DE102020216515A1 - Computer-implemented communication system with syntax-free and user-controlled address features that can be generated and managed - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication system (10) and a method for establishing a communication connection by means of a computer-implemented communication system (10) for a large number of participants (T1, T2); the method comprising:- by a respective participant (T1, T2) controlled sensory detection of information;- generating, for each participant (T1, T2), at least one address feature (A1.1-A2.1) that corresponds to the respective Participants (T1, T2) is assigned, based on the information detected by sensors;- activating generated address features (A1.1-A2.1) for addressing each participant (T1, T2) if they make a predetermined input;- obtaining a communication request from at least one of the participants (T1, T2) and determining at least one address feature (A1.1-A2.1) on the basis of this communication request;- determining whether the address feature (A1.1-A2.1) of the communication request for a the addressing of a subscriber (T1, T2) corresponds to the activated address feature (A1.1-A2.1) and/or is sufficiently similar thereto, and if this is the case:- establishment of a communication connection by means of the communication system between the ermit the participant (T1, T2) and the participant (T1, T2) making the communication request.

Description

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method and a computer-implemented communication system with advantageous options for defining address features. The implementation preferably takes place on a plurality of computers and in particular by means of a computer network.

Computer-implemented communication systems are known in many forms. There are e-mail systems that are open to any participant via computer-implemented services. There are also communication systems that can only be operated using special application programs. Each participant can call up the application program via his terminal and communicate with other participants who also have this application program. Finally, communication systems can also be part of (digital) social networks, with the participants being members of these networks and being able to communicate with one another within the network.

In order for the participants (or, in other words, users) of a communication system to be able to communicate with one another, they must find or address each other via the communication system.

A disadvantage of previously known computer-implemented communication systems is, for example, that the participants are restricted in the definition of their address information, via which they want to be able to be found and addressed. As a rule, a special syntax must be followed, for example with e-mail addresses. Alternatively, user names are to be stored, which are also linked to a specific syntax. In both cases, it is also a question of pure verbal information, i.e. a fixed and only possible address format. This also represents a restriction for the participants. As a rule, the participants have no influence whatsoever on telephone numbers as address information.

In particular, however, it can be difficult for the participants to find out the administrative address details (e.g. the user name, telephone number and/or an e-mail address) from another participant whom they wish to contact. In any case, it is necessary to have precise knowledge of which subscriber has selected which administrative address so that contact can be made via the communication system. At least two items of information must therefore always be agreed with one another, namely which subscriber (e.g. a real person) one would like to contact and which administrative address information (e.g. user name or e-mail address) this subscriber has in the communication system.

Even if you find out the address details, contact can fail due to spelling mistakes. From the point of view of the participants, previous communication systems are therefore often difficult to operate and prone to errors. Due to the impersonal and/or imaginative character of previous addresses, it is often doubtful for the subscribers whether a message will actually reach the desired addressee.

Furthermore, the address information of a participant is usually unchangeable. If this third party or even the public has become known, the participant can be contacted at will. In case of doubt, unwanted senders have to be blocked manually, which is laborious, or a participant has to create a completely new profile with a new address specification within the communication system.

Search functions are also known in the context of social networks to make it easier to find other participants or members. Using the search functions, complete profiles of these members are found within the network. The actual communication then takes place with access to and knowledge of these profiles, for example by means of a message function of the social network, which links the profiles of members for the purpose of communication.

Searching for complete profiles is time-consuming and usually not effective. The searching members must have some knowledge of what to search for. If you meet a person in public space, especially without talking in detail or not at all, you usually have no useful information that can be entered into the search function. Appropriate search results are usually only generated in this case if you at least roughly know the user names of the members in the social network.

Furthermore, it may not always be desirable for the members found to have to immediately disclose their complete profiles. Also, members usually have no control over the type of information and/or specific properties of their profiles that make them searchable.

There is therefore a need to improve the range of applications and the range of functions of previous communication systems, in particular by limiting at least some of the disadvantages outlined above.

