Apparatus, methods and systems for anonymous communication
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating anonymous communication between a first station and a second station, the second station having an address for communication, and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the method comprising:
- providing a transaction specification from at least one of the first and second stations, generating a reference code in response to the transaction specification, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said address, supplying the reference code to at least the first station, receiving a communication request from the first station, receiving the reference code from the first station, using the reference code to recover said address, and opening a channel for communication between said first and second stations, whereby anonymous communication can be established between the first and second stations without providing said address to the first station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Anonymous voice communication between a first station and a second station is facilitated by providing an interface that allows input of a transaction specification from at least one of the first and second stations. A reference code associated with the transaction is generated, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the address of the second station for voice communication. The reference code is supplied to the first station, and a voice communication request and the reference code are received from the first station. The reference code is used to recover said address and a channel for voice communication is opened between said first and second stations. Voice communication can thereby be established between the first and second stations without providing the address of the second station to the first station.
77 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating anonymous communication between a first station and a second station, the second station having an address for communication, and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the method comprising:
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providing a transaction specification from at least one of the first and second stations, generating a reference code in response to the transaction specification, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said address, supplying the reference code to at least the first station, receiving a communication request from the first station, receiving the reference code from the first station, using the reference code to recover said address, and opening a channel for communication between said first and second stations, whereby anonymous communication can be established between the first and second stations without providing said address to the first station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 36, 37)
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30. A method of establishing anonymous communication between a first station and a second station, the second station having an address for communication, and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the method comprising:
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supplying a transaction specification as packet data over the packet data network from at least one of the first and second stations to a controller, generating a reference code in response to the transaction specification at the controller, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said address, supplying the reference code from the controller to at least the first station, making a communication request from the first station to the controller, supplying the reference code from the first station to the controller, using the controller to recover said address from the reference code, and opening a channel for communication between said first and second stations. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for facilitating anonymous communication between a first party and a second party employing first and second stations respectively, each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the second party having an address for communication, including
a means for enabling negotiation of a transaction specification over the packet data network, a means for generating a reference code, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said address, and for supplying the reference code to at least the first party, a means for receiving a communication request from at least the first party and for receiving the reference code from at least the first party, a means for using the reference code to recover said address, and a means for opening a communication channel between said first party and said address without supplying said address to the first party.
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38. A processor-readable storage medium containing a program of commands executable by a processor for facilitating anonymous voice communication between a first station and a second station, wherein the first station and second station are associated with a first party and a second party operating the first and the second stations respectively,
the second station having a connection instruction for communication that includes one or more of an address, security information, and an identifier related to the second station or the second party, the first station and second station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the first station including a user interface for interacting with the first party, the program being further executable to: -
send a transaction specification from the first station, receive over the packet data network at least part of a reference code at the first station, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said connection instruction, the connection instruction including at least information related to a time or time frame available for communication with the second station, supply the first party over the user interface the reference code, receive a communication request from the first party over the user interface, the communication request employing at least in part the reference code, send over the packet data network that is connected directly to the first station the communication request, and open a channel for communication between said first and second stations in accordance at least in part to said connection instruction without requiring that the address and/or security information of the second station or the second party to be provided to the first party over the user interface, the channel for communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to the first station. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of facilitating voice communication between a first party and a second party operating a first station and a second station respectively, the first station and the second station each including a software program executable by the station to facilitate communication, and a user interface at each station for interacting with the first party and second party, respectively, and the first and second stations being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the packet data network including one or more communication servers and/or controllers for facilitating communication and being accessible by the first and second stations, the method comprising:
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sending from the second station a transaction specification, the transaction specification including a connection instruction, the connection instruction including information relating to one or more of an alias, contact information, billing or charging information, and security information related to the second party or the second station, receiving by the first station over the packet data network one or more parameters related to the connection instruction associated with the second station or the second party, providing at the first station to the first party a reference code, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the connection instruction, the connection instruction further including information related to a time or time frame available for communication at the second station, sending by the first station a voice communication request from the first party, the voice communication request employing at least part of the reference code, the voice communication request being at least in accordance to said time or time frame, outputting the voice communication request over the user interface at the second station to the second party, receiving over the user interface at the second station an indication of acceptance of voice communication with the first party, and opening at the second station a channel for communication with the first station without requiring that the contact information, billing information, or security information related to the second party or second station to be provided to the first party, the channel for communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to the second station. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. In a system facilitating voice communication between a first party and a second party operating a first station and a second station respectively, the second station comprising:
a device including a user interface for interacting with the second party the device being connected directly to a packet data network for transmitting and receiving packet data from one or more communication server and or controller over the packet data network, and for executing a software program for providing over the user interface of the device a transaction specification to the second party, the transaction specification including a connection instruction, the connection instruction including information relating to one or more of an alias, contact information, billing or charging information, and security information related to the second party or the second station, sending over the packet data network the connection instruction related to the second station or second party, sending at least part of a reference code, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the connection instruction, the reference code further including information related to a time or time frame available for communication at the second station, receiving a voice communication request from the first station, the communication request employing at least part of the reference code, the communication request being at least in accordance to the said time or time frame, outputting the communication request over the user interface at the second station to the second party, the communication request output over the user interface including an identifier related to the first party, receiving over the user interface at the second station an indication of acceptance of the voice communication with the first party, and opening a channel for communication with the first station, the channel for communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to the device. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
Specification