Apparatus and method for double-blind instant messaging

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is described comprising: mapping a first user's primary text or instant messaging (“IM”) address managed by a primary text/IM messaging system to a pseudo-text/IM address managed by an intermediary text/IM system; publishing the pseudo-text/IM address but not the primary text/IM address to a plurality of text/IM users, the plurality of text/IM users establishing text/IM sessions with the first user via the pseudo-text/IM address; defining a first set of users within the plurality who are permitted to view presence information related to the first user's text/IM activity within the primary text/IM system and a second set of users who are not permitted to view the presence information; receiving presence information related to the first user from the primary text/IM system; and providing the presence information only to the users within the first set.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 mapping a first user's primary text or instant messaging (“IM”) address managed by a primary text/IM messaging system to a pseudo-text/IM address managed by an intermediary text/IM system;    publishing the pseudo-text/IM address but not the primary text/IM address to a plurality of text/IM users, the plurality of text/IM users establishing text/IM sessions with the first user via the pseudo-text/IM address;    defining a first set of users within the plurality who are permitted to view presence information related to the first user's text/IM activity within the primary text/IM system and a second set of users who are not permitted to view the presence information;    receiving presence information related to the first user from the primary text/IM system; and    providing the presence information only to the users within the first set.    
   
   
       2 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the presence information comprises an indication that the first user is online.  
   
   
       3 . The method as in  claim 2  further comprising: 
 receiving a text/IM message from one of the first set of users directed to the pseudo-text/IM address; and    forwarding the text/IM message to the primary text/IM messaging system using the primary text/IM address.    
   
   
       4 . The method as in  claim 3  further comprising: 
 receiving a text/IM message from the primary text/IM messaging system, the text/IM message having the primary text/IM address as a sender address; and    forwarding the text/IM message to the one of the first set of users using the pseudo-text/IM address as the sender address.    
   
   
       5 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the presence information comprises an indication that the first user is offline.  
   
   
       6 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the first user's primary text/IM address is a screen name managed by a primary text/IM messaging system.  
   
   
       7 . The method as in  claim 6  wherein the first user's pseudo-text/IM address is a screen name managed by the intermediary text/IM system.  
   
   
       8 . An intermediary pseudo-text-IM messaging system having a memory for storing program code and at least one processor to process the program code, the program code causing the processor to perform the operations of: 
 mapping a first user's primary text or instant messaging (“IM”) address managed by a primary text/IM messaging system to a pseudo-text/IM address, the pseudo/IM messaging system managed by the intermediary text/IM system;    publishing the pseudo-text/IM address but not the primary text/IM address to a plurality of text/IM users, the plurality of text/IM users establishing text/IM sessions with the first user via the pseudo-text/IM address;    defining a first set of users within the plurality who are permitted to view presence information related to the first user's text/IM activity within the primary text/IM system and a second set of users who are not permitted to view the presence information;    receiving presence information related to the first user from the primary text/IM system; and    providing the presence information only to the users within the first set.    
   
   
       9 . The intermediary pseudo-text-IM messaging system as in  claim 8  wherein the presence information comprises an indication that the first user is online.  
   
   
       10 . The intermediary pseudo-text-IM messaging system as in  claim 9  comprising program code to cause the processor to perform the additional operations of: 
 receiving a text/IM message from one of the first set of users directed to the pseudo-text/IM address; and    forwarding the text/IM message to the primary text/IM messaging system using the primary text/IM address.    
   
   
       11 . The intermediary pseudo-text-IM messaging system as in  claim 10  comprising program code to cause the processor to perform the additional operations of: 
 receiving a text/IM message from the primary text/IM messaging system, the text/IM message having the primary text/IM address as a sender address; and    forwarding the text/IM message to the one of the first set of users using the pseudo-text/IM address as the sender address.    
   
   
       12 . The intermediary pseudo-text-IM messaging system as in  claim 8  wherein the presence information comprises an indication that the first user is offline.  
   
   
       13 . The intermediary pseudo-text-IM messaging system as in  claim 8  wherein the first user's primary text/IM address is a screen name managed by a primary text/IM messaging system.  
   
   
       14 . The intermediary pseudo-text-IM messaging system as in  claim 13  wherein the first user's pseudo-text/IM address is a screen name managed by the intermediary text/IM system.  
   
   
       15 . A machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the operations of: 
 mapping a first user's primary text or instant messaging (“IM”) address managed by a primary text/IM messaging system to a pseudo-text/IM address managed by an intermediary text/IM system;    publishing the pseudo-text/IM address but not the primary text/IM address to a plurality of text/IM users, the plurality of text/IM users establishing text/IM sessions with the first user via the pseudo-text/IM address;    defining a first set of users within the plurality who are permitted to view presence information related to the first user's text/IM activity within the primary text/IM system and a second set of users who are not permitted to view the presence information;    receiving presence information related to the first user from the primary text/IM system; and    providing the presence information only to the users within the first set.    
   
   
       16 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 15  wherein the presence information comprises an indication that the first user is online.  
   
   
       17 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 16  comprising additional program code to cause the processor to perform the operations of: 
 receiving a text/IM message from one of the first set of users directed to the pseudo-text/IM address; and    forwarding the text/IM message to the primary text/IM messaging system using the primary text/IM address.    
   
   
       18 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 17  comprising additional program code to cause the processor to perform the operations of: 
 receiving a text/IM message from the primary text/IM messaging system, the text/IM message having the primary text/IM address as a sender address; and    forwarding the text/IM message to the one of the first set of users using the pseudo-text/IM address as the sender address.    
   
   
       19 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 15  wherein the presence information comprises an indication that the first user is offline.  
   
   
       20 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 15  wherein the first user's primary text/IM address is a screen name managed by a primary text/IM messaging system.  
   
   
       21 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 20  wherein the first user's pseudo-text/IM address is a screen name managed by the intermediary text/IM system.