IP Library Granted Patent US 8,996,618
Granted Patent B2
US 8,996,618 · App. 14/088,387 · Granted Mar 31, 2015

System and method for providing sequenced anonymous communication sessions over a network

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,996,618
App. No.
14/088,387
Granted
Mar 31, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for facilitating a sequenced, anonymous communications session in a communications environment is provided in one example that includes receiving, from a first endpoint, an anonymous, sequenced request for a communication session involving a second endpoint. The communication session is sequenced to occur at designated periods provided by the end user(s) and/or an administrator, while maintaining end user(s) anonymity.

Claims (43)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a request for a multimedia communication session at a communications broker in a communication network, wherein the communications broker comprises a memory for storing data and instructions, and a processor for executing the instructions, wherein the communications broker is connected to the communications network, wherein a source address of the request indicates a personal contact address of a first user and a recipient address of the request indicates a profile name of a second user in a social networking platform, wherein the first user and the second user are associated with respective profile names in the social networking platform, wherein the profile names are different from respective personal contact addresses of the first user and the second user, wherein the profile names are displayed publicly and the personal contact addresses are not displayed publicly on the social networking platform;

accessing, by the communications broker, a communication sequencing information including data input by the first user and the second user and data input by a social networking platform administrator, wherein the communication sequencing information includes metrics related to sequencing of the multimedia communication session, wherein the metrics include call back preferences and sequencing limitations related to membership privileges, pay to communicate protocols, and network bandwidth availability;

determining, by the communications broker, a common session availability for the first user and the second user based on evaluating the communication sequencing information;

preparing, by the communications broker, a multimedia communication session call invitation message with information showing the source address to be the personal contact address of the second user and the recipient address to be the profile name of the first user; and

transmitting, by the communications broker, the multimedia communication session call invitation message for a time frame indicated by the common session availability.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

translating the personal contact address of the first user in the request to the corresponding profile name of the first user; and

translating the profile name of the second user in the request to the corresponding personal contact address of the second user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metrics further include date, time, type of the multimedia communication session, and duration of the multimedia communication session.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia communication session is initiated directly between the users via respective endpoints without exchange of the personal contact addresses.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications broker denies the request if the communication sequencing information indicates no common session availability.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications broker serves as an intermediary between the first and second users during the multimedia communication session.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second user can accept or deny the multimedia communication session call invitation message, wherein if the second user accepts the multimedia communication session call invitation message, the multimedia communication session is initiated between the first user and the second user.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a communications broker in a communication network;

a memory; and

a processor that executes instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and the memory cooperate, such that the apparatus is configured for:

receiving a request for a multimedia communication session at the communications broker, wherein a source address of the request indicates a personal contact address of a first user and a recipient address of the request indicates a profile name of a second user in a social networking platform, wherein the first user and the second user are associated with respective profile names in the social networking platform, wherein the profile names are different from respective personal contact addresses of the first user and the second user, wherein the profile names are displayed publicly on the social networking platform and the personal contact addresses are not displayed publicly;

accessing a communication sequencing information including data input by the first user and the second user and data input by a social networking platform administrator, wherein the communication sequencing information includes metrics related to sequencing of the multimedia communication session, wherein the metrics include call back preferences and sequencing limitations related to membership privileges, pay to communicate protocols, and network bandwidth availability;

determining a common session availability for the first user and the second user based on the communication sequencing information; and

transmitting a multimedia communication session call invitation message for a time frame indicated by the common session availability, wherein the source address of the call invitation message indicates the personal contact address of the second user, and the recipient address of the call invitation message indicates the profile name of the first user.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

translating the personal contact address of the first user in the request to the corresponding profile name of the first user; and

translating the profile name of the second user in the request to the corresponding personal contact address of the second user.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the metrics further include date, time, type of the multimedia communication session, and duration of the multimedia communication session.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the multimedia communication session is initiated directly between the users via respective endpoints without exchange of the personal contact addresses.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the communications broker denies the request if the communication sequencing information indicates no common session availability.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the communications broker serves as an intermediary between the first and second users during the multimedia communication session.

14. Non-transitory tangible media encoding instructions for execution, which when executed by a processor of a communications broker, is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request for a multimedia communication session at the communications broker, wherein a source address of the request indicates a personal contact address of a first user and a recipient address of the request indicates a profile name of a second user in a social networking platform, wherein the first user and the second user are associated with respective profile names in the social networking platform, wherein the profile names are different from respective personal contact addresses of the first user and the second user, wherein the profile names are displayed publicly on the social networking platform and the personal contact addresses are not displayed publicly;

accessing a communication sequencing information including data input by the first user and the second user and data input by a social networking platform administrator, wherein the communication sequencing information includes metrics related to sequencing of the multimedia communication session, wherein the metrics include call back preferences and sequencing limitations related to membership privileges, pay to communicate protocols, and network bandwidth availability;

determining a common session availability for the first user and the second user based on the communication sequencing information;

preparing a multimedia communication session call invitation message with information showing the source address to be the personal contact address of the second user and the recipient address to be the profile name of the first user; and

transmitting the multimedia communication session call invitation message for a time frame indicated by the common session availability.

15. The media of claim 14 , further comprising:

translating the personal contact address of the first user in the request to the corresponding profile name of the first user; and

translating the profile name of the second user in the request to the corresponding personal contact address of the second user.

16. The media of claim 14 , wherein the metrics further include date, time, type of the multimedia communication session, and duration of the multimedia communication session.

17. The media of claim 14 , wherein the multimedia communication session is initiated directly between the users via respective endpoints without exchange of the personal contact addresses.

18. The media of claim 14 , wherein the communications broker denies the request if the communication sequencing information indicates no common session availability.

19. The media of claim 14 , wherein the communications broker serves as an intermediary between the first and second users during the multimedia communication session.

20. The media of claim 14 , wherein the second user can accept or deny the multimedia communication session call invitation message, wherein if the second user accepts the multimedia communication session call invitation message, the multimedia communication session is initiated between the first user and the second user.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 22, 2024
From: MATCH GROUP, LLC
To: TINDER LLC
Reel/Frame 069433/0479 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2024
From: TINDER LLC
To: MATCH GROUP AMERICAS, LLC
Reel/Frame 069433/0503 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 21, 2017
From: MATCH.COM, L.L.C.
To: MATCH GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 044495/0536 →