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

• US 8,996,562 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Warren
• Original Assignee: Peter Warren
• Inventors: Warren, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARPER, ELIYAH STONE
• Application Number:
  US11/292,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20070130122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,407 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/100, 707/10, 707/5, 707/7, 707/3, 707/999.101, 707/999.102, 707/769
• US Class Current: 707/769
• 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;

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, one link for each of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users that matches the particular search query, each link being a user interface element that can be activated by the particular user, each link including at least a portion of a matching search query submitted by one of the plurality of users, each link being an invitation enabling the particular user to establish communication with one of the plurality of users who submitted the matching search query, the invitation being accepted by activation of a link, the invitation being declined by non-activation of a link; and

upon activation of a particular link by the particular user, establishing network communication between the particular user and one of the plurality of 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 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 users.

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

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the one of the plurality of users may decline the request to communicate.

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 users after establishing the communication between the particular user and the one of the plurality of 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 users.

25. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the link is presented to the particular user in a search results page.

27. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the link can be activated by a user clicking on the link.

29. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one link is generated for each unique search query of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users.

13. A server comprising:

a network interface 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;

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, one link for each of the plurality of search queries from the plurality of different users that matches the particular search query, each link being a user interface element that can be activated by the particular user, each link including at least a portion of a matching search query submitted by one of the plurality of users, each link being an invitation enabling the particular user to establish communication with one of the plurality of users who submitted the matching search query, the invitation being accepted by activation of a link, the invitation being declined by non-activation of a link; and

a communication component to, upon activation of a particular link by the particular user, establish network communication between the particular user and one of the plurality of 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 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 users.

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

21. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the related query processor to send a confirmation request to the one of the plurality of users prior to establishing the communication between the particular user and the one of the plurality of users.

22. The server as claimed in claim 21 wherein the one of the plurality of users may decline the request to communicate.

23. The server as claimed in claim 13 including a mechanism to display a user interface component on a display device of the one of the plurality of users after establishing the communication between the particular user and the one of the plurality of users.

24. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the communication is established without requiring registration by the particular user or the one of the plurality of users.

26. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the link is presented to the particular user in a search results page.

28. The server as claimed in claim 13 wherein the link can be activated by a user clicking on the link.