Computer-implemented method and system for enabling anonymous communication between networked users based on common search queries

• US 10,554,702 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2015
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Warren
• Original Assignee: Peter Warren
• Inventors: Warren, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Eliyah S.
• Application Number:
  US14/641,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,794 Days
• Field of Search: 707687, 707722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system for enabling anonymous communications between networked users based on common search queries is disclosed. The present invention relates to a computer-implemented system and method for receiving a first search query from a first user, receiving a second search query from a second user, at least the first user or the second user being unidentified, determining if the first search query and the second search query fit within a match criteria, and establishing a communication link between the first user and the second user if the first search query and the second search query fit within the match criteria.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a particular search query from a particular user via a network;

receiving a plurality of search queries from a plurality of different users via the network, each of the plurality of search queries being associated with a different one of a plurality of control components, each control component corresponding to a different particular one of the plurality of different users, each control component providing a connection path in the network to the corresponding different particular one of the plurality of different users;

using a data processor to determine if the particular search query from the particular user and any of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users fit within match criteria, the match criteria being based on a similarity of terms in the particular search query as compared with terms in the search queries from the plurality of different users;

in response to receipt of the particular search query from the particular user, generating for the particular user, if the particular search query and any of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users fit within the match criteria, a plurality of different links for the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users that matches the particular search query, each different link being a user interface element prompting the particular user to establish communication with a specific one of the plurality of different users by activating a corresponding link;

presenting the plurality of different links corresponding to the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users that matches the particular search query to the particular user in search results corresponding to the particular search query; and

upon activation of a particular link of the plurality of different links by the particular user, using the particular link to identify a corresponding one of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users, using the identified search query to generate a communication component, using the communication component to obtain a control component associated with the identified search query, and using the control component to establish network communication between the particular user and the specific one of the plurality of different users who submitted the matching search query corresponding to the particular link.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication is established without installing application-specific software on a system operated by the particular user or the plurality of different users.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication is established anonymously between the particular user and the one of the plurality of different users.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication established between the particular user and the one of the plurality of different users is accepted by a firewall on the system operated by the particular user or the one of the plurality of different users.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication is established using HTTP communication.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication includes text messaging.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication includes voice messaging.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication includes video communication.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 including sending a confirmation request to the one of the plurality of different users prior to establishing the communication between the particular user and the one of the plurality of different users.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the one of the plurality of different users may decline the request to communicate by not responding to the confirmation request.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 including displaying a user interface component on a display device of the one of the plurality of different users after establishing the communication between the particular user and the one of the plurality of different users.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication is established without requiring registration by the particular user or the one of the plurality of different users.

13. A server comprising:

a data processor;

a network interface, in data communication with the data processor, to facilitate communication via a network;

a search query receiver to receive a particular search query from a particular user via the network, the search query receiver further to receive a plurality of search queries from a plurality of different users via the network, each of the plurality of search queries being associated with a different one of a plurality of control components, each control component corresponding to a different particular one of the plurality of different users, each control component providing a connection path in the network to the corresponding different particular one of the plurality of different users;

a related query processor to determine if the particular search query from the particular user and any of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users fit within match criteria, the match criteria being based on a similarity of terms in the particular search query as compared with terms in the search queries from the plurality of different users, the related query processor further to, in response to receipt of the particular search query from the particular user, generate for the particular user, if the particular search query and any of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users fit within the match criteria, a plurality of different links for the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users that matches the particular search query, each different link being a user interface element prompting the particular user to establish communication with a specific one of the plurality of different users by activating a corresponding link; and

present the plurality of different links corresponding to the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users that matches the particular search query to the particular user in search results corresponding to the particular search query; and

a communication establisher to, upon activation of a particular link by the particular user, identify a corresponding one of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users, use the identified search query to identify a control component for a different user associated with the identified search query, and use the control component to establish network communication between the particular user and the specific one of the plurality of different users who submitted the matching search query corresponding to the particular link.

14. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication is established without installing application-specific software on a system operated by the particular user or the plurality of different users.

15. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication is established anonymously between the particular user and the one of the plurality of different users.

16. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication established between the particular user and the one of the plurality of different users is accepted by a firewall on the system operated by the particular user or the one of the plurality of different users.

17. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication is established using HTTP communication.

18. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication includes text messaging.

19. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication includes voice messaging.

20. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication includes video communication.