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U.S. Patent: RE41,416


Patent Title

Apparatus, methods and systems for anonymous communication

Meta Information

Issued Date: July 6, 2010
Inventor: Christina Ying Liu, William Ho Chang
External Links: UPSTO, Google Patents

Technical Fields

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.

U.S. Patent Number: RE41,416

Sample Claim

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.