Method, Apparatus, and Computer Program Product for Anonymous Polling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving an input message;
identifying whether the input message includes a request or a response to the request and, if the input message includes the request, further identifying a source of the input message; and
providing for transmission of an output message;
wherein providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the request and the output message being transmitted to a member of an anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a request provider;
wherein providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the response and the output message being transmitted to a member of the anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a member of the anonymity group; and
wherein providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the response, when the input message includes the response.
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Abstract
An apparatus for anonymous polling may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive an input message and identify whether the input message includes a request or a response to the request and, if the input message includes the request, the processor may be further configured to identify a source of the input message. The processor may also be configured to provide for transmission of an output message. In this regard, based on the whether the input message includes a request or a response, and based on the source of the input message, the apparatus may operate as a referral agent, a responder, or a forwarding agent. Associated methods and computer program products may also be provided.
60 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving an input message; identifying whether the input message includes a request or a response to the request and, if the input message includes the request, further identifying a source of the input message; and providing for transmission of an output message; wherein providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the request and the output message being transmitted to a member of an anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a request provider; wherein providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the response and the output message being transmitted to a member of the anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a member of the anonymity group; and wherein providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the response, when the input message includes the response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising a processor, the processor configured to:
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receive an input message; identify whether the input message includes a request or a response to the request and, if the input message includes the request, the processor may be further configured to identify a source of the input message; and provide for transmission of an output message; wherein the processor being configured to provide for transmission of the output message includes being configured to provide for transmission of the output message, the output message including the request and the output message being transmitted to a member of an anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a request provider; wherein the processor being configured to provide for transmission of the output message includes being configured to provide for transmission of the output message, the output message including the response and the output message being transmitted to a member of the anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a member of the anonymity group; and wherein the processor being configured to provide for transmission of the output message includes being configured to provide for transmission of the output message, the output message including the response, when the input message includes the response. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having executable computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
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a first program code portion configured to receive an input message; a second program code portion configured to identify whether the input message includes a request or a response to the request and, if the input message includes the request, the second program code portion may be configured to also identify a source of the input message; and a third program code portion configured to provide for transmission of an output message; wherein the third program code portion being configured to provide for transmission of the output message includes being configured to provide for transmission of the output message, the output message including the request and the output message being transmitted to a member of an anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a request provider; wherein the third program code portion being configured to provide for transmission of the output message includes being configured to provide for transmission of the output message, the output message including the response and the output message being transmitted to a member of the anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a member of the anonymity group; and wherein the third program code portion being configured to provide for transmission of the output message includes being configured to provide for transmission of the output message, the output message including the response, when the input message includes the response. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving an input message; means for identifying whether the input message includes a request or a response to the request and, if the input message includes the request, further identifying a source of the input message; and means for providing for transmission of an output message; wherein means for providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the request and the output message being transmitted to a member of an anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a request provider; wherein means for providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the response and the output message being transmitted to a member of the anonymity group, when the input message includes the request and the source of the input message is identified as a member of the anonymity group; and wherein means for providing for transmission of the output message comprises the output message including the response, when the input message includes the response. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification