Obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with a communiqué directed to a receiving user and in accordance with conditional directive provided by the receiving use

• US 9,659,188 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Cohen, Alexander J., Jung, Edward K. Y., Lord, Robert W., Mangione-Smith, William H., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Dung B
• Application Number:
  US12/802,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20110041061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,535 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: receiving one or more conditional directives from a receiving user, the one or more conditional directives delineating one or more conditions for obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with one or more communiqués directed to the receiving user; and presenting at least a second communiqué in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

(a) circuitry for receiving one or more conditional directives from a receiving user, the one or more conditional directives delineating one or more conditions for obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with one or more communiqué

s directed to the receiving user, the circuitry for receiving including at least;

(1) circuitry for prompting the receiving user to input the one or more conditional directives by presenting a conditional directive input interface to the receiving user to permit the receiving user to input the one or more conditional directives; and

(2) circuitry for receiving at least one conditional directive, of the one or more conditional directives, from the receiving user to conditionally obfuscate the identity of the source entity in absence of a biometric verification of the receiving user being in possession of a receiving user device; and

(b) circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, including at least;

(1) circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least the second communiqué

that is a substitute communiqué

unrelated to the first communiqué and

a communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

, the second communiqué

including at least one of an email, an instant message (“

IM”

), a short message service (“

SMS”

) message, a multimedia messaging service (“

MMS”

) message, a telephone call, a video call, a VoIP call, or a voice mail and that is from a communication device that is affiliated with a third party that is other than the receiving user, the communiqué

accessing interface configured to provide an alert to covertly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

, wherein the communiqué

accessing interface is configured to provide an alert that covertly indicates to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

at least in part by not specifically indicating to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

.

2. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for receiving one or more conditional directives from a receiving user, the one or more conditional directives delineating one or more conditions for obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with one or more communiqué

s directed to the receiving user comprises;

circuitry for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the receiving user including at least one directive to conditionally obfuscate identity of the source entity when a communiqué

is received that is determined to include at least one representation associated with the source entity.

3. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said circuitry for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the receiving user including at least one directive to conditionally obfuscate identity of the source entity when a communiqué

is received that is determined to include at least one representation associated with the source entity comprises;

circuitry for receiving at least one directive from the receiving user that indicates at least one image associated with the source entity and that directs conditionally obfuscating identity of the source entity when a communiqué

is received that is determined to include the at least one image.

4. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said circuitry for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the receiving user including at least one directive to conditionally obfuscate identity of the source entity when a communiqué

is received that is determined to include at least one representation associated with the source entity comprises;

circuitry for receiving at least one directive from the receiving user that indicates at least a voice signature associated with the source entity and that directs conditionally obfuscating identity of the source entity when a communiqué

is received that is determined to include at least the voice signature.

5. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for receiving one or more conditional directives from a receiving user, the one or more conditional directives delineating one or more conditions for obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with one or more communiqué

s directed to the receiving user comprises;

circuitry for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the receiving user including at least one directive to conditionally obfuscate the identity of the source entity as a function of location of the receiving user device configured to execute the one or more conditional directives.

6. The computationally-implemented system of claim 5, wherein circuitry for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the receiving user including at least one directive to conditionally obfuscate the identity of the source entity as a function of location of the receiving user device configured to execute the one or more conditional directives comprises:

circuitry for receiving at least one directive from the receiving user to conditionally obfuscate the identity of the source entity in response to determining that the receiving user device is at one or more specified locations.

7. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for receiving one or more conditional directives from a receiving user, the one or more conditional directives delineating one or more conditions for obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with one or more communiqué

s directed to the receiving user comprises;

circuitry for receiving the one or more conditional directives from the receiving user including at least one directive to conditionally obfuscate the identity of the source entity as a function of time with respect to the receiving user device configured to execute the one or more conditional directives.

8. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in response to intercepting the first communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the intercepting of the first communiqué

to prevent the first communiqué

from being presented.

9. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the first communiqué

includes one or more representations associated with the source entity.

10. The computationally-implemented system of claim 9, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the first communiqué

includes one or more representations associated with the source entity comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the first communiqué

includes at least an image associated with the source entity.

11. The computationally-implemented system of claim 9, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the first communiqué

includes one or more representations associated with the source entity comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the first communiqué

includes at least a voice signature associated with the source entity.

12. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including as a function of location of the receiving user device configured to implement the one or more conditional directives.

13. The computationally-implemented system of claim 12, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including as a function of location of the receiving user device configured to implement the one or more conditional directives comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the receiving user device is at one or more specified locations.

14. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including as a function of time with respect to the receiving user device configured to implement the one or more conditional directives.

15. The computationally-implemented system of claim 14, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including as a function of time with respect to the receiving user device configured to implement the one or more conditional directives comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the receiving user device is at one or more specified times of a day.

16. The computationally-implemented system of claim 14, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including as a function of time with respect to the receiving user device configured to implement the one or more conditional directives comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that the receiving user device is at one or more specified times of a calendar year.

17. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining occurrence of the one or more specified environmental conditions associated with the receiving user device configured to implement the one or more conditional directives.

18. The computationally-implemented system of claim 17, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining occurrence of the one or more specified environmental conditions associated with the receiving user device configured to implement the one or more conditional directives comprises;

circuitry for presenting at least the second communiqué

in accordance with the one or more conditional directives including in response to determining that one or more particular third parties are in proximate vicinity of the receiving user device.

19. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least the second communiqué

that is a substitute communiqué

unrelated to the first communiqué and

a communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least a second communiqué

that is a copy of a communiqué

that was previously received by the receiving user.

20. The computationally-implemented system of claim 19, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least a second communiqué

that is a copy of a communiqué

that was previously received by the receiving user comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least a second communiqué

that is a copy of a communiqué

that was most recently received by the receiving user.

21. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least a second communiqué

that includes at least one of textual or numerical content data.

22. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least a second communiqué

that includes at least one of audio or image data.

23. The computationally-implemented system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least the second communiqué

that is a substitute communiqué

unrelated to the first communiqué and

a communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

, the second communiqué

including at least one of an email, an instant message (“

IM”

), a short message service (“

SMS”

) message, a multimedia messaging service (“

MMS”

) message, a telephone call, a video call, a VoIP call, or a voice mail and that is from a communication device that is affiliated with a third party that is other than the receiving user, the communiqué

accessing interface configured to provide an alert to covertly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

, wherein the communiqué

accessing interface is configured to provide an alert that covertly indicates to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

at least in part by not specifically indicating to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

, the communiqué

accessing interface being an audio communiqué

accessing interface.

24. The computationally-implemented system of claim 23, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

, the communiqué

accessing interface being an audio communiqué

accessing interface comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface, the audio communiqué

accessing interface with an audible audio alert to covertly and audibly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

.

25. The computationally-implemented system of claim 24, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface, the audio communiqué

accessing interface with an audible audio alert to covertly and audibly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface with the audio alert, the audio alert being a ping, a ring, or a hum provided through the audio communiqué

accessing interface.

26. The computationally-implemented system of claim 24, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface, the audio communiqué

accessing interface with an audible audio alert to covertly and audibly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface with the audio alert, the audio alert being one or more simulated natural background noises provided through the audio communiqué

accessing interface.

27. The computationally-implemented system of claim 23, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

, the communiqué

accessing interface being an audio communiqué

accessing interface comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface including a visual alert to covertly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

.

28. The computationally-implemented system of claim 27, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface including a visual alert to covertly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface including the visual alert, the visual alert being one or more particular symbols or icons that are displayed through a display screen.

29. The computationally-implemented system of claim 27, wherein said circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface including a visual alert to covertly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

comprises;

circuitry for presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, the second communiqué and

the audio communiqué

accessing interface including the visual alert, the visual alert being one or more particular colors that are displayed through a display screen.

30. A method, comprising:

(a) receiving one or more conditional directives from a receiving user, the one or more conditional directives delineating one or more conditions for obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with one or more communiqué

s directed to the receiving user, the receiving including at least;

(1) prompting the receiving user to input the one or more conditional directives by presenting a conditional directive input interface to the receiving user to permit the receiving user to input the one or more conditional directives; and

(2) receiving at least one conditional directive, of the one or more conditional directives, from the receiving user to conditionally obfuscate the identity of the source entity in absence of a biometric verification of the receiving user being in possession of a receiving user device; and

(b) presenting, using one or more processors, at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, including at least;

(1) presenting, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least a second communiqué

that is a substitute communiqué

unrelated to the first communiqué and

a communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

, the second communiqué

including at least one of an email, an instant message (“

IM”

), a short message service (“

SMS”

) message, a multimedia messaging service (“

MMS”

) message, a telephone call, a video call, a VolP call, or a voice mail and that is from a communication device that is affiliated with a third party that is other than the receiving user, the communiqué

accessing interface configured to provide an alert to covertly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

, wherein the communiqué

accessing interface is configured to provide an alert that covertly indicates to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

at least in part by not specifically indicating to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

.

31. A system, comprising:

a computing device; and

a non-transitory medium bearing at least one or more executable instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to perform one or more operations that include at least;

(a) receive one or more conditional directives from a receiving user, the one or more conditional directives delineating one or more conditions for obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with one or more communiqué

s directed to the receiving user, including at least;

(1) prompt the receiving user to input the one or more conditional directives by presenting a conditional directive input interface to the receiving user to permit the receiving user to input the one or more conditional directives; and

(2) receive at least one conditional directive, of the one or more conditional directives, from the receiving user to conditionally obfuscate the identity of the source entity in absence of a biometric verification of the receiving user being in possession of a receiving user device; and

(b) present at least a second communiqué

in response to at least a reception of a first communiqué

affiliated with the source entity and in accordance with the one or more conditional directives, the second communiqué

being presented in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, including at least;

(1) present, in lieu of presenting the first communiqué

, at least a second communiqué

that is a substitute communiqué

unrelated to the first communiqué and

a communiqué

accessing interface for accessing the second communiqué

, wherein the second communiqué

includes at least one of an email, an instant message (“

IM”

), a short message service (“

SMS”

) message, a multimedia messaging service (“

MMS”

) message, a telephone call, a video call, a VoIP call, or a voice mail and that is from a communication device that is affiliated with a third party that is other than the receiving user, and wherein the communiqué

accessing interface is configured to provide an alert to covertly indicate to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

, wherein the communiqué

accessing interface is further configured to provide an alert that covertly indicates to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

at least in part by not specifically indicating to the receiving user that the second communiqué

is being presented in lieu of the first communiqué

.