Messaging gateway for directory and anonymous services

• US 9,391,991 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keeling, John Ernest, Appelman, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): BEZUAYEHU, SOLOMON G
• Application Number:
  US14/318,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20140310783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 379/218.01, 379/223, 455/414
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/68 Circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject

Abstract

A subscriber who seeks to block access to contact information may receive identifying information for people attempting to access the subscriber'"'"'s contact information. The subscriber also may be provided interfaces to enable the attempting person to contact the subscriber, in a variety of escalating forms, without revealing the subscriber'"'"'s contact information. In a particular implementation, a request is received from an information seeker for contact information for a subscriber. A data structure is accessed that includes an indication that the subscriber should be provided with information relating to requests received for the subscriber'"'"'s contact information. A message address for the subscriber is accessed, and a message is sent to the subscriber indicating the request for the subscriber'"'"'s contact information. The requested contact information for the subscriber is withheld from the information seeker absent an indication from the subscriber that the requested contact information may be provided to the information seeker.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising the following operations performed by one or more processors:

receiving, over one or more communication networks, a request from a device of an information seeker for contact information of a subscriber to enable communication over a first communication medium;

identifying, based on preferences for the subscriber stored in a storage device, an indication that the requested contact information not be revealed unless the subscriber provides an express authorization;

sending, in response to identifying the indication that express authorization is needed, an electronic message to a device of the subscriber over the one or more communication networks;

enabling, through selection of one or more options displayed on a user interface of the subscriber'"'"'s device, the subscriber to request and receive information from the information seeker;

receiving, over the one or more communication networks, the requested information from the device of the information seeker; and

enabling, through the user interface, the subscriber to provide the express authorization to contact the subscriber over a second communication medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

accessing, at an online directory service, a data structure including an indication that the subscriber be provided with information relating to requests for contact information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

enabling the subscriber to designate a category associated with the information seeker who requests contact information; and

enabling the subscriber to make the indication that the requested contact information not be revealed based on the requested contact information and the designated category associated with the information seeker.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

sending the electronic message to the subscriber indicating the request for contact information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

enabling the subscriber to respond to the message to request information;

receiving the requested information; and

providing the requested information to the subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the request for contact information during a telephone call; and

requesting the requested information during a subsequent telephone call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for contact information includes:

receiving a telephone request at a telephone directory service; and

receiving an Internet-based request at an Internet-based directory service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing the requested contact information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

receiving the request for contact information includes receiving the request in an automated manner; and

providing the requested contact information includes providing the requested contact information in an automated manner.

10. An apparatus for controlling access to contact information of a subscriber, comprising:

a storage device that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the storage device, the at least one processor being operative with the set of instructions in order to;

receive, over one or more communication networks, a request from a device of an information seeker for contact information of the subscriber to enable communication over a first communication medium;

identify, based on preferences for the subscriber stored in a storage device, an indication that the requested contact information not be revealed unless the subscriber provides an express authorization;

send, in response to identifying the indication that express authorization is needed, an electronic message to a device of the subscriber over the one or more communication networks;

enable, through selection of one or more options displayed on a user interface of the subscribers device, the subscriber to request and receive information from the information seeker;

receiving, over the one or more communication networks, the requested information from the device of the information seeker; and

enable, through the user interface, the subscriber to provide the express authorization to contact the subscriber over a second communication medium.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to access, at an online directory service, a data structure including an indication that the subscriber be provided with information relating to requests for contact information.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to:

enable the subscriber to designate a category associated with the information seeker who requests contact information; and

enable the subscriber to make the indication that the requested contact information not be revealed based on the requested contact information and the designated category associated with the information seeker.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to send a message to the subscriber, the message indicating the request for contact information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to:

enable the subscriber to respond to the message to request information;

receive the requested information; and

provide the requested information to the subscriber.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to:

receive the request for contact information during a telephone call; and

request the requested information during a subsequent telephone call.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to receive the request for contact information by:

receiving a telephone request at a telephone directory service; and

receiving an Internet-based request at an Internet-based directory service.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to provide the requested contact information.

18. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive, over one or more communication networks, a request from a device of an information seeker for contact information of a subscriber to enable communication over a first communication medium;

identify, based on preferences for the subscriber stored in a storage device, an indication that the requested contact information not be revealed unless the subscriber provides an express authorization;

send, in response to identifying the indication that express authorization is needed, an electronic message to a device of the subscriber over the one or more communication networks;

enable, through selection of one or more options displayed on a user interface of the subscriber'"'"'s device, the subscriber to request and receive information from the information seeker;

receiving, over the one or ore communication networks, the requested information from the device of the information seeker; and

enable, through the user interface, the subscriber to provide the express authorization to contact the subscriber over a second communication medium.