This object is solved by the method according to appended claim 1 and by the independent device claim. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention is based in particular on the knowledge that, due to the disadvantages and limitations outlined above, existing communication systems cannot in principle be used if other potential participants are initially encountered largely anonymously. Apart from a visual impression, you then have no information (in particular no information that can be searched for using the search function) about this participant and, above all, no user names or administrative address details. It is then not possible to establish contact with existing communication systems.

In general, the invention therefore provides the participants with greater freedom in the choice of features and/or properties (hereinafter: address features) via which they want to be able to be found and/or addressed. These address features are preferably essentially syntax-free. At the very least, they are not restricted to a specific and, above all, not to a single species, class or format, for example not exclusively to numbers or words. Instead, the participants are preferably free to choose which information they want to store as an address feature.

In this case, the subscribers are advantageously also given freedom with regard to the administration of the address characteristics. In contrast to, for example, user names or e-mail addresses of previous communication systems, the address features of the solution presented here can preferably be flexibly varied and, in particular, selectively activated. As explained below, this can also be done in such a way that only selected address features are activated for making contact, depending on time and/or location. Depending on the time and/or location, participants can therefore flexibly specify which features they want to be able to be found and addressed in particular afterwards.

The address features are preferably stored in a database and/or a digital directory of the communication system. This is preferably done in a structured manner and in particular in such a way that they are clearly assigned to the participants. This makes it easier to search when other participants formulate communication requests with address characteristics contained therein or which can be derived from them. Furthermore, this facilitates access to the address features by the participants.

A fundamental advantage of the solution disclosed is that other participants do not necessarily have to find out specific administrative address information such as user names or e-mail addresses. Instead, the participants can use address features to make themselves findable, which can be perceived purely visually in public space, for example. Other participants can then, for example, freely describe a perceived or seen person via a communication request without having exact personal information or even exact address details for this person. If the person has stored address characteristics that match the communication request, they can be contacted by the searching participant, even if no real conversation or other exchange of information and, in particular, address has taken place

A communication system is thus created in which target information for messages can be derived and/or defined on the basis of perceptible in reality and in particular physical characteristics of potential addressees. The communication system is accordingly set up to set up communication connections using previously unavailable address information that can be administered in a self-determined manner. In particular, this enables the communication system to be used in new application scenarios (see, for example, the above subsequent contacting of a person despite no contact being made at the time).

Examples of address characteristics are specific items of clothing, a certain hairstyle or hair color. Location-related information can also be defined as address characteristics. This can be information about the time and/or location of a participant's whereabouts, in connection with which this can be detected purely visually by other participants, for example. Further examples are discussed below.

By means of the communication system disclosed herein, participants can preferably search for any address characteristics with which they hope to be able to contact a person whom they have met in public space, for example. If at least one person or at least one other participant is found using these address characteristics, a communication connection can be established immediately. It must therefore preferably initially no complex Profiles of other participants are searched, displayed and reviewed that could potentially match a communication request. Preferably, there is also no need to access other communication services in connection with these profiles or even an (external) social network. In particular, there is no need to switch between different communication services or software applications associated therewith.

• - (insbesondere computerimplementiertes und/oder automatisches) Generieren, für einen jeden Teilnehmer, wenigstens eines Adressmerkmals, das dem jeweiligen Teilnehmer zugeordnet ist;
• - Aktivieren generierter Adressmerkmale für ein Adressieren eines jeden Teilnehmers, wenn diese eine vorbestimmte Eingabe (z.B. mittels einer ersten computerimplementierten Schnittstelle) tätigen;
• - Erhalten einer Kommunikationsanfrage von wenigstens einem der Teilnehmer (z.B. mittels einer zweiten computerimplementierten Schnittstelle) und Ermitteln wenigstens eines Adressmerkmals auf Basis dieser Kommunikationsanfrage;
• - (insbesondere computerimplementiertes und/oder automatisches) Ermitteln, ob das Adressmerkmal der Kommunikationsanfrage einem für das Adressieren eines Teilnehmers aktivierten Adressmerkmal zumindest teilweise entspricht (d.h. insbesondere ausreichend ähnlich hierzu ist),

und wenn dies der Fall ist:

• - (insbesondere computerimplementiertes und/oder automatisches) Herstellen einer Kommunikationsverbindung mittels des Kommunikationssystems zwischen dem ermittelten Teilnehmer und dem die Kommunikationsanfrage stellenden Teilnehmer, bevorzugt unter Berücksichtigung des Adressmerkmals.

In particular, a method for establishing a communication connection by means of a computer-implemented communication system is proposed, the method and/or communication system having a large number of participants, and the method having:

• - (In particular computer-implemented and / or automatic) generation, for each participant, at least one address feature that is assigned to the respective participant;
• - Activating generated address features for addressing each participant when they make a predetermined input (eg by means of a first computer-implemented interface);
• - Receiving a communication request from at least one of the participants (eg by means of a second computer-implemented interface) and determining at least one address feature on the basis of this communication request;
• - (in particular computer-implemented and/or automatic) determining whether the address feature of the communication request at least partially corresponds to an address feature activated for addressing a subscriber (i.e. in particular is sufficiently similar thereto),

and if this is the case:

• - (In particular computer-implemented and / or automatic) establishment of a communication link by means of the communication system between the identified participant and the communication request making participants, preferably taking into account the address feature.

This method can be combined with any further aspect described herein, in particular with all aspects of the independent claims and the description of the figures below. Such combinations are also possible and can be claimed independently of a sensory detection of information described here for the purpose of generating address features.

For example, the above method can include the (preferably user-controlled) recording of information on the basis of which the address features can be generated. This information may be collected, for example, by or based on user input (e.g., voice or text input) and/or by selecting from, for example, displayed selectable options.

Alternatively, information can be recorded or obtained from external systems, which can be used, for example, to generate location information for users. This can, for example, be a booking system or a seat occupancy detection system, particularly for public transport. A user's whereabouts information can also be enriched and/or processed using information from such external systems. For example, approximate location information from a user can be combined and/or expanded with movement data from a means of transport in order to obtain more precise information about the user's whereabouts.

On the other hand, a preferred development provides that a sensory acquisition of information is controlled by a respective participant and the address features are generated based on this information. For example, the sensors can be used to record raw data or measured values that contain the information or from which address characteristics can be derived, e.g. as part of an automatic evaluation.

• - durch einen jeweiligen Teilnehmer gesteuertes sensorisches Erfassen von Informationen;
• - (insbesondere computerimplementiertes und/oder automatisches) Generieren, für einen jeden Teilnehmer, wenigstens eines Adressmerkmals, das dem jeweiligen Teilnehmer zugeordnet ist, basierend auf den sensorisch erfassten Informationen;
• - Aktivieren generierter Adressmerkmale für ein Adressieren eines jeden Teilnehmers, wenn diese eine vorbestimmte Eingabe (z.B. mittels einer ersten computerimplementierten Schnittstelle und/oder durch Betätigen virtueller Bedienelemente, bspw. eines virtuellen Aktivierungsbuttons) tätigen;
• - Erhalten einer Kommunikationsanfrage von wenigstens einem der Teilnehmer (z.B. mittels einer zweiten computerimplementierten Schnittstelle) und Ermitteln wenigstens eines Adressmerkmals auf Basis dieser Kommunikationsanfrage;
• - (insbesondere computerimplementiertes und/oder automatisches) Ermitteln, ob das Adressmerkmal der Kommunikationsanfrage einem für das Adressieren eines Teilnehmers aktivierten Adressmerkmal zumindest teilweise entspricht (d.h. insbesondere ausreichend ähnlich hierzu ist),

und wenn dies der Fall ist:

• - (insbesondere computerimplementiertes und/oder automatisches) Herstellen einer Kommunikationsverbindung mittels des Kommunikationssystems zwischen dem ermittelten Teilnehmer und dem die Kommunikationsanfrage stellenden Teilnehmer, bevorzugt unter Berücksichtigung des Adressmerkmals.

