Communication between parties or stations over a network

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.Communication between two parties or stations over a packet data network such as the Internet may be enabled without revealing private information such as an address. An interface that allows input of a transaction specification from at least one of the first and second parties or stations may be provided. A reference code associated with the transaction may be generated, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and the address of the second station or party for communication. The reference code may be supplied to the first station or party. The first station or party may use the reference code to make a request for communication with the second station or party. A channel for communication may be opened between the first and the second stations over the packet data network without providing the address of the second station or party to the first station or party.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of facilitating anonymous communication between a first station and a second station, the second station having an address for communication, the address relating to the second station or the party at the second station and being stored in memory and accessible by a controller, 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 by the controller in response to the transaction specification, 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, 
 receiving a communication request by the controller from the first station for communication with at least the second station, 
 receiving the reference code by the controller from the first station, the reference code having been previously supplied from the controller to the first station, 
 using the reference code by the controller to recover said address from memory, 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 without requiring said address to be provided to the first station, the channel for communication including at least the packet data network that is connected directly 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 data network. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said address specifies a node on a packet switched network, including Voice over IP includes an e-mail address. 
     
     
       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 the Internet. 
     
     
       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 station posting an inquiry, the second party station 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 by the controller based on the transaction specification. 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising generating the reference code by the controller based on a connection instruction. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 1 , including storing a database of user profiles including said address by the controller. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 1 , including supplying the reference code by the controller to the first station over a packet data wireless network. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim  1 , including supplying the reference code to the first station over a circuit switched network 11, wherein storing the database of user profiles includes storing the database of user profiles on a plurality of servers. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising storing the reference code by the controller 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 by the controller 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 in which the reference code includes one or more of an image, graphics and a video, individually or in any combination, with or without any text. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising connecting the first station and second station for voice communication over a packet data network wherein said address includes an IP address. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising connecting the first station and second station by the controller for voice communication through voice over IP. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 1 , comprising verifying the communication request by the controller 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 by the controller 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 by the controller 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 receiving the reference code on an interface of 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. a second party at the second station, and the address is related to an identity or an address of the second station or of the second party. 
     
     
       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 by the controller 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, the channel for communication including at least the packet data network that is connected directly to the first station. 
 
     
     
       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, the apparatus 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, the communication channel including the packet data network that is connected directly to the at least one of the first and second stations. 
 
     
     
       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. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the anonymous communication is voice communication including at least one of telephone, cellular and voice-over Internet protocol communication. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the anonymous communication includes voice and video communication. 
     
     
       40. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the communication channel includes communication over wired or wireless Internet. 
     
     
       41. A method according to claim 30, in which there is a second party at the second station, the method further comprising detecting automatically a time or time frame availability of the second party prior to opening the communication channel. 
     
     
       42. A method according to claim 30, in which there is a second party at the second station, the method further comprising sending information related to a time or time frame availability of the second party to the first station. 
     
     
       43. A storage device containing a software program executable by a processor for facilitating anonymous communication between a first station and a second station, the second station having an address for communication, the address relating to the second station or the party at the second station and being stored in memory, and each station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the software program being executable by a processor to:
 provide a transaction specification from at least one of the first and second stations,   provide negotiation of the transaction specification over the packet data network;   generate a reference code in response to the transaction specification, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said address,   supply the reference code to the first station,   receive a communication request from the first station to communicate with at least the second station,   receive the reference code from the first station, the reference code having been previously supplied to the first station,   use the reference code to recover said address from memory, and   open a channel providing communication between said first and second stations using said address without requiring said address to be provided to the first station, the channel of communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to at least one of the first and second stations.   
     
     
       44. A storage device according to claim 43, in which the storage device is included in a single server or computer. 
     
     
       45. A storage device according to claim 43, in which the storage device is included in plural number of servers or computers. 
     
     
       46. A storage device according to claim 43, in which the storage device is included in a server, and the server is a node in the Internet. 
     
     
       47. A storage device according to claim 43, in which the software program is executable to store a database of user profiles including said address. 
     
     
       48. A storage device according to claim 43, in which the address includes one or more of an IP address, an e-mail address, a physical address, and a phone number, individually or in any combination. 
     
