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

• US 20070130122A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Warren
• Original Assignee: Peter Warren
• Inventors: Warren, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 first search query from a first user;

receiving a second search query from a second user;

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.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication link is established without installing application-specific software on a system operated by the first user or the second user.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication link is established anonymously between the first user and the second user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication link established between the first user and the second user is accepted by a firewall on the system operated by the first user or the second user.

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

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

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

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

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 including sending an invitation to the first user or the second user prior to establishing the communication link between the first user and the second user.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first user or the second user may decline the invitation to communicate.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 including displaying a user interface component on a display device of the first user or the second user after establishing the communication link between the first user and the second user.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication link is established without requiring registration by the first or the second user.

13. A server comprising:

a search query receiver to receive a search query from a first user and a second search query from a second user;

a related query processor to determine if the first search query and the second search query fit within a match criteria; and

a communication component to establish 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.

14. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication link is established without installing application-specific software on a system operated by the first user or the second user.

15. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication link is established anonymously between the first user and the second user.

16. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication link established between the first user and the second user is accepted by a firewall on the system operated by the first user or the second user.

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

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

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

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

21. The server as claimed in claim 13 further including an invitation component to send an invitation to the first user or the second user prior to establishing the communication link between the first user and the second user.

22. The server as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first user or the second user may decline the invitation to communicate.

23. The server as claimed in claim 13 further including a mechanism to display a user interface component on a display device of the first user or the second user after establishing the communication link between the first user and the second user.

24. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication link is established without requiring registration by the first or the second user.