System and devices for enabling anonymous communication based on motor vehicle identifiers

A server for facilitating anonymous communication by a user of a device with one or more other devices, each device associated with a motor vehicle identifier registered with an anonymous communication system, the server comprising:

• a network interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network interface, and operating in accordance with application instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, the processor configured to enable the server to:
• receive a search query from a device, the search query corresponding to a motor vehicle identifier,
• search a database for the motor vehicle identifier to determine that the motor vehicle identifier is one of:
• 1) registered with the anonymous communication system and currently active because a device that is associated with the motor vehicle identifier is logged into the anonymous communication system, 2) registered with the anonymous communication system and currently inactive because no device that is associated with the motor vehicle identifier is logged into the anonymous communication system, and 3) not registered with the anonymous communication system,
• transmit to the device, an indication that the motor vehicle identifier is one of:
• 1) registered and currently active, 2) registered and currently inactive, and 3) not registered,
• receive content from the device, wherein the content is by default, devoid of any personal information that would enable identification of the user or enable another mode of communication with the user,
• if the motor vehicle identifier is determined to be registered and currently active, retransmit the content to the device associated with the motor vehicle identifier,
• if the motor vehicle identifier is determined to be registered and currently inactive, store the content in a memory, monitor the database for a subsequent login to the anonymous communication system by a device associated with the motor vehicle identifier, and transmit the content to the device associated with the motor vehicle identifier, and
• if the motor vehicle identifier is determined to be not registered, store the content in a memory, monitor the database for a subsequent registration of the motor vehicle identifier with the anonymous communication system, and transmit the content to a device associated with the motor vehicle identifier when the device is logged into the anonymous communication system.

A device for facilitating anonymous broadcast communication by a user of the device with one or more other devices, each device associated with a motor vehicle identifier registered with an anonymous communication system, the device comprising:

• a user interface;
• a network interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the user interface and the network interface, and operating in accordance with application instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, the processor configured to enable the device to:
• enable through the user interface, creation of content to be broadcast, wherein the broadcast content is by default, devoid of any information that would enable identification of the user or enable another mode of communication with the user;
• obtain information associated with one or more devices that are associated with a motor vehicle identifier that is registered with the anonymous communication system and that are within a broadcast radius;
• present the obtained information through the user interface, together with a mechanism for selecting one or more of the devices for reception of the broadcast content;
• and
• transmit the broadcast content to a server, together with an indication of the one or more selected devices to which the broadcast content is to be transmitted.

A server for facilitating anonymous broadcast communication by a user of a device with one or more other devices, each device associated with a motor vehicle identifier registered with an anonymous communication system, the server comprising:

• a network interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network interface, and operating in accordance with application instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, the processor configured to enable the server to:
• receive a selected broadcast radius from the device;
• search a database for devices within the selected broadcast radius that are associated with a motor vehicle identifier that is registered with the anonymous communication system;
• transmit to the device, information for each located device;
• receive broadcast content from the device, together with an indication of one or more selected devices to which the broadcast content is to be transmitted, wherein the broadcast content is by default, devoid of any information that would enable identification of the user or enable another mode of communication with the user;
• and
• transmit the broadcast content to the one or more selected devices.

A first device comprising:

• a user interface;
• a network interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the user interface and the network interface, and operating in accordance with application instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, the processor configured to enable the first device to do the following while the first device is logged into an account of an anonymous communication system, which account is linked with a motor vehicle identifier that is registered with the anonymous communication system:
• obtain information on one or more second devices, each of the one or more second devices being both of:
• 1) logged into an account of the anonymous communication system, and 2) within a predetermined distance of the first device;
• present, through the user interface, the information on each of the one or more second devices;
• select, through the user interface, at least one of the one or more second devices for receipt of anonymous communication content;
• enable creation of anonymous communication content through the user interface, wherein the anonymous communication content is by default, devoid of any information that would enable identification of the first device user or enable another mode of communication with the first device user;
• and
• transmit, through the network interface, the content to a server of the anonymous communication system, together with an indication of the selected at least one second device to which the content is to be transmitted.

A device for storing a location of a motor vehicle having a vehicle network interface, the device comprising:

• a user interface;
• a device network interface configured to detect, pair with, and connect with one or more vehicle network interfaces;
• and
• a processor coupled to the user interface and the device network interface, and operating in accordance with application instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, the processor configured to enable the device to do the following while the device is logged into an account of an anonymous communication system:
• detect when the device network interface connects with the vehicle network interface of the motor vehicle,
• after the detection, detect a continuous disconnection when the device network interface is continuously disconnected from the vehicle network interface for a predetermined period,
• transmit an indication of the detection of the continuous disconnection to a server of the anonymous communication system,
• receive, from the server, information corresponding to the location of the motor vehicle, and
• present, through the user interface, the information together with a mechanism for storing the information on the device.