Identifying relationships between users of a communications domain

A computer system for identifying relationships between users in a communications domain comprising:

• a storage device to store identification tokens, wherein each identification token is one-way encrypted identification information associated with a domain user;
• an input means to receive relationship tokens from a first user, wherein each relationship token is one-way encrypted identification information associated with a possible domain user;
• and
• a processor to compare the relationship tokens to the identification tokens to 5 identify any matches, and, for each match to a unique domain user, identify a relationship between the first user and the domain user associated with the matched identification token, wherein the relationship allows communication in the domain between the first user and the domain user associated with the matched identification token and to store the identified relationship in the storage device.

A method for identifying relationships between a first user and other users in a communications domain, comprising:

• (a) computing a set of relationship tokens, wherein each token in the set is one way encrypted identification information of a possible user of the domain known to the first user;
• (b) sending the set of relationship tokens to a service provider of the domain;
• and
• (c) receiving an indication that relationships have been identified between the first user and a subset of the possible users, where the subset of possible users are registered users of the domain and the relationships allow communication in the domain between the first user and the subset of possible users.

A communications enabled device to identify relationships between a first user and other users in a communications domain, comprising:

• processing means to computing a set of relationship tokens, wherein each token in the set is one-way encrypted identification information of a possible user of the domain known to the first user;
• output means to send the set of relationship tokens to a service provider of the domain;
• and
• input means to receive an indication that relationships have been identified between the first user and a subset of the possible users, where the subset of possible users are registered users of the domain and the relationships allow communication in the domain between the first user and the subset of possible users.