WO2001031903A1

WO2001031903A1 - Systems and methods for providing chat room participants with private and anonymous voice communication

Info

Publication number: WO2001031903A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/029792
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Richard Winnett
Original assignee: Genuity Inc.; Gte Service Corporation
Priority date: 1999-10-28
Filing date: 2000-10-27
Publication date: 2001-05-03
Also published as: AU1576601A

Abstract

A system (100) provides anonymous voice communication between at least two parties (110, 120). The system includes a chat room server (130) connected to a voice call server (140). The chat room server (130) connects the parties (110, 120) together for text messaging, receives notification from the parties (110, 120) of a desire to engage in voice communication, and requests permission for the voice communication. The voice call server (140) receives the request from the chat room server (130), determines that the voice communication can occur, receives a call from one of the parties, and connects the call to the other party for anonymous voice communication.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR

PROVIDING CHAT ROOM PARTICIPANTS WITH

PRIVATE AND ANONYMOUS VOICE COMMUNICATION

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to messaging systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing private and anonymous voice communication using standard telephones Background Art Many on-line computer service provideis offer then subscribers the opportunity to meet and converse anonymously A subscriber can typically choose from a variety of "chat rooms" (i.e., groups of computer users that exchange text files that are conversational in nature) in which to exchange text files about a particular subject of interest. Upon entering a particular chat room, the subscπbei may choose to have a private conversation with one or more other subscribers within the same chat room. Each private conversation is private from the standpoint that the conversation is separate from the ongoing conversation within the chat room itself. In other words, each private conversation between two or more subscribers is essentially a new chat room. Many times, subscribers within a chat room desire to engage in interactive voice communication For this to occur, one of the subscribers must divulge his oi her telephone number to the other subscriber so that a telephone call can take place between them This, however, defeats the purpose of the anonymous nature of the chat room Some conventional systems, using technology, such as Internet telephony

(e g , voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP)), offer interactiv e voice communication between two anonymous chat room participants These systems, however, have two major disadvantages First, they require special equipment in the way of a microphone and headset, an Internet handset, etc Second, the call quality is often very poor, especially for dial-up subscribers As a lesult, a need exists foi a communication system that permits chat room participants to engage in high quality, private, and anonymous voice communication at low cost

Disclosure of Invention Systems and methods consistent with the present invention address this need by peimitting chat room participants to engage pnvate and anonymous voice communication using standard telephones

In accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a system provides anonymous voice communication between at least two parties The system includes a chat room server connected to a voice call server The chat room server connects the parties together for text messaging, leceives notification from the parties of a desne to engage in voice communication and requests permission for the voice communication The voice call server receives the request from the chat room server, determines that the voice communication can occur, receives a call from one of the parties, and connects the call to the other party for anonymous voice communication

In another implementation consistent with the present invention, an apparatus provides anonymous voice communication between at least two parties The apparatus includes a memory that stores data and a processor The processor connects the parties together for text messaging, receives notification from the parties of a desire to engage in voice communication, determines that the voice communication can occur, receives a call from one of the parties, and connects the call to the other party for anonymous voice communication

In yet another implementation consistent with the present invention, a voice call server includes a memory that stores data and a processor The processor receives notification that at least two parties desire to engage in voice communication, generates a call identifier for the voice communication, sends the call identifier to one of the parties, receives a call from the one party having the call identifier, and connects the call to the other party for anonymous voice communication In a further implementation consistent with the present invention, a method for doing business includes providing chat room seivice to a plurality of subscribers and pioviding voice communication to the subscπbeis The chat room service permits the subscribers to engage in text messaging The voice communication service permits a subset of the subscribers to engage in private, anonymous voice communication using standard telephones Brief Description Of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary system consistent with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a detailed diagram of an exemplary chat room server in the system of Fig 1 , Fig. 3 is a detailed diagram of an exemplary voice call server in the system of Fig 1 , and Figs. 4A and 4B are flowcharts of processing for establishing voice communication between chat room participants in a manner consistent with the present invention Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents Systems and methods consistent with the present invention provide chat room participants with private, anonymous voice communication using standard telephones Exemplary System

Fig 1 is an exemplary system 100 consistent with the present invention The system 100 includes party A devices 110 and party B devices 120 connected to a chat room server 130 and a voice call server 140 via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 150, a public network 160, and a network 170 via gateways 175 The chat room server 130 and voice call server 140 also connect to each other via a private network 180 The party A devices 1 10 include a telephone 1 12 and a computer terminal

