IP Library Granted Patent US 10,523,620
Granted Patent B1
US 10,523,620 · App. 16/141,490 · Granted Dec 31, 2019

Anonymous two way communications system and method

Inventors: Paul J. Langhorst (St. Louis, MO); Paul J. Meiners (St. Louis, MO); Joe H. Moore (Swansea, IL); Joseph R. Palacios (St. Louis, MO); Kyle R. Palacios (Columbia, IL)
Assignee: WEST CORPORATION
H04L51/28H04W12/02H04L63/0421
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,523,620
App. No.
16/141,490
Granted
Dec 31, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system and method for allowing two-way anonymous communication. A message is received by the system, and a unique user ID is created and associated with the sender's contact information. The message if forwarded to the appropriate administrative user, along with the user ID but not the sender's contact information. A response from the administrative user may then be routed back to the sender by matching the user ID associated with the response with the contact information associated with that user ID. Thus, communication with possible without the parties knowing the identity of the other party.

Claims (33)

1. A system, comprising:

at least one processor and electronic memory;

an incoming message module stored in the electronic memory configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the incoming message module receives an incoming phone or text message from a sender;

an anonymizer stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the anonymizer generates a unique user ID based on contact information associated with the sender; and

an alert distributor stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the alert distributor determines an appropriate administrative user to receive the message based on permissions stored within the electronic memory, the permissions based on either time of day or type of message, and forwards the message to the appropriate administrative user;

wherein a different user ID is created each time a message is received from the sender within a chain between the sender and the administrative user.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a response module stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the response module receives a response from the administrative user.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a decoder stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the decoder determines the sender's contact information.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a response distributor stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the response distributor forwards the response to the sender.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the anonymizer uses a cryptographic algorithm to encode the sender's contact information into the user ID.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the decoder determines the sender's contact information by decoding the user ID.

7. A method, comprising:

an incoming message module receiving an incoming message via phone call or text message from a sender;

an anonymizer generating an anonymous unique user ID based on contact information associated with the sender;

an alert distributor determining an appropriate administrative user to receive the message based on permissions, the permissions based on either time of day or type of message; and

the alert distributor forwarding the message to the appropriate administrative user,

the anonymizer creating a different user ID each time a message is received from the sender within a chain between the sender and the administrative user.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving, via a response module, a response from the administrative user.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising determining, via a decoder, the sender's contact information.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising forwarding, via a response distributor, the response to the sender.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the anonymizer uses a cryptographic algorithm to encode the sender's contact information into the user ID.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the decoder determines the sender's contact information by decoding the user ID.

13. A system, comprising:

at least one processor and electronic memory;

an incoming message module stored in the electronic memory configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the incoming message module receives an incoming phone or text message from a sender;

an anonymizer stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the anonymizer generates a unique user ID based on contact information associated with the sender; and

an alert distributor stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the alert distributor determines an appropriate administrative user to receive the message based on permissions stored within the electronic memory, the permissions based on either time of day or type of message;

wherein a different user ID is created each time a message is received from the sender within a chain between the sender and the administrative user.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a response module stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the response module receives a response from the administrative user.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a decoder stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the decoder determines the sender's contact information.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising a response distributor stored in the electronic memory and configured to execute on the at least one processor, wherein the response distributor forwards the response to the sender.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the anonymizer uses a cryptographic algorithm to encode the sender's contact information into the user ID.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the decoder determines the sender's contact information by decoding the user ID.

Assignments (5)
OMNIBUS ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Nov 25, 2024
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT)
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069438/0775 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2023
From: WEST CORPORATION
To: INTRADO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063717/0268 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2023
From: INTRADO CORPORATION
To: WEST TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 064350/0615 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST (SECOND LIEN) IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: CX360, INC.; WEST TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC (FKA INTRADO CORPORATION, FKA WEST CORPORATION); INTRADO INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION (FKA WEST INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION, FKA COBALT ACQUISITION COMPANY)
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062571/0018 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - FIRST LIEN Recorded May 22, 2019
From: WEST CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049255/0843 →