Obfuscating reception of communiqué affiliated with a source entity in response to receiving information indicating reception of the communiqué

• US 20110107427A1
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cohen, Alexander J., Rinaldo, John D. JR., Tegreene, Clarence T., Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Malamud, Mark A., Mangione-Smith, William H.
• Application Number:
  US12/806,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20110107427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: receiving communiqué reception information that indicates reception of a communiqué that is affiliated with a source entity and that is directed to an end user; and presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué affiliated with the source entity. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Claims

1-134. -134. (canceled)

135. A computer program product comprising:

an article of manufacture including a signal-bearing non-transitory storage medium bearing;

one or more instructions for receiving communiqué

reception information that indicates reception of a communiqué

that is affiliated with a source entity and that is directed to an end user and one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity.

137. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for receiving communiqué

reception information that indicates reception of a communiqué

that is affiliated with a source entity and that is directed to an end user comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least initially presented.

139. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least initially presented comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least automatically presented.

140. The computer program product of claim 139, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least automatically presented comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least automatically presented in response to the reception of the communiqué

reception information.

141. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least initially presented comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory.

142. The computer program product of claim 141, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information.

144. The computer program product of claim 142, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information at least until determining occurrence of one or more triggering events associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives.

149. The computer program product of claim 144, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information at least until determining occurrence of one or more triggering events associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information at least until detecting the communication device being at one or more particular locations as specified by the one or more conditional directives.

150. The computer program product of claim 144, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information at least until determining occurrence of one or more triggering events associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information at least until detecting the communication device being at one or more particular times of a day as specified by the one or more conditional directives.

152. The computer program product of claim 144, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information at least until determining occurrence of one or more triggering events associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information by holding, at least temporarily, the communiqué

reception information in memory without releasing the communiqué

reception information at least until detecting that at least a particular third party is outside proximate vicinity of the communication device as specified by the one or more conditional directives.

156. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least initially presented comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information in response at least in part to determining that the communiqué

reception information includes one or more representations associated with the source entity, the one or more representations being specified by the one or more conditional directives.

162. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least initially presented comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information as a function of location of a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives.

163. The computer program product of claim 162, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information as a function of location of a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information in response to determining that the communication device is at one or more specified locations as specified by the one or more conditional directives.

164. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least initially presented comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information as a function of time with respect to a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives.

167. The computer program product of claim 137, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives to prevent direct indication of reception of the communiqué

from being at least initially presented comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information as a function of one or more environmental conditions of a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives.

168. The computer program product of claim 167, wherein said one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information as a function of one or more environmental conditions of a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for intercepting the communiqué

reception information in accordance with the one or more conditional directives by intercepting the communiqué

reception information in response to determining presence of a third party within proximate vicinity of the communication device.

196. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator via user interface.

198. The computer program product of claim 196, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator via user interface comprises:

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator by audioally indicating the covert indicator via an audio system.

200. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

in lieu of presenting the direct indication of the reception of the communiqué

by presenting an indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

201. The computer program product of claim 200, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

in lieu of presenting the direct indication of the reception of the communiqué

by presenting an indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert audio indicator that audioally indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the covert audio indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

202. The computer program product of claim 201, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert audio indicator that audioally indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the covert audio indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert audio indicator by presenting audioally at least a ping, a ring, or a hum that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least a ping, a ring, or a hum to be audioally presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives.

203. The computer program product of claim 201, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert audio indicator that audioally indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the covert audio indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert audio indicator by presenting audioally at least one or more simulated natural background noises that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one or more simulated natural background noises to be audioally presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

204. The computer program product of claim 201, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert audio indicator that audioally indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the covert audio indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert audio indicator by presenting audioally at least one voice message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one voice message to be audioally presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

205. The computer program product of claim 204, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert audio indicator by presenting audioally at least one voice message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one voice message to be audioally presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting audioally the at least one voice message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting audioally a fictional voice message that indirectly indicates reception of the communiqué and

that is presented in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

206. The computer program product of claim 204, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert audio indicator by presenting audioally at least one voice message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one voice message to be audioally presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting audioally the at least one voice message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting audioally at least one voice message in a particular tone or speech pattern that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the particular tone or speech pattern of the at least one voice message to be audioally presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

208. The computer program product of claim 204, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert audio indicator by presenting audioally at least one voice message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one voice message to be audioally presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting audioally the at least one voice message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a modified version of a voice message that was previously presented and that has been modified to include a covert audio indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

.

