CODE FOR ANONYMOUS USER NOTIFICATION

• US 20130146655A1
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Kawaljit
• Application Number:
  US13/807,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20130146655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

In general, this disclosure describes techniques for identifying property with encoded contact information that allows anonymous communication with the property owner. The owner'"'"'s contact information may be encoded using a computer-generated image, which may be affixed to the property. A user with a computing device can read the computer-generated image, resulting in initiating communication with the owner, without displaying the owner'"'"'s contact information. The owner'"'"'s contact information may be registered with a service that performs the communication with the owner on behalf of the computing device user.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method comprising:

scanning, by a computing device, a computer-readable image associated with one or more tangible objects, to obtain encoded information, wherein the information comprises a reference to contact information associated with a user, and wherein the contact information associated with the user is unavailable to the computing device;

decoding the encoded information to obtain the reference; and

transmitting, from the computing device to a service provider, an indication of the reference, an indication of the one or more tangible objects, and an indication of the computing device, such that the service provider is capable of using the contact information to communicate with the user regarding the one or more tangible objects.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the reference comprises information that identifies the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information comprises a communication preference comprising text-based communication, the method further comprising transmitting to the user a text-based application message associated with the one or more tangible objects via the service provider.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the information comprises a communication preference comprising voice-based communication, the method further comprising transmitting to the user a voice-based application message associated with the one or more tangible objects via the service provider.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising launching a communication application on the computing device in response to reading the computer-readable image to transmit to the service provider the indication of the reference, the indication of the one or more tangible objects, and the indication of the computing device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting a communication corresponding to the communication application.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving, from the service provider or the user, communication associated with the one or more tangible objects in response to transmitting the communication.

25. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

scanning, by computing device, a computer-readable image associated with one or more tangible objects, to obtain encoded information, wherein the information comprises a reference to contact information associated with a user, and wherein the contact information associated with the user is unavailable to the computing device;

decoding the encoded information to obtain the reference; and

transmitting, from the computing device to a service provider, an indication of the reference, an indication of the one or more tangible objects, and an indication of the computing device, such that the service provider is capable of using the contact information to communicate with the user regarding the one or more tangible objects.

26. A computing device, comprising:

a scanning device operable to scan a computer-readable image associated with one or more tangible objects, to obtain encoded information, wherein the information comprises a reference to contact information associated with a user, and wherein the contact information associated with the user is unavailable to the computing device;

one or more processors operable to decode the encoded information to obtain the reference; and

a transmitter operable to transmit, to a service provider, an indication of the reference to the contact information, an indication of the one or more tangible objects, and an indication of the computing device, such that the service provider is capable of using the contact information to communicate with the user regarding the one or more tangible objects.

27. A method comprising:

receiving from a first computing device, by a service provider, an indication of a reference to contact information associated with a user of a second computing device, an indication of the first computing device, and an indication of one or more tangible objects, wherein the reference is encoded in a computer-readable image associated with the one or more tangible objects;

determining the contact information associated with the user based on the reference; and

using the contact information to transmit a communication regarding the one or more tangible objects to the second computing device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the service provider comprises a database comprising contact information associated with a plurality of users, wherein contact information associated with each of the plurality of the users corresponds to a unique reference.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising determining a communication preference of the user based on the reference.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the communication preference comprises text-based communication, the method further comprising transmitting a text-based application message associated with the one or more tangible objects to the second computing device using the contact information.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising receiving the text-based application message from the first computing device.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the communication preference comprises voice-based communication, the method further comprising transmitting a voice-based application message associated with the one or more tangible objects to the second computing device using the contact information.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving the voice-based application message from the first computing device.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting the communication preference to the first computing device.

35. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a service provider device to:

receive, from a first computing device, an indication of a reference to contact information associated with a user of a second computing device, an indication of the first computing device, and an indication of one or more tangible objects, wherein the reference is encoded in a computer-readable image associated with the one or more tangible objects;

determine the contact information associated with the user based at least in part on the reference; and

use the contact information to transmit a communication regarding the one or more tangible objects to the second computing device.

36. A service provider device comprising:

a network interface configured to receive, from a first computing device, an indication of a reference to contact information associated with a user of a second computing device, an indication of the first computing device, and an indication of one or more tangible objects, wherein the reference is encoded in a computer-readable image associated with the one or more tangible objects;

one or more programmable processors configured to;

determine the contact information associated with the user based at least in part on the reference; and

use the contact information to transmit a communication regarding the one or more tangible objects to the second computing device.

37. The service provider device of claim 36, further comprising:

at least one storage device configured to store a database comprising contact information associated with a plurality of users, wherein contact information associated with each of the plurality of the users corresponds to a unique reference.