ABSTRACT

Identity in the wider use of the term does not mean the same as the concept of identity used in telecommunications, that is, the collection of identifiers, permissions, and authentication data necessary to obtain access to services (ETSI TR 187 010; ETSI 2008b). Most current telecommunications identification schemes use a single identifier to perform (at least) two distinct functions:

Routing: Identifiers can be processed by information and communication systems to enable end-to-end service instances between endpoints to be established.

Identification: End users can identify the source of an incoming communication, such as Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP) or email addresses, or can confirm the identity of the remote endpoint to which a connection has or will be established, such as Connected Line Identification Presentation (COLP) and Uniform Resource Locator (URL).