209. The computer program product of claim 200, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

in lieu of presenting the direct indication of the reception of the communiqué

by presenting an indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert visual indicator that visually indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the covert visual indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

211. The computer program product of claim 209, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert visual indicator that visually indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the covert visual indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert visual indicator by presenting visually one or more particular colors that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the one or more particular colors to be visually presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

212. The computer program product of claim 209, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert visual indicator that visually indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the covert visual indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert visual indicator by presenting visually at least one visual message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one visual message to be visually presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

213. The computer program product of claim 212, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert visual indicator by presenting visually at least one visual message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one visual message to be visually presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting visually the at least one visual message by presenting visually at least one visual message that includes one or more words or phrases that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the one or more words or phrases to be visually presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

214. The computer program product of claim 212, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert visual indicator by presenting visually at least one visual message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one visual message to be visually presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting visually the at least one visual message by presenting visually at least one visual message that includes one or more words or phrases in a particular font or style that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the one or more words or phrases to be visually presented in a particular font or style being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

215. The computer program product of claim 212, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert visual indicator by presenting visually at least one visual message that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the at least one visual message to be visually presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting visually the at least one visual message by presenting visually a fictional visual message that indirectly indicates reception of the communiqué and

that is presented in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user or by presenting visually a modified version of a visual message that was previously presented and that has been modified to include the covert visual indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

.

216. The computer program product of claim 200, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

in lieu of presenting the direct indication of the reception of the communiqué

by presenting an indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the indicator to be presented being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert vibrating indicator that indicates, via a specific vibration, the reception of the communiqué

, the specific vibration to be presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

217. The computer program product of claim 216, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a covert vibrating indicator that indicates, via a specific vibration, the reception of the communiqué

, the specific vibration to be presented being in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the specific vibration by presenting a specific vibration having a particular vibration pattern in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

219. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a graphical user interface that includes the covert indicator.

220. The computer program product of claim 219, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

by presenting a graphical user interface that includes the covert indicator comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the graphical user interface that includes the covert indicator by presenting a modified version of an original graphical user interface that was previously presented, the modified version of the original graphical user interface to be presented including the covert indicator.

222. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

by presenting a communiqué

application interface that includes an indicator that indirectly indicates the reception of the communiqué

, the indicator to be included in the communiqué

application interface being defined by the one or more conditional directives of the end user.

242. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user, the one or more conditional directives directing the presentation of the covert indicator as a function of location of a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives.

243. The computer program product of claim 242, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user, the one or more conditional directives directing the presentation of the covert indicator as a function of location of a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user, the one or more conditional directives directing the presentation of the covert indicator in response to determining that the communication device is at one or more locations as specified by the one or more conditional directives.

244. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user, the one or more conditional directives directing the presentation of the covert indicator as a function of time of a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives.

247. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting, in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user, the one or more conditional directives directing the presentation of the covert indicator in response to determining occurrence of one or more specified environmental conditions associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives, the one or more specified environmental conditions being specified by the one or more conditional directives.

248. The computer program product of claim 247 wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user, the one or more conditional directives directing the presentation of the covert indicator in response to determining occurrence of one or more specified environmental conditions associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives, the one or more specified environmental conditions being specified by the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the covert indicator that covertly indicates the reception of the communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives of the end user, the one or more conditional directives directing the presentation of the covert indicator in response to determining that one or more third parties are in proximate vicinity of the communication device.

255. The computer program product of claim 135, further comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the end user.

256. The computer program product of claim 255, wherein said one or more instructions for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the end user comprises:

one or more instructions for soliciting the one or more conditional directives from the end user.

258. The computer program product of claim 135, further comprising:

one or more instructions for presenting the received communiqué

reception information in response to detecting occurrence of one or more triggering events associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives.

264. The computer program product of claim 258, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the received communiqué

reception information in response to detecting occurrence of one or more triggering events associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the received communiqué

reception information in response to detecting the communication device being at one or more particular locations as specified by the one or more conditional directives.

268. The computer program product of claim 258, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting the received communiqué

reception information in response to detecting occurrence of one or more triggering events associated with a communication device executing the one or more conditional directives comprises;

one or more instructions for presenting the received communiqué

reception information in response to detecting that at least a particular third party is outside proximate vicinity of the communication device as specified by the one or more conditional directives.

136. (canceled)

138. (canceled)

143. (canceled)

145-148. -148. (canceled)

151. (canceled)

153-155. -155. (canceled)

157-161. -161. (canceled)

165-166. -166. (canceled)

169-195. -195. (canceled)

197. (canceled)

199. (canceled)

207. (canceled)

210. (canceled)

218. (canceled)

221. (canceled)

223-241. -241. (canceled)

245-246. -246. (canceled)

249-254. -254. (canceled)

257. (canceled)

259-263. -263. (canceled)

265-267. -267. (canceled)

269-270. -270. (canceled)

271. A method, comprising:

receiving communiqué

reception information that indicates reception of a communiqué

that is affiliated with a source entity and that is directed to an end user; and

presenting, by a communication device, a covert indicator that covertly indicates reception of the communiqué

, the presenting of the covert indicator being in accordance with one or more conditional directives of the end user to conditionally obfuscate the reception of the communiqué

affiliated with the source entity, the presenting being in response to receiving the communiqué

reception information and in lieu of presenting direct indication of reception of the communiqué

.