Method of providing temporary access of a calling unit to an anonymous unit
First Claim
1. A method of establishing a direct communication session by a central service agent between a calling unit and an anonymous unit without revealing the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to a calling member, the method comprising the central service agent performed steps of:
- identifying a request by a calling member associated with the calling unit, for future access to a called member associated with the anonymous unit, where the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit is unknown to the calling member;
assigning, in response to the request a temporary alias ID and a timeout condition, the temporary alias ID corresponding, on a temporary basis, to the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to facilitate establishing a direct communication session between the calling and anonymous units using at least the temporary alias ID; and
deassigning the temporary alias ID upon the occurrence of the timeout condition to prevent further access to the anonymous unit via the temporary alias ID.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided of establishing a direct communication session by a central service agent between a calling unit and an anonymous unit without revealing the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to a calling member. The central service agent is configured to be able to identify a request by a calling member, associated with the calling unit, for future access to a called member associated with the anonymous unit, where the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit is unknown to the calling member. Once the request is received, the agent assigns a temporary alias ID corresponding, on a temporary basis, to the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to facilitate establishing a direct communication session between the calling and anonymous units using at least the temporary alias ID. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined timeout condition, the agent deassigns the temporary alias to prevent further access to the anonymous unit thereafter. In an alternative embodiment, the real and permanent ID is communicated, on a temporary basis, to a specific calling unit, transparent to the caller, thus maintaining anonymity.
173 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of establishing a direct communication session by a central service agent between a calling unit and an anonymous unit without revealing the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to a calling member, the method comprising the central service agent performed steps of:
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identifying a request by a calling member associated with the calling unit, for future access to a called member associated with the anonymous unit, where the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit is unknown to the calling member; assigning, in response to the request a temporary alias ID and a timeout condition, the temporary alias ID corresponding, on a temporary basis, to the permanent direct access information of the anonymous unit to facilitate establishing a direct communication session between the calling and anonymous units using at least the temporary alias ID; and deassigning the temporary alias ID upon the occurrence of the timeout condition to prevent further access to the anonymous unit via the temporary alias ID. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of establishing a direct communication session by a central service agent between a calling unit and an anonymous unit without revealing the permanent ID of the anonymous unit to a calling member, the method comprising the central service agent performed steps of:
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identifying a request by a calling unit for future access to a called member associated with the anonymous unit, where the permanent ID of the anonymous unit is unknown to the calling member; and communicating at least the permanent ID of the anonymous unit to the calling unit to facilitate establishing, on a temporary basis, a direct communication session between the calling and anonymous units, and without communicating the permanent ID to the calling member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification