Apparatus, methods and systems for anonymous communication

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.

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.    
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said address specifies a node on a circuit switched network. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said address specifies a node on a packet switched network. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said address specifies a node on a packet switched network, including Voice over IP. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the transaction specification includes inputting said transaction specification through a packet data network. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a first party at the first station and a second party at the second station, and the step of providing the transaction specification includes the first party posting an inquiry, the second party posting a response, and the first party accepting or rejection the response. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the transaction specification includes providing an interface that allows negotiation between parties at the first and second stations respectively regarding the transaction specification. 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the transaction specification includes inputting said transaction specification through a packet data network, including one of wired or wireless Internet. 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising generating a connection instruction based on the transaction specification. 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising generating the reference code based on a connection instruction. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 1 , including storing a database of user profiles including said address. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 1 , including supplying the reference code to the first station over a packet data network. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 1 , including supplying the reference code to the first station over a circuit switched network. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising storing the reference code until after the transaction has been completed and then erasing the reference code. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising supplying the reference code to both the first station and the second station. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising connecting the first station and second station for voice communication over a circuit switched network. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising connecting the first station and second station for voice communication over a packet data network. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising connecting the first station and second station for voice communication through voice over IP. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising verifying the communication request against at least one criterion specified in the transaction specification before opening the channel for communication. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising rejecting the communication request if at least one criterion specified in the transaction specification is not satisfied. 
     
     
       21. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a party at the second station and the method comprises verifying the identity of the party at the second station before opening the channel for communication. 
     
     
       22. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises generating a communication record including data regarding the transaction, including at least one of start time, end time, reference code, duration of communication, fee information, and billing information. 
     
     
       23. A method according to  claim 22 , wherein first and second identities are associated with the first and second stations respectively and the communication record includes at least one of the first identity and the second identity. 
     
     
       24. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising issuing a prompt to the first station to enter the reference code. 
     
     
       25. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a first party at the first station and a second party at the second station, the first party is a purchaser of information and the second party is a seller of information, and the method comprises negotiating the transaction specification. 
     
     
       26. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a first party at the first station and the method includes the first party initiating a request for communication. 
     
     
       27. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of supplying the transaction specification includes specifying a time or time interval for the communication request and the method includes determining whether the communication request is received from the first station at the specified time or time interval. 
     
     
       28. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of opening a communication channel includes attempting to establish a connection between the first and second stations, testing whether a connection is established, and, if not, scheduling a time for another attempt. 
     
     
       29. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises receiving from the second station specified times or time intervals at which a party is available at the second station for communication. 
     
     
       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:
 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.    
     
     
       31. A method according to  claim 30 , wherein the method comprises making the communication request automatically by the first station contacting the controller unit. 
     
     
       32. A method according to  claim 30 , wherein there is a first party at the first station, and the method comprises making the communication request by the first party contacting the controller. 
     
     
       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.    
     
     
       34. An apparatus according to  33 , wherein the means for opening a communication channel includes a means to test whether a connection is established. 
     
     
       35. An apparatus according to  33 , further comprising means to verify the communication request against at least one criterion specified in the transaction specification before opening a communication channel between the first party and said address. 
     
     
       36. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anonymous communication is voice communication being one of telephone, cellular and voice-over Internet protocol communication. 
     
     
       37. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anonymous communication is data communication being one of email, chat, messaging and web publishing. 
     
     
       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.       
     
     
       39. A processor- readable storage medium according to    claim 38   , in which the program is further executable to verify the identity of the first party.   
     
     
       40. A processor- readable storage medium according to    claim 38   , in which the program is executable to support negotiation of the transaction specification.   
     
     
       41. A processor- readable storage medium according to    claim 38   , in which support for the negotiation includes providing an indication as to whether voice communication is accepted or rejected.   
     
     
       42. A processor- readable storage medium according to    claim 38   , in which the program is further executable to provide the transaction specification to the second party, and to generate a connection instruction that includes information relating to one or more of a time or time frame available for communication, alias, contact information, billing or charging information, and security information related to the second party or the second station.   
     
     
       43. A processor- readable storage medium according to    claim 38   , in which the reference code includes an image.   
     
     
       44. A processor- readable storage medium according to    claim 38   , in which the communication channel is configured to transmit one or more of a voice communication, a video communication, and a text messaging.   
     
     
       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:
   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.     
     
     
       46. A method according to  claim 45 , in which the reference code includes one or more of an alias, a symbol, an image, and graphics. 
     
     
       47. A method according to  claim 45 , in which the second station includes one or more of a screen phone, a smart phone, a super phone, an Internet- enabled cellular phone, an Internet appliance, a laptop, and a personal computer.   
     
     
       48. A method according to  claim 45 , in which the communication channel includes a wireless communication channel. 
     
     
       49. A method according to  claim 45 , in which opening a channel for communication at the second station includes displaying over the user interface an identifier related to the calling party. 
     
     
       50. A method according to  claim 45 , in which the reference code further includes one or more of an image, symbol and graphics. 
     
     
       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.     
     
     
       52. A second station according to  claim 51 , in which the second station is an Internet enabled wireless device. 
     
     
       53. A second station according to  claim 51 , in which the user interface includes a touch sensitive display. 
     
     
       54. A second station according to  claim 51 , in which the communication channel includes Voice over Internet Protocol. 
     
     
       55. A second station according to  claim 51 , in which the communication channel further includes one or more of a video communication channel and a text- message communication channel.   
     
     
       56. A second station according to  claim 51 , in which opening at the second station a channel for communication includes displaying over the user interface an identifier related to the calling party. 
     
     
       57. A second station according to  claim 51 , in which the device includes one or more of a screen phone, a smart phone, a super phone, an Internet- enabled cellular phone, an Internet appliance, a laptop, and a personal computer.