114 The telephone 1 12 may include any conventional device (wired or wireless) that can place and receive telephone calls The computei terminal 1 14 may include a personal computei or a similar device, that can access a chat room over a network via a wned or wneless connection The party B devices 120 also include a telephone 122 and a computer terminal 124 The telephone 122 may include any conventional device (wired or wireless) that can place and receive telephone calls The computei terminal 124 mav include a personal computer, or a similar device, that can access a chat room over a network via a wired or wireless connection Even though Fig 1 shows only two parties connected to the PSTN 150, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that more parties may be connected The party A and party B devices 1 10 and 120 connect to public network 160 and network 170 via the PSTN 150 Public network 160 may include the Internet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), etc The network 160 facilitates communication between devices connected to the PSTN 150 and the chat room server 130 The network 170 may also include the Internet, an intranet, a LAN, a WAN, or some equivalent network The network 170 routes information between devices connected to the PSTN 150 and the voice call server 140 via one or more conventional gateways 175

The chat room server 130 operates one or more chat rooms for use by parties over the public network 160 Fig 2 is an exemplary diagram of the chat room server 130 The server 130 may include a bus 210, a processor 220, a memory 230. an input unit 240, an output unit 250, a bridging unit 260, and a communication interface 270 The bus 210 permits communication among the components of the chat room server 130 The processor 220 may be any type of conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and executes instructions The memory 230 may be a RAM or other dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions to be executed by the processor 220, a ROM oi other type of static storage device that stores static information and instructions for use by the processor 220. and/or some other type of magnetic or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive The input unit 240 may include any conventional mechanism that permits an operator to input information into the chat room server 130, such a keyboard, a mouse, a pen. voice recognition and/oi biometπc mechanisms, etc The output unit 250 may include any conventional mechanism that outputs information to the operator, including a display a pπntei , a pair of speakeis, etc The bridging unit 260 connects, or bridges, chat room participants togethei The bridging unit 260 uses either hardware or software, or a combination of the t o, to bridge the participants so that they may communicate by exchanging text files

The communication interface 270 may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables the chat room server 130 to communicate with other devices and/or systems For example, the communication interface 270 may include mechanisms for communicating via a network, such as networks 160 and 180 (Fig

1 )

Returning to Fig 1, the chat room server 130 connects to the voice call server 140 via the private network 180 The private network 180 may include the Internet, an intranet, a LAN, a WAN, or some equivalent network The voice call server 140 controls the establishment of a voice call between parties A and B Fig 3 is an exemplary diagram of the voice call server 140 The server 140 may include a bus 310, a processor 320, a memory 330, an input unit 340, an output unit 350, a call bridging unit 360, an interactive voice response (IVR) unit 370, and a communication interface 380 The bus 310 permits communication among the components of the voice call server 140 The processor 320 may be any type of conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and executes instructions The memory 330 may be a RAM or other dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions to be executed by the processor 320, a ROM or other type of static storage device that stores static information and instructions for use by the processor 320, and/or some other type of magnetic or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive

The input unit 340 may include any conventional mechanism that permits an operator to input information into the voice call server 140, such a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, voice recognition and/or biometπc mechanisms, etc The output unit 350 may include any conventional mechanism that outputs information to the operator, including a display, a printer, a pair of speakers, etc The call bridging unit 360 connects, or bridges, two or more parties together The call bridging unit 360 uses either hardwaie or software, or a combination of the t o, to bridge the parties so that they may engage in voice communication The IVR unit 370 uses hardware and/or software to inteiact with a caller to provide or solicit information

The communication interface 380 may include any transceiver-like mechanism that enables the voice call server 140 to communicate with other devices and/or systems For example, the communication inteiface 380 may include mechanisms for communicating via a netwoik such as networks 170 and 180 (Fig 1 )

Exemplary System Processing

Figs 4A and 4B are flowcharts of processing for connecting two chat room participants together for voice communication in a private, anonymous manner consistent with the present invention Processing begins when party A and party B log into the chat room server 130 over public network 160 [step 405] (Fig 4A)

Parties A and B may, for example, log into the chat room server 130 via an Internet Service Provider (ISP), or in some similar manner, using computer terminals 1 14 and 124, respectively

Assume that parties A and B enter a chat room and initiate a messaging session [step 410] Assume further that parties A and B agree to participate in a voice call through the voice call server 140 [step 415] One or both of the parties may pay for this service with their service provider (I e , ISP) In this case, the ISP may supply the party with an account number and possibly a password for the service Once the parties have agreed to the voice call, the parties inform the chat room server 130, and one of the parties, such as party B, provides the chat room server 130 with a telephone number by which party B can be reached [step 420] The chat room server 130 requests that the voice call server 140 reserve two voice channels for the voice call between parties A and B [step 425] The chat room server 130 may make the request over the private network 180 In response to the request, the voice call servei 140 reserves two voice channels and assigns a unique identifier to the reserved voice call [step 430] The voice call servei 140 then informs the chat room servei 130 that the voice channels have been reserved The chat room server 130, in turn, informs the parties that the call can be established [step 435]

The chat room server 130 then sends a local telephone number for the voice call server 140 and the unique identifier to party A via the computer terminal 114 [step 440] At this time, a process operating on computer terminal 1 14 may disable party A's connection to the chat room server 130 This may be unnecessary where the telephone 1 12 is unaffected by the computer terminal's connection to the chat room server 130, such as when the computer terminal 1 14 connects to the chat room servei 130 via a separate telephone line, a LAN. a cable modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, etc.