A correspondingly developed variant of the above method, which is used as a basis in the following despite the purely optional sensory detection part, is as follows: Method for establishing a communication connection by means of a computer-implemented communication system, the method and/or communication system having a large number of participants; the method comprising:

• - sensory acquisition of information controlled by a respective participant;
• - (In particular computer-implemented and / or automatic) generation, for each participant, at least one address feature that is assigned to the respective participant, based on the sensory information recorded;
• - Activating generated address features for addressing each participant if they have a predetermined input (e.g. by means of a first computer-implemented interface and/or by actuating virtual operators nelements, e.g. a virtual activation button);
• - Receiving a communication request from at least one of the participants (eg by means of a second computer-implemented interface) and determining at least one address feature on the basis of this communication request;
• - (in particular computer-implemented and/or automatic) determining whether the address feature of the communication request at least partially corresponds to an address feature activated for addressing a subscriber (i.e. in particular is sufficiently similar thereto),

and if this is the case:

• - (In particular computer-implemented and / or automatic) establishment of a communication link by means of the communication system between the identified participant and the communication request making participants, preferably taking into account the address feature.

The computer implementation can include that participants have access to further computer devices of the communication system (in particular a (central) computer system of the communication system) that are located remotely and/or distributed via terminals assigned to them (e.g. PCs or smartphones). These computer devices and/or this computer system can be or comprise, for example, computer servers. They can have databases with address characteristics of the participants described therein. These databases can, for example, store different types of address features and/or be assigned to different groups of subscribers together with their address features. In particular, at least one database can include information relating to an assignment of participants and terminals in order to enable communication between the participants via their respective terminals. Further possible components and information of the communication system are explained below, in particular in the context of the description of the figures.

In addition or as an alternative to databases of the higher-level computer or communication system, which can also be referred to as central databases, information and in particular address features can also be stored in directories or databases that are stored on the subscriber's terminals and/or generally in the front end. A search for address characteristics initiated by a participant in the frontend via a communication request can then not or not only run in the backend or in the central databases there, but also include directories in at least some of the frontends. In general, the storage of information in central databases or in the front end can meet the security needs of the participants. For example, they may prefer not to transfer certain private data to the backend, but to leave it locally on their own device.

Application software (in particular a software application and also in particular a mobile app) can be run on a subscriber's terminal device. This can communicate via (wireless) communication connection with any computer devices or computer systems of the communication system disclosed herein. The application software can include or form a first and/or second interface of the type mentioned above.

The control of a (particularly sensory) acquisition of information by the participant can be understood to mean that he can control at least one of the following aspects: a time of acquisition, in particular by selectively releasing, triggering or activating the acquisition (e.g. in the sense of recording the information); the detection content, in particular by aligning the detection area with e.g. yourself; a recording duration, e.g. in the case of continuous recording of movement profiles or location information.

In particular, the control can include the user specifically actuating or setting a terminal device assigned to him/her for sensory detection. Without corresponding actuations, on the other hand, preferably no sensory detections are possible, or at least not such detections based on which address features are generated.

A distinction must be made between recordings in public spaces, e.g. by surveillance cameras. As a rule, a participant has no influence on such recordings. In the present case, instead, it is advantageously provided that the participants, by controlling the recording, gain control over which information they want to use to be able to be found.

In general, the sensory detection also supports the generation of different types of address features that are as syntax-free as possible, which entails technical advantages in terms of the range of applications and usability of the communication system.

The sensor can be included in the subscriber's terminal device. In particular, it can be a camera device for capturing image data or a location sensor for capturing location information and/or movement profiles (e.g. a GPS sensor). Alternatively, location information can also be derived from metadata, for example from image data, or from dial-in data in mobile radio networks or WLAN networks. The information can be data that can be detected by the sensor or can correspond to such data. They can therefore be, for example, location or movement information or information that can be visually recorded in general. The sensor can also be a sensor for receiving certain signals and in particular electromagnetic signals (eg a Bluetooth or NFC (Near Field Communication) receiver). In particular, the sensor can detect a transmitter identity encoded in the signal.

However, the sensor can also be provided independently of the end device, e.g. in a smart home device (e.g. a digital mirror) or a motor vehicle (e.g. as an interior camera thereof).

As explained, non-sensor-based functions can also transmit address characteristics or information that can be used to generate them, e.g. a booking system for public transport (e.g. to determine a seat) and/or a movement detection system of a public transport system to generate location information for a participant using this means of transport . All of these external systems can transmit the recorded information or characteristics directly to a central computer system of the communication system, for example. However, you can also transmit it to a terminal device belonging to the participant, which communicates with this central computer system. As explained above, such information can also be combined with the user's location information in order to obtain more precise location information.

The address features can generally be technically and, more precisely, sensorially detectable or can be derived from technically or sensorically detected information. In addition, address characteristics that are not necessarily detected by sensors can preferably be defined, e.g. simple text information (e.g. slogans).

If several address features are assigned to a subscriber and/or are the subject of a communication request, one can also speak of an address feature pattern in the form of a combination of the individual address features.

To generate the address features, the information and/or data recorded by sensors can be analyzed with the aid of a computer. For example, image data can be analyzed using image evaluation algorithms. Predetermined patterns or properties can be identified here. In particular, biometric properties can be determined, e.g. if the participant captures a picture of himself. Location information can also be analyzed to derive movement profiles. A movement profile (or whereabouts profile) can be understood in particular as a time-location history that links whereabouts with the associated time information. This history can therefore describe when the participant was where. It can therefore be a time-location vector or a time-location matrix. Such a vector or such a matrix can contain or define a large number of pairs of values (or pairs of data or information). Each pair can contain a time specification together with the associated location specification. The vector or the matrix can contain a series of corresponding pairs of values, for example in order to indicate a type of continuous movement or location profile of a user.

The address features finally generated can be the result of a corresponding analysis of sensor data, for example. However, the information and/or data recorded by sensors can also be defined as address features, with this definition corresponding to a generation of the address features. In particular, raw data from the acquisition can therefore be stored as address characteristics. However, these are preferably provided (and in particular without this being necessarily displayed separately to a participant) with automatically generated classifiers, which can in turn be generated, for example, by the analysis described above.

For example, a photo of a piece of clothing that a participant would like to use to be found can be classified as a “yellow sweater” or something similar, or corresponding classifications (or tags) can be derived from the photo as address characteristics using a computer. If a communication request contains a picture of the same piece of clothing or just a corresponding classifier, a match between the address feature being sought and the address feature stored for the participant can be established.

Corresponding address features can therefore generally also be understood as address features that are not completely identical but relate to the same real situation and/or the same real object. In other words, these address characteristics can differ from one another, for example in terms of their type, class, form, syntax and/or format, but relate to the same situation. An example of this is the above-mentioned variant of the photo of a piece of clothing as a first address feature and the corresponding second address feature that describes or classifies this piece of clothing in general (“yellow pullover”).

A partial correspondence can exist, for example, if a complete movement profile of the participant is stored as an address feature. If the communication request is only based on a specific location, this can only correspond to part of the stored movement profile.

Likewise, there can be partial correspondences, for example in the case of only partial matches or sufficient similarities of address characteristics. For example, a movement profile can be stored as a series of individual time-location features (in particular in the form of a time-location vector or matrix) and sufficient similarity can result from the fact that a location searched for in particular in relation to a specific point in time does not completely match any stored location, but e.g. a permissible maximum distance to the stored locations is not exceeded. Alternatively, e.g. a blue-light green jacket can also be found as an address attribute in a search for e.g. a blue-light green sweater, so "blue-light green" can represent a partial match.

It goes without saying that each participant can define and/or activate a number of different address features. In particular, the address features can be of different types or belong to different classes of information, data or content. This promotes freedom of syntax when defining address information or characteristics.

The participants can generally be natural persons. However, they can also be objects or systems, in particular objects or systems actively participating in a communication. In the latter case, for example, as a system, a computer device in a shop can actively write to a person as a further participant when he or she enters the shop.

A single address feature can correspond to a single piece of information or property that a subscriber would like to use to be findable and/or addressable. The address characteristics do not have to relate directly to a subscriber or describe it directly. They can also be characteristics of objects that are assigned to the participant and through which he would like to be discoverable (e.g. a bag or a piece of clothing worn by the participant). In addition or as an alternative, the virtual features described here can relate to characteristics of a participant that are not necessarily perceptible visually, for example their interests. It goes without saying that by defining and in particular activating a plurality of address features, combinations of address features can also be defined via which a subscriber would like to be able to be found.

In this case, it can preferably be specified whether all of the combined address features must be contained in a communication request in order to establish contact and/or to be able to find them, or whether only individual address features of the combination are sufficient for this. In general, however, certain address characteristics can also be defined as a mandatory or necessary part of a contact request, so that a participant can only be found if these address characteristics are contained in the contact request.

In addition or as an alternative, it can be a prerequisite that a subscriber submitting a communication request must itself have certain stored characteristics or properties (in particular address characteristics) in order to be able to find another subscriber. A participant can also control his findability in this way and preferably define it flexibly. Such necessary features of other participants do not necessarily have to be part of a communication request, but can, for example, be deposited or stored for the requesting participant. For example, it can be location information or time-location vectors, and a participant can define that he should only be able to be found by other participants who were in his own vicinity, that is, for example, who have a sufficiently matching time-location vector . Additionally or alternatively, it can be a matter of specific, visually perceptible features, for example a worn item of clothing and/or a brand thereof.

The participants can be real natural persons. However, as explained, the participants can also be objects.

Participants can link to objects, eg follow them virtually, and thereby gain insight into the messages sent to the objects. This is preferably done by the participants selecting the objects as a possible address feature. In other words, can the participants can be found via the objects as an address feature. All of the participants who link to an object and select this object as an address feature can form a type of group. If a message is addressed to this address feature, it can consequently be received by a plurality of group members or by a plurality of participants with this object as an address feature.

An advantage over conventional group formations in social networks is again the more intuitive and possibly syntax-free findability of the object serving as a group identifier or common address characteristic. For this, for example, various address characteristics can be stored or selectable by an administrative authority, so that participants can also without knowledge of an exact designation of the object can be addressed via these suggested or selectable address characteristics.

A group can also be formed by participants registering and/or storing a specific address feature that identifies them as a member of the group. The feature can be an object of the type mentioned above, for example. A verification function or else authorization by a third party can be used to ensure that the participants are authorized to use this address attribute and represent, so to speak, authorized members of the group. The participants can then receive messages that are sent to this address feature and thus to all members of the group.

In this context, address features that should also be usable by other participants for the purpose of group formation can be classified by individual participants as a correspondingly divisible feature and/or as a feature that serves as a group identifier. If another subscriber would like to register the same or a sufficiently similar address feature for himself, the communication system can automatically inform him that this feature has already been classified accordingly. By adopting and in particular activating this address feature, the participant can join a type of virtual group and receive and exchange messages via this address feature together with other participants who have joined the group. This approach is advantageous, for example, when people have common interests (e.g. fashion brands, slogans, mottos or destinations) and are looking for contact with like-minded people.

In general, the address characteristics can also be generated in a user-controlled manner. For this purpose, a participant can select recorded sensor data that is to be used to generate address features (e.g. image sections or time windows). Address features are preferably generated automatically based on the sensor data. These can be suggested to a participant for approval, for example. In this way, the subscriber can discard or filter out address characteristics that he/she believes are incorrect. Accepted or confirmed address characteristics can also be automatically activated for addressability. Alternatively, this can be done in a subsequent step and the address features can first be deactivated. If an address feature was generated or identified as a potential address feature, verification can be requested from the subscriber. This can be used to ensure that the subscriber is actually a legitimate assignment carrier for this address feature. This is particularly relevant when it is an address feature that clearly belongs to a single subscriber, that is, is assigned to it individually. Such address features can also be referred to as closed address features. You can also enable confusion-free addressing of a specific subscriber without being combined with other address characteristics. This can in particular be biometric features. Verification can therefore be used to ensure that the participant has actually stored his own photo and/or biometric features derived from it and that these are therefore correctly assigned to him as address features.

The verification can include the participant sending another control photo of himself and preferably with an additionally shown code that confirms that this photo is up to date. It can then be checked, for example, whether the biometric features that can be derived from this photo match those that are to be stored as address features.

Specific closed features such as a fashion brand can also be verified. In particular, individual or unique lettering, for example on items of clothing, or the general possession of objects, such as corresponding items of clothing, can be verified. A participant can purchase such an object, and in particular a piece of clothing, and use a code attached to the object to verify that he is the actual owner of this object and is therefore authorized to use it as an address feature.

In summary, characteristics that can be assigned to several participants and therefore do not have an exclusively individual reference can also be subject to verification. examples are fashion brands or generally purchasable objects.

If the participant has verified himself, an address feature related to the verification can be activated for contacting by other participants. It is not mandatory, but possible, for the participant to gain access to a group of other participants who have verified the same or a comparable address characteristic (e.g. have purchased the same object).

The activation input, but also the communication request or any input of a participant described herein, can be made by haptic operation of a preferably virtual control element (for example by touch input or touching a touch-sensitive surface of the terminal). Alternatively, for example, voice input, gesture input or text input can take place. As a result, a subscriber can, for example, select those address features from a list of address features assigned to him/her that are to be activated for addressing.

An active address feature can be understood to mean that this enables contact to be established if it is contained in communication requests from other participants or is determined on the basis of such communication requests. In other words, the active address features are released for establishing a communication connection. The fact that this takes place in a subscriber-controlled manner means that the ability to be found and thus reached by means of the communication system is also essentially subscriber-controlled. This increases the ease of use but also the range of applications.

Messages can also be sent to address characteristics that are inactive or not yet registered by subscribers. When these address features are activated or registered, messages previously addressed to them and stored in the meantime can, so to speak, be subsequently delivered to the activating or registering subscriber.

As a further advantage of the disclosed solution, a participant does not have to create several different profiles in a social network, for example, if he wants to be able to be contacted in different ways or in different contexts. This reduces data volumes within the communication system. Instead, a participant can activate address features as needed and also change this activation variably, depending on the desired findability (for example, finding via more private address features compared to more professional address features, depending on the context in which the participant is currently moving). Such a variable activation can also be carried out automatically based on criteria set by the subscriber, for example depending on the location of the subscriber or the time of day.

A collection of address features assigned to the subscriber is therefore preferably created and stored for each subscriber, which the subscriber can access via the first interface and/or his terminal. In addition to activating and deactivating, he can also manage these address features in such a way that he can also create new address features independently of sensory detection. To do this, he can, for example, make inputs without sensory detection (for example text inputs) and/or he can make a selection from predefined options. For example, he can specify an address feature step by step using selectable information, for example a piece of clothing by type, shape, brand, color, etc. He can also preferably permanently delete existing address features.

The communication request can also be entered in a wide variety of formats and using a wide variety of input variants. In particular, pre-selection options can also be provided in this case, which a searching participant can select to formulate a communication request. For example, a perceived piece of clothing can be specified step by step (e.g. according to type, shape, brand and colour).

In general, the communication request can be analyzed with computer assistance in order to find address features, in particular by means of an analysis unit of the communication system described below. For example, a search can be made for predetermined classes or types of address characteristics, e.g. for location or time information. A communication request can also include image information or be entered as an image file, e.g. of the participant to be contacted. This information or file can/can be searched through image analysis to find potentially relevant address features.

A searching participant can therefore specify the content of a communication request himself in detail, for example by means of a detailed formulation and/or listing of the properties sought. Alternatively, the communication request can be generated automatically, at least in part, for example using a captured image file or an individual movement profile. This This can happen, for example, when the user selects a photo of an item of clothing and wants to contact all the people who have worn this item of clothing and who were in their vicinity, for example, today. The photo can then be automatically analyzed with regard to suitable potential address features and, optionally, your current movement profile can be automatically included in a communication request.

Requests may also include virtual features of any of the types described herein. In this way, for example, communication requests that relate to optically perceptible and/or physical properties of other participants can be additionally specified and/or limited. An example is a communication request that is aimed at all participants in a defined location (for example in the vicinity of the requesting participant) and which also contains at least one interest of the participants sought as a virtual feature.

In general, further information that is independent of physical address characteristics can be specified by means of optional virtual characteristics. For example, virtual characteristics can be interest-related, group-related (e.g. relating to an assignment to or membership in groups), behavior-related (e.g. relating to a below rating of friendliness), system activity-related (e.g. relating to login times or frequencies) and/or personal characteristics of the participants (e.g. a name or, in the abstract, a stage name or a web link associated with the participant). Such personal features can be an example of closed (i.e. not arbitrarily usable by others) individually assigned address features.

The virtual features can be components of a virtual profile of the type described below. Additionally or alternatively, they can be defined and/or activated as discoverable address features. In particular in the cases mentioned above, the virtual features can consequently have a display function, for example so that participants can present themselves to the searching participants in the desired manner for the purpose of addressing and/or as part of a profile displayed when they are found.

Alternatively or additionally, virtual features can control the ability to be found and/or addressed and thus generally have a control function. For example, participants can preferably only be contacted by another participant if the latter has virtual features with a specific characteristic, e.g. only by participants who belong to a VIP group or have certain interests.

The virtual features can be selected and/or stored by the participants themselves. In general, a verification of the type already explained above can be requested from the participant when specifying certain virtual characteristics, e.g. for participation in a virtual group, e.g. on a specific topic or location.

Virtual features can also be generated by other participants or entities. For example, ratings (for example friendliness) of the participants can be stored as virtual features, with these ratings being able to be given by other participants or entities. A central computer system or the communication system in general can also generate activity-related virtual characteristics of the participants. Furthermore, the virtual features can be generated by accessing external systems, for example by accessing online sales platforms, from which a participant purchases goods or services that reflect his possible interests as a virtual feature.

In summary, a preferred embodiment provides that features can be stored for each participant as address features and/or as features or part of a virtual profile that do not relate to any physical properties and/or any visually perceptible properties of a participant. These features can be virtual features according to any variant described herein.

Address characteristics of the communication request can be compared with stored and in particular activated address characteristics of other participants, e.g. by database query. If a match or sufficient correspondence or similarity to an address feature of another participant is found, the communication connection to this participant can be established. If a match (or correspondence) is determined with address characteristics of a number of participants, a communication connection to the plurality of participants can be established. As mentioned, however, it may also be required (e.g. on the part of the participants who can be found) that participants can only be contacted if all of their individual active address characteristics or at least specific selected ones are included in the communication request (at least sufficiently corresponding or optionally in an identical form).

The establishment of a communication connection is preferably initiated and/or executed directly within the same and/or with the same application program, by means of which address features can be activated and/or communication requests can be entered. In particular, the first and/or second computer-implemented interface cannot be exited for this purpose. This and/or the above application program can therefore be executed primarily by the subscribers' terminals, for example. They can therefore be displayed on a display area of the terminal device (e.g. as an application program or interface which is still running).

On the other hand, there is preferably no provision for changing to other application programs, software applications and/or computer-implemented interfaces in order to set up the communication connection, or for these to be primarily executed and/or displayed.

