Method and system for establishing and maintaining user-controlled anonymous communications
OwnerJay S. Walker, Bruce Schneier +1inventors
InventorsJay S. Walker, Bruce Schneier, T. Scott Case
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Abstract
A system for establishing, anonymous communications includes a plurality of party terminals, a plurality of requestor terminals, and a central controller. The system receives and stores party data about respective parties. Upon receiving criteria for parties of interest from a requestor terminal and authorization from respective parties, the central controller releases to the requestor party associated with the parties. The system also establishes communications channels between parties and the requestor, while maintaining their anonymity.
Claims76
A method for providing the controlled release of information in a communication system, comprising the steps of:
- securely maintaining in the system party data corresponding to at least one party;
- receiving, from a requestor, a request for party data that is securely maintained in the system;
- querying each party to specify which respective party data the system is authorized to release to a requestor;
- and
- transmitting to the requestor only the requested party data that respective parties have authorized the system to release while securely maintaining the anonymity of the respective parties.
A method of facilitating anonymous communications between a requestor and parties, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining, in a database, party data about at least one party;
- receiving, from a requestor, search criteria;
- searching the database for party data satisfying the search criteria;
- and
- establishing a communications channel between the requestor and a selected party whose party data satisfies the search criteria, while maintaining the anonymity of at least one of the requestor and the selected party.
A method of facilitating anonymous communications between a requestor and parties, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining, in a database, party data about at least one party;
- receiving, from a requestor, search criteria;
- searching the database for party data satisfying the search criteria;
- receiving authorization to release party data for respective parties whose party data satisfy the search criteria;
- and
- releasing, to the requestor, the party data for which authorization is received.
A method for facilitating, anonymous communications between a requestor and parties, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining, in a first database, party data about at least one party;
- maintaining, in a second database, requestor data about a requestor;
- receiving, from the requestor, search criteria;
- searching the first database for party data satisfying the search criteria;
- receiving, from the requestor, authorization to release requestor data stored in the second database;
- releasing, to parties whose party data satisfies the search criteria, the requestor data for which authorization is received;
- and
- receiving, from the parties whose party data satisfies the search criteria, authorization to release associated party data stored in the first database.
An apparatus for providing the controlled release of information, comprising:
- means for securely maintaining party data corresponding to at least one party;
- means for receiving, from a requestor, a request for party data contained in the means for securely maintaining party data;
- means for querying each party to specify which respective party data is authorized for release;
- and
- means for transmitting to the requestor only the requested party data that respective parties have authorized for release, while securely maintaining the anonymity of the respective parties.
An apparatus for facilitating anonymous communications between a requestor and parties, comprising:
- a database storing party data about at least one party;
- means for receiving, from a requestor, search criteria;
- means for searching the database for party data satisfying the search criteria;
- and
- means for establishing a communications channel between the requestor and a selected party whose party data satisfies the search criteria, while maintaining the anonymity of at least one of the requestor and the selected party.
An apparatus for facilitating anonymous communications between a requestor and parties, comprising:
- a database storing party data about at least one party;
- means for receiving, from a requestor, search criteria;
- means for searching the database for party data satisfying the search criteria;
- means for receiving authorization to release party data for respective parties whose party data satisfy the search criteria;
- and
- means for releasing, to the requestor, the party data for which authorization is received.
An apparatus for facilitating anonymous communications between a requestor and parties, comprising:
- a first database storing party data about at least one party;
- a second database storing requestor data about a requestor;
- means for receiving, from the requestor, search criteria;
- means for searching the first database for party data satisfying the search criteria;
- means for receiving, from the requestor, authorization to release requestor data stored in the second database;
- means for releasing, to parties whose party data satisfies the search criteria, the requestor data for which authorization is received;
- and
- means for receiving, from the parties whose party data satisfies the search criteria, authorization to release associated party data stored in the first database.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.