     
       49. A storage device according to claim 43, in which the channel for communication further includes one or more of chat, messaging, video, web publishing and e-mail, individually or in any combination. 
     
     
       50. A storage device according to claim 43, in which there is a first party at the first station, the software program further being executable to verify the identity of the first party and/or the first station before opening the channel for communication. 
     
     
       51. A storage device according to claim 43, in which the reference code includes an image or graphics. 
     
     
       52. A method for facilitating anonymous 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 or second party having an address for communication, the address relating to the second station or the second party, the first station and the second 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 station and second station,   generating a connection instruction by the controller, the connection instruction including said address,   storing the connection instruction in memory,   generating a reference code by the controller, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said connection instruction,   supplying the reference code to at least the first station,   receiving a communication request by the controller from the first station, the communication request including the reference code previously supplied to the first station, and   opening a channel providing communication between said first and second stations in accordance to the connection instruction without requiring said address to be provided to the first party, the channel for communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to at least one of the first and second stations.   
     
     
       53. A method according to claim 52, further comprising monitoring the duration of time the channel for communication is open by the controller, and when the channel for communication is closed, storing the duration of the time by the controller that the channel for communication was open. 
     
     
       54. A method according to claim 52, in which the connection instruction further include information relating to one or more of a time frame available for communication, contact information, billing or charging information, and security information related to the second party or second station. 
     
     
       55. A method according to claim 52, in which the connection instruction further include billing or charging information related to the second party or the second station, and the anonymous communication is established between the first and second stations, without providing said billing or charging information to the first party. 
     
     
       56. A method according to claim 52, further comprising supplying the connection instruction to the first station by the controller. 
     
     
       57. A method according to claim 52, further comprising using the reference code by the controller to recover the address. 
     
     
       58. A method according to claim 52, in which the communication channel includes one or more of a voice, text messaging or a video, individually or a combination. 
     
     
       59. A method according to claim 52, further comprising detecting automatically by the controller a time or time frame availability of the second party at the second station prior to opening the communication channel. 
     
     
       60. A method according to claim 52, further comprising receiving by the controller from the second station information related to a time or time frame availability of the second party, and sending the information to the first station. 
     
     
       61. A method according to claim 52, in which the program is further executable to verify the identity of the first party or first station before opening the channel for communication. 
     
     
       62. An apparatus facilitating anonymous 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 being associated with a connection instruction for communication, the connection instruction including an address associated with the second station or the second party, the first station and the second station being enabled to transmit and receive packet data and being connected directly to a packet data network, the apparatus comprising:
 a memory, and   a processor for receiving and storing in the memory a transaction specification from at least one of the first station and the second station, generating the connection instruction, storing in memory the connection instruction, generating and storing in the memory a reference code, there being a defined relationship between the reference code and said connection instruction, supplying the reference code to at least the first station, receiving a communication request from the first station, the communication request employing at least in part the reference code, previously supplied to at least the first station, and opening a channel for communication between said first and second stations in accordance to the connection instruction without requiring said address to be provided to the first party, the channel for communication including the packet data network that is connected directly to at least one of the first and second stations.   
     
     
       63. An apparatus according to claim 62, in which the communication channel includes voice communication and the processor further monitors the duration of time in which the channel for voice communication is open, and when the channel for voice communication is closed, stores in the memory the duration of the time that the channel for voice communication was open. 
     
     
       64. An apparatus according to claim 62, in which the processor supplies the connection instruction to the first station. 
     
     
       65. An apparatus according to claim 62, in which the connection instruction further include billing or charging information related to the second party or the second station, and the anonymous communication is established between the first and second stations, without providing said billing or charging information to the first party. 
     
     
       66. An apparatus according to claim 62, in which the processor uses the reference code to recover the connection instruction. 
     
     
       67. An apparatus according to claim 62 in which the apparatus includes one or more servers. 
     
     
       68. An apparatus according to claim 62 in which the apparatus is a node or nodes in the Internet. 
     
     
       69. An apparatus according to claim 62 in which the communication channel includes one or more of voice, video, and text-message communication, individually or in any combination.