US5907677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for establishing anonymous communication links
Assignee: Thryv Inc
•
Filing: 1996-08-23
•
Granted: 1999-05-25
•
Expires: 2016-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for establishing anonymous communication links comprises the steps of: identifying a plurality of subscribers; assigning a code to each of the plurality of subscribers; accessing a proprietary directory of the subscribers containing the code of each of the plurality of subscribers; and connecting a first subscriber of the plurality of subscribers to a second subscriber of the plurality of subscribers for communications. The first subscriber is identified by a first code so that the first subscriber can communicate with the second subscriber anonymously.
Inventors
- 👤 Steve Glenn
- 👤 William Tod Gross
- 👤 John Richard McRae
- 👤 Philip Malcolm Neches
- 👤 James Francis Day
- 👤 Herbert Mortimer Zydney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42008; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/4535; H04L61/4557; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L67/00; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42085; H04M3/42102; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M3/4931; H04M7/00; H04M7/0024; H04M7/0042; H04M7/0045; H04M7/0054; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for establishing anonymous communication links comprising the steps of: identifying a plurality of subscribers; assigning a code to each of said plurality of subscribers; accessing a directory of said subscribers containing said code and a personal profile for each of said plurality of subscribers wherein a first subscriber of said plurality of subscribers and a second subscriber of said plurality of subscribers are matched in response to a first personal profile of said first subscriber and a second personal profile of said second subscriber; and interconnecting said first subscriber to said second subscriber for communications; wherein said first subscriber is identified by a first code so that said first subscriber communicates interactively in real time anonymously and privately with said second subscriber, said interconnection of said first subscriber to said second subscriber is initiated in response to said first subscriber entering in said first code and said second subscriber entering a second code into a programmable switch.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for establishing anonymous communication links comprising the steps of: identifying a plurality of subscribers; assigning a code to each of said plurality of subscribers; accessing a directory of said subscribers containing said code and a personal profile for each of said plurality of subscribers wherein a first subscriber of said plurality of subscribers and a second subscriber of said plurality of subscribers are matched in response to a first personal profile of said first subscriber and a second personal profile of said second subscriber; and interconnecting said first subscriber to said second subscriber for communications; wherein said first subscriber is identified by a first code so that said first subscriber communicates interactively in real time anonymously and privately with said second subscriber, said interconnection of said first subscriber to said second subscriber is initiated in response to said first subscriber entering in said first code and said second subscriber entering a second code into a programmable switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of classifying each of said plurality of subscribers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said code is a unique code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said code is unique to a group of said plurality of subscribers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said communications comprises voice communications.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said communications comprises video communications.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first subscriber and said second subscriber are connected in response to information in said directory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising greeting said first subscriber and said second subscriber based upon information in said directory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first subscriber is matched to a subset of said plurality of subscribers which share personal profile information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said connection of said first subscriber to said second subscriber is initiated in response a predetermined stimuli such that to a programmable switch establishes a connection to said first subscriber and said second subscriber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said communications is established over a digital packet network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one additional subscriber is connected with said first subscriber and said second subscriber while said first subscriber is connected to said second subscriber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising notifying said first subscriber when a predetermined subscriber is on-line on a network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising selecting said predetermined subscriber in response to said personal profile.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising selecting said predetermined subscriber in response to a user identification.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the step of notifying is made over said network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said notification is made over a wide area switched network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second subscriber is selected in response to an external criteria and matched with said first subscriber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first subscriber and other subscribers are matched in response to a first personal profile of said first subscriber and a personal profile said other subscriber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of inviting each of said other subscribers to be connected with said first subscriber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of soliciting said subscribers to determine which of said subscribers wish to communicate anonymously and privately with another of said subscribers, or a select group of said subscribers, on one or more topics of mutual interest.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4847890A
Cited
US4878239A
Cited
US5017917A
Cited
US5058152A
Cited
US5361295A
Cited
US5623536A
Cited
US5651058A
Cited
US5604803A
Cited
US5608786A
Cited
US5668953A
Cited
US5694163A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-24 | 2002-11-23 | 2003-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-24 | 2006-11-23 | 2007-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-24 | 2010-11-23 | 2011-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |