing on the real value of the first device identifier using at least one of a randomized algorithm or a generalization algorithm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The terminal according to claim 15, wherein the terminal is further enabled to perform: before the receiving the request information for accessing the first device identifier by the target application: receiving a first operation on a configuration interface from a user to set access permission for accessing the first device identifier by the target application, wherein the target application is installed on the terminal, and the configuration interface is displayed on the terminal.