Party A then dials the local telephone number using the telephone 112 [step 445] The local telephone number directs the call to the voice call server 140 via PSTN 150 and possibly network 170. The voice call server 140 receives the call [step 450] and, using IVR unit 370 (Fig. 3), prompts party A for an account number, a password, and a caller identifier [step 455]. The call identifier is the unique identifier that the chat room server 130 earlier transmitted to party A. The server 140 verifies the information provided by party A and may later use the information for billing purposes [step 460].

After receiving the information from party A, the voice call server 140 informs the chat room server 130 that party A is ready for call completion [step 465] In response, the chat room server 130, via the computer terminal 124, informs party B that the call from party A is ready to be put through [step 470] At this time, a process operating on the computer terminal 124 may disable party B's connection to the chat room server 130. This may be unnecessary where the telephone 122 is unaffected by the computer terminal's connection to the chat room server 130, such as when the computer terminal 124 connects to the chat room server 130 via a separate telephone line, a LAN, a cable modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, etc The voice call server 140 then places a call to the telephone number that party B earlier provided [step 475] Assume that the telephone number directs the call to the telephone 122 The voice call servei 140 may place the call to the telephone 122 via the network 170 and PSTN 150 or solely via PSTN 150 Once party B answers the call, the two parties may engage in voice communication

The call bridging unit 360 (Fig 3) within the voice call server 140 bridges the two legs of the call The server 140 may drop the call when one of the parties hangs up It might be possible for party A to prepay for this service, in which case, the server 140 may drop the call when party A s prepaid time expires Conclusion

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention provide anonymous, private voice communication between possibly disparate parties using a local telephone number and ordinary telephones

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents

For example, the description with regard to Figs 4A and 4B described processing for establishing voice communication between two parties One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that more than two parties may be bridged together for anonymous, private voice communication

In addition, the chat room server and voice call server have been described as separate devices connected via a private network In an alternative implementation consistent with the present invention, the chat room server and voice call server may be modules implemented as a single device

Claims

Claims:

1 A system that piovides anonymous voice communication between a plurahtv of parties comprising a chat room server configured to connect the parties together for text messaging, receive notification from the parties of a desire to engage in voice communication, and request permission for the voice communication, and a voice call servei configured to receive the request from the chat room server, determine that the voice communication can occur receive a call from one of the parties, and connect the call to the other parties for anonymous voice communication

2 The system of claim 1, wherein when requesting permission, the chat room server is configured to request reservation of voice channels for the voice communication

3 The system of claim 2, wherein when determining that the voice communication can occur, the voice call server is configured to determine whether the voice channels are available, and reserve the voice channels when the voice channels are available

4 The system of claim 1 , wherein the chat room server is further configured to obtain contact information for the other parties

5 The system of claim 4, wherein when connecting the call to the other parties, the voice call server is configured to use the contact information for the othei parties to connect the call to the other parties

6 The system of claim 1 , wherein the voice call server is further configured to generate a call identifier for the voice communication and send the call identifier to the one party 7 The system of claim 6 wheiein when sending the call identifiei to the one party, the voice call servei is configured to transmit the call identifier to the one party via the chat room servei

8 The system of claim 6. wherein the chat room server is furthei configured to receive the call identifier from the voice call server and send the call identifier and a local telephone number to the one party

9 The system of claim 8. wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the voice call server is configured to receive the call dialed using the local telephone number

10 The system of claim 6. wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the voice call server is configured to authenticate the one party by obtaining and verifying the call identifier

1 1. The system of claim 1 , wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the voice call server is configured to authenticate the one party by verifying an identity of the one party. 12. A system for providing anonymous voice communication between a plurality of parties, comprising means for connecting the parties together for text messaging, means for receiving notification from the parties of a desire to engage in voice communication, means for determining that the voice communication can occur, means for receiving a call from one of the parties; and means for connecting the call to the other parties for anonymous voice communication 13 A method for providing anonymous voice communication in a network connecting a plurality of parties to a chat room server and a voice call servei the method comprising connecting, by the chat room servei the parties together for text messaging receiving notification from the parties of a desire to engage in voice communication, determining that the voice communication can occur, receiving a call from one of the parties at the voice call server, and connecting the call, by the voice call server to the other parties for anonymous voice communication 14 The method of claim 13, wherein the determining that the voice communication can occur includes requesting, by the chat room server, that the voice call server reserve voice channels for the voice communication

15 The method of claim 14, wherein the determining that the voice communication can occur further includes determining, by the voice call server, whether the voice channels are available in response to the request from the chat room server, and reserving the voice channels when the voice channels are available

16 The method of claim 13, further comprising obtaining, by the chat room server, contact information for the other parties

17 The method of claim 16 wherein the connecting the call to the other parties includes using the contact information for the other parties to connect the call to the other parties

18 The method of claim 13. further comprising generating a call identifier for the voice communication, and sending the call identifier to the one party 19 The method of claim 18, wherein the sending the call identifiei includes transmitting a local telephone numbei , along with the call identifiei, to the one party

20 The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving the call from the one party includes receiving the call dialed using the local telephone number

21 The method of claim 18, wherein the receiving the call from the one party includes authenticating the one party by obtaining and verifying the call identifier

22 The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving the call from the one party includes- authenticating the one party by verifying an identity of the one party.

23 An apparatus that provides anonymous voice communication between at least two parties, comprising a memory that stores data; and a processor, connected to the memory, that connects the parties together for text messaging, receives notification from the parties of a desire to engage in voice communication, determines that the voice communication can occur, receives a call from one of the parties, and connects the call to the other party for anonymous voice communication

24 The apparatus of claim 23, wherein when determining that the voice communication can occur, the processor is configured to determine whether voice channels aie available foi the voice communication, and ieseive the voice channels when the voice channels are available

25 The apparatus of claim 23, wheiem the processoi is further configured to obtain contact information foi the othei partv

26 The apparatus of claim 25. wherein when connecting the call to the other party, the processor is configured to use the contact information for the othei party to connect the call to the other party

27 The apparatus of claim 23. wherein the processor is further configured to generate a call identifier foi the voice communication and send the call identifier to the one party

28 The apparatus of claim 27, wherein when sending the call identifier to the one party, the processor is configured to send a local telephone number, along with the call identifier, to the one party

29 The apparatus of claim 28, wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the processor is configured to receive the call dialed using the local telephone number

30 The apparatus of claim 27, wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the processor is configured to authenticate the one party by obtaining and verifying the call identifier

31 The apparatus of claim 23, wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the processor is configured to authenticate the one party by verifying an identity of the one party 32 A method for providing anonymous voice communication in a network connecting a plurality of parties to a server, the method, executed by the server, comprising connecting at least two of the parties together for text messaging. receiving notification from the parties of a desire to engage in voice communication; determining that the voice communication can occur, receiving a call from one of the parties: and connecting the call to the other party for anonymous voice communication

33. The method of claim 32. wherein the determining that the voice communication can occur includes determining whether voice channels are available for the voice communication, and reserving the voice channels when the voice channels are available.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising: obtaining contact information for the other party.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the connecting the call to the other party includes: using the contact information for the other party to connect the call to the other party.

36. The method of claim 32. further comprising: generating a call identifier for the voice communication, and sending the call identifier to the one part}

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the sending the call identifier includes: transmitting a local telephone number along with the call identifiei to the one party

38 The method of claim 37 wherein the receiving the call from the one party includes receiving the call dialed using the local telephone number

39 The method of claim 36, wherein the receiving the call from the one party includes authenticating the one party by obtaining and verifying the call identifier

40 The method of claim 32, wherein the receiving the call from the one party includes authenticating the one party by verifying an identity of the one party

41 A voice call server in a network connecting a plurality of parties, comprising a memory that stores data, and a processor, connected to the memory, that receives notification that at least two of the parties desire to engage in voice communication, generates a call identifier for the voice communication, sends the call identifier to one of the parties, receives a call from the one party having the call identifier, and connects the call to the other party for anonymous voice communication

42 The voice call server of claim 41 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether to permit the voice communication

43 The voice call server of claim 42, wherein when determining whether to permit the voice communication, the processor is configured to determine whether voice channels are available foi the voice communication and reserve the voice channels when the voice channels are available

44 The voice call server of claim 41 , wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the processoi is configuied to authenticate the one party by obtaining and verifying the call identifiei

45 The voice call server of claim 41 , wherein when receiving the call from the one party, the processor is configured to authenticate the one party by verifying an identity of the one party

46 A method of doing business, comprising providing chat room service to a plurality of subscribers, the chat room seivice permitting the subscribers to engage in text messaging, and providing voice communication service to the subscribers, the voice communication service permitting a subset of the subscribers to engage in private, anonymous voice communication using standard telephones