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 method of facilitating voice communication between a first station and a second station over a packet data network and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the first and second stations being operated by a first party and a second party, respectively, the method comprising:
   receiving at least part of a connection instruction by a controller from the first station, the connection instruction identifying the second station or the second party,        supplying a reference code by the controller to the first station, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the second station or the second party,        receiving a communication request by the controller from the first station for voice communication between the first and second stations, the communication request employing at least in part the reference code, the reference code having been previously supplied by the controller to the first station,        opening a channel for voice communication by the controller between the first and second stations, the channel for voice communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to at least one of the first and second stations,        monitoring the duration of time that the channel for voice communication is open by the controller, and        when the channel for voice communication is closed, storing in memory by the controller the duration of the time that the channel for voice communication was open.      
     
     
       39. A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising sending by the controller at least an indication related to the identity of the first station or the party at the first station by the controller to the second station.  
     
     
       40. A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising charging by the controller the first user a fee based on the duration or by a fixed sum.  
     
     
       41. A method according to  claim 40 , in which charging a fee includes charging a fee that one user will pay the other user.  
     
     
       42. A method according to  claim 40 , in which charging a fee includes charging a fee that one user pays to a service for opening the channel for voice communication.  
     
     
       43. A method according to  claim 38 , further comprising identifying by the controller the start time that the channel for voice communication is opened.  
     
     
       44. A method according to  claim 38 , in which the communication channel includes wireless communication channel.  
     
     
       45. An apparatus facilitating voice communication between a first station and a second station over a packet data network and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the packet data network including a wireless network, the first and second stations being operated by a first party and a second party, respectively, the apparatus comprising:
   one or more network interfaces for receiving a communication request from the first station for voice communication between the first and second stations,        one or more memory, and        one or more processors coupled to the network interface for receiving at least part of a connection instruction from the first station, the connection instruction identifying the second station or the second party, supplying a reference code to the first station, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the second station or the second party, receiving a communication request from the first station for voice communication between the first and second stations, the communication request employing at least in part the reference code, the reference code having been previously supplied to the first station, opening a channel for voice communication between the first and second stations, the channel for voice communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to at least one of the first and second stations, identifying the starting time that the channel for voice communication is opened, and storing in the memory the starting time that the channel for voice communication was opened.      
     
     
       46. An apparatus according to  claim 45 , in which the processor monitors the duration of time that the channel for voice communication is open, and when the channel for voice communication is closed, stores in the memory the duration that the channel for voice communication was open.  
     
     
       47. An apparatus according to  claim 45 , in which the processor is further configured to charge the first party a fee based on the duration or a fixed fee.  
     
     
       48. An apparatus according to  claim 45 , in which the apparatus is a node in the Internet.  
     
     
       49. An apparatus according to  claim 45 , in which the apparatus includes one or more servers and/or controllers.  
     
     
       50. A method of facilitating voice communication between a first station and a second station over a packet data network and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the first and second stations being operated by a first party and a second party, respectively, the method comprising:
   receiving at least part of a connection instruction by a controller from the first station, the connection instruction identifying the second station or the second party,        supplying a reference code by the controller to the first station, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the second station or the second party,        receiving a communication request by the controller from the first station for voice communication between the first and second stations, the communication request employing at least in part the reference code, the reference code having been previously supplied by the controller to the first station,        opening a channel for voice communication by the controller between the first and second stations, the channel for voice communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to at least one of the first and second stations,        monitoring by the controller the duration of time that the channel for voice communication is open, and        when the channel for voice communication is closed, charging one of the first party and second party by the controller a fee based on a fixed sum or by the duration of the time that the channel for voice communication was open.      
     
     
       51. A method according to  claim 50 , in which charging a fee includes charging a fee that one user will pay the other user.  
     
     
       52. A method according to  claim 50 , in which charging a fee includes charging a fee that one user pays to a service provider providing a controller for opening the channel of voice communication.  
     
     
       53. A method according to  claim 50 , in which the communication channel includes one or more of a wired and a wireless communication channel, individually or in any combination.  
     
     
       54. A method according to  claim 50 , further comprising detecting by the controller automatically a time or time frame availability of the second party at the second station prior to opening the communication channel.  
     
     
       55. A method according to  claim 50 , further comprising sending by the controller information related to a time or a time frame availability of the second party to the first station.  
     
     
       56. An apparatus facilitating voice communication between a first station and a second station over a packet data network and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the first and second stations being operated by a first party and a second party, respectively, the apparatus comprising:
   at least one memory, and        at least one processor coupled to the network interface for receiving at least part of a connection instruction from the first station, the connection instruction identifying the second station or the second party, supplying a reference code to the first station, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the second station or the second party, receiving a communication request from the first station for voice communication between the first and second stations, the communication request employing at least in part the reference code, the reference code having been previously supplied to the first station, opening a channel for voice communication between the first and second stations, the channel for voice communication including =the packet data network that is connected directly to at least one of the first and second stations, monitoring the duration of time that the channel for voice communication is open, when the channel for voice communication is closed, storing in the memory the duration of time that the channel for voice communication was open and charging one of the first party and the second party a fee based on a fixed sum or the duration of the time that the channel for voice communication was open.      
     
     
       57. An apparatus according to  claim 56 , in which charging a fee includes charging a fee that one user will pay the other user.  
     
     
       58. An apparatus according to  claim 56 , in which charging a fee includes charging a fee that one user pays to a service provider providing the apparatus.  
     
     
       59. An apparatus according to  claim 56 , in which the apparatus includes one or more servers.  
     
     
       60. An apparatus according to  claim 56 , in which the apparatus includes one or more nodes on the Internet.