Method and system for establishing and maintaining user-controlled anonymous communications

US 5,884,272 A
Filed: 09/06/1996
Issued: 03/16/1999
Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1996
Status: Expired due to Term

- Alert
- Pin

Associated Cases

Associated Defendants

First Claim

Patent Images

1. A method for facilitating an exchange of information between a first party and a second party, comprising the steps of:

receiving first party information data from said first party;

storing said first party information data in a secure database;

receiving, from said first party, at least one first party rule for releasing said first party information data;

storing said at lease one first party rule;

receiving, from said second party, a search request to the secure database, said search request comprising at least one search criterion to be satisfied;

determining second party data relevant to said at least one first party rule;

receiving, from said second party, at least one second party rule for releasing said second party data;

processing said search request from said second party to determine if said first party information data satisfies said at least one search criterion;

if said first party information data satisfies said at least one search criterion, then;

communicating to said second party that said at least one search criterion has been satisfied;

receiving a request from said second party for said first party information data;

releasing said second party data pursuant to said second party rule;

determining, based on said second party data, whether said at least one first party rule has been satisfied; and

if said at least one first party rule has been satisfied, providing, to said second party, said first party information data for which said at least one first party rule has been satisfied.

View all claims

10 Assignments

Timeline View

Assignment View

Litigations

1 Petition

Accused Products

Abstract

A system for establishing anonymous communications includes a plurality of party terminals, a plurality of requester terminals, and a central controller. The system receives and stores party data about respective parties. Upon receiving criteria for parties of interest from a requestor terminal and authorization from respective parties, the central controller releases to the requester party associated with the parties. The system also establishes communications channels between parties and the requester, while maintaining their anonymity.

637 Citations

65 Claims

1. A method for facilitating an exchange of information between a first party and a second party, comprising the steps of:
- receiving first party information data from said first party;
  
  storing said first party information data in a secure database;
  
  receiving, from said first party, at least one first party rule for releasing said first party information data;
  
  storing said at lease one first party rule;
  
  receiving, from said second party, a search request to the secure database, said search request comprising at least one search criterion to be satisfied;
  
  determining second party data relevant to said at least one first party rule;
  
  receiving, from said second party, at least one second party rule for releasing said second party data;
  
  processing said search request from said second party to determine if said first party information data satisfies said at least one search criterion;
  
  if said first party information data satisfies said at least one search criterion, then;
  
  communicating to said second party that said at least one search criterion has been satisfied;
  
  receiving a request from said second party for said first party information data;
  
  releasing said second party data pursuant to said second party rule;
  
  determining, based on said second party data, whether said at least one first party rule has been satisfied; and
  
  if said at least one first party rule has been satisfied, providing, to said second party, said first party information data for which said at least one first party rule has been satisfied.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- - 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
    - authenticating authorship of said first party information data.
  - 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of authenticating includes the substep of executing a cryptographic operation using a cryptographic key.
  - 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of authenticating includes the substep of recognizing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a name, and an identification number.
  - 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving first party information data comprises the substeps of:
    - receiving first party information data in encrypted form; and
      
      decrypting the received first party information data.
  - 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of authenticating authorship of the decrypted party data.
  - 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of authenticating includes the substep of recognizing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a name, and an identification number.
  - 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of authenticating authorship of the search request.
  - 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining second party data further comprising the step of:
    - receiving, from said second party, said second party data corresponding to the second party.
  - 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of authenticating authorship of the received second party data.
  - 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of authenticating includes the substep of recognizing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a name, and an identification number.
  - 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
    - receiving from said second party a request to provide a communication channel with said first party;
      
      communicating, to said first party, said request to provide said communication channel; and
      
      providing said communication channel between said first party and said second party, if said first party agrees to said request to provide said communication channel.
  - 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of providing a communication channel comprises providing an asynchronous communication channel.
  - 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of providing an asynchronous communication channel comprises the step of using a cryptographic protocol.
  - 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of providing a communication channel comprises providing a real-time communication channel.
  - 16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving, from at least one of the second party and the first party, a payment for providing the communication channel.
  - 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communicating step further comprises the step of:
    - communicating to the second party a pseudonym corresponding to said first party.
  - 18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
    - receiving from said second party, a request to verify whether said first party information data is accurate; and
      
      verifying the accuracy of the first party information data.
  - 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving at least one first party rule further comprises the step of receiving from said first party at least one rule specifying at least one second party to whom the first party authorizes the system to release said first party information data.
  - 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving at least one first party rule further comprises the step of:
    - receiving, from said first party, a rule that an authorization be obtained from said first party before said first party information data is released;
      
      the method further comprising the steps of;
      
      after receiving the request from the second party for said first party information data, performing said step of releasing said second party data with a request for authorization to release said first party information data; and
      
      receiving a response, from said first party, to said request for authorization.
  - 21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
    - receiving from said first party a request for said second party data;
      
      determining whether said second party rule authorizes release of said second party data to said first party; and
      
      if said second party rule authorizes the release of said second party data to said first party, releasing to said first party said second party data.
  - 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of releasing the second party data comprises the substep of preventing release of the second party data that the second party has not authorized for release.
  - 23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing said first party information data further comprising the steps of:
    - encrypting the first party information data; and
      
      communicating, to the second party, the encrypted first party information data.
  - 24. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, from said first patty, a payment for at least one of storing and providing said first party information data.
  - 25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, from the second party, a payment for at least one of receiving from said second party a search request and providing the first party information data.
  - 26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a payment to said first party for at least one of storing and providing said first party information data.
  - 27. The method of claim 1, wherein the first party is a job candidate and the second party is an employer.
  - 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first party information data comprises at least one of an identity of the job candidate, an address of the job candidate, at least one vital statistic of the job candidate, a description of a work experience of the job candidate, an educational background of the job candidate, an interest of the job candidate, a resume of the job candidate, a list of at least one publication written by the job candidate, and a list of at least one award received by the job candidate.
  - 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the first party is an employee and the second party is an employer of said employee.
  - 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first party information data comprises a description of a violation of a policy of the employer.
  - 31. The method of claim 1, wherein the first party and the second party are individuals seeking a personal relationship.
  - 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first party information data comprises at least one of an identity of the first party, an address of the first party, a vital statistic of the first party, a work experience of the first party, an educational background of the first party, and an interest of the first party.

33. An apparatus for facilitating an exchange of information between a first party and a second party, comprising:
- secure data base means, operatively connected to;
  
  means for receiving first party information data from said first party;
  
  means for storing said first party information data in said secure database means;
  
  means for receiving, from said first party, at least one first party rule for releasing said first party information data;
  
  means for storing said at least one first party rule;
  
  means for receiving, from said second party, a search request to the secure database means, said search request comprising at least one search criterion to be satisfied;
  
  means for processing said search request from said second party to determine if said first party information data satisfies said at least one search criterion;
  
  means for communicating to said second party that said at least one search criterion has been satisfied;
  
  means for receiving a request from said second party for said first party information data;
  
  means for determining second party data relevant to said at least one first party rule;
  
  means for receiving, from said second party, at least one second party rule for releasing said second party data;
  
  means for releasing said second party data pursuant to said second party rule;
  
  means for determining, based on said second party data, whether said at least one first party rule has been satisfied; and
  
  means for providing, to said second party, said first party information data for which said at least one first party rule has been satisfied.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
- - 34. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising means for authenticating authorship of said first party information data.
  - 35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the means for authenticating includes means for executing a cryptographic operation using a cryptographic key.
  - 36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the means for authenticating includes means for recognizing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a name, and an identification number.
  - 37. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the means for receiving first party information data comprises:
    - means for receiving first party information data in encrypted form; and
      
      means for decrypting the received first party information data.
  - 38. The apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising means for authenticating authorship of the decrypted party data.
  - 39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the means for authenticating includes means for recognizing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a name, and an identification number.
  - 40. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising means for authenticating authorship of the search request.
  - 41. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the means for determining second party data further comprising:
    - means for receiving, from said second party, said second party data corresponding to the second party.
  - 42. The apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising means for authenticating authorship of the received second party data.
  - 43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the means for authenticating includes means for recognizing an identifier selected from the group consisting of a password, a name, and an identification number.
  - 44. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising:
    - means for receiving from said second party a request to provide a communication channel with said first party;
      
      means for communicating, to said first party, said request to provide said communications channel; and
      
      means for providing said communication channel between said second party and said first party.
  - 45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the means for providing a communication channel comprises means for providing an asynchronous communication channel.
  - 46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the means for providing an asynchronous communication channel comprises means for providing a cryptographic protocol.
  - 47. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the means for providing the communication channel comprises means for providing a real-time communication channel.
  - 48. The apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising means for receiving, from at least one of the second party and the first party, a payment for providing the communication channel.
  - 49. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the means for communicating further comprises:
    - means for communicating to the second party a pseudonym corresponding to said first party.
  - 50. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising means for receiving, from said second party, a request to verify whether said first party information data is accurate;
    - andmeans for verifying the accuracy of the first party information data.
  - 51. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the means for receiving at least one first party rule further comprises means for receiving from said first party at least one rule specifying at least one second party to whom the first party authorizes the release of said first party information data.
  - 52. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the means for receiving at least one rule further comprises:
    - means for receiving, from said first party, a rule that an authorization be obtained from said first party before said first party information data is released;
      
      means for communicating, to said first party, said second party data and a request for authorization to release said first party information data; and
      
      means for receiving a response, from said first party, to said request for authorization.
  - 53. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising:
    - means for receiving from said first party a request for said second party data;
      
      means for determining whether said second party rule authorizes release of said second party data to said first party; and
      
      means for releasing to said first party the second party data.
  - 54. The apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the means for releasing the second party data comprises means for preventing releasing the second party data that the second party has not authorized for release.
  - 55. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the means for providing said first party information data further comprising:
    - means for encrypting the first party information data; and
      
      means for communicating, to the second party, the encrypted first party information data.
  - 56. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising means for receiving, from said first party, payment for at least one of receiving and storing first party information data.
  - 57. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising means for receiving, from said second party, a payment for at least one of receiving from said second party a search request and providing the first party information data.
  - 58. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising means for transmitting payment to said first party for one of storing and communicating the first party information data.
  - 59. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first party is a job candidate and the second parry is an employer.
  - 60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the first party information data comprises at least one of an identity of the job candidate, an address of the job candidate, at least one vital statistic of the job candidate, a description of a work experience of the job candidate, an educational background of the job candidate, an interest of the job candidate, a resume of the job candidate, a list of at least one publication written by the job candidate, and a list of at least one award received by the job candidate.
  - 61. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first party is an employee and the second party is an employer of said employee.
  - 62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the first party information data comprises a description of a violation of a policy of the employer.
  - 63. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first party and the second party are individuals seeking a personal relationship.
  - 64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the first party information data comprises at least one of an identity of the first party, an address of the first party, a vital statistic of the first party, a work experience of the first party, an educational background of the first party, and an interest of the first party.

65. A system for facilitating an exchange of information between a first party and a second party, comprising:
- a memory for storing at least a secure database;
  
  a communication port; and
  
  a processor connected to said memory and said communication port, said processor being operative to;
  
  receive first party information data from said first party;
  
  store said first party information data in said secure database;
  
  receive, from said first party, at least one first rule for releasing said first party information data;
  
  store said at least one first party rule;
  
  receive, from said second party, a search request to the secure database, said search request comprising at least one search criterion to be satisfied;
  
  determine second party data relevant to said at least one first party rule;
  
  receive, from said second party, at least one second party rule for releasing said second party data;
  
  process said search request from said second party to determine if said first party information data satisfies said at least one search criterion; and
  
  if said first party information data satisfies said at least one search criterion, the processor being further operative to;
  
  communicate to said second party that said at least one search criterion has been satisfied;
  
  receive a request from said second party for said first party information data;
  
  release said second party data pursuant to said second party rule;
  
  determine, based on said second party data, whether said at least one rule has been satisfied; and
  
  if said at least one first party rule has been satisfied, provide, to said second party, said first party information data for which said at least one first party rule has been satisfied.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
Original Assignee
Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership
Inventors
Schneier, Bruce, Walker, Jay S., Case, T. Scott
Primary Examiner(s)
Lall, Parshotam S.
Assistant Examiner(s)
Ovedovitz, David M.

Application Number

US08/708,968
Time in Patent Office

921 Days
Field of Search

705/37, 705/1, 705/26, 364/468.14, 364/222.2, 364/284, 379/69, 379/93.12, 395/200.57
US Class Current

705/319
CPC Class Codes

G06F 21/6254   by anonymising data, e.g. d...

G06Q 30/0615   Anonymizing

G06Q 50/01   Social networking

H04L 2209/42   Anonymization, e.g. involvi...

H04L 2209/56   Financial cryptography, e.g...

H04L 9/321   involving a third party or ...

H04L 9/3271   using challenge-response

H04M 2203/609   Secret communication

H04M 3/42008   Systems for anonymous commu...

Method and system for establishing and maintaining user-controlled anonymous communications

First Claim

10 Assignments

Litigations

1 Petition

Accused Products

Abstract

637 Citations

65 Claims

Specification

Use Cases

Quick Links

Others

Method and system for establishing and maintaining user-controlled anonymous communications

First Claim

10 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

Litigations

1 Petition

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

637 Citations

65 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Use Cases

Quick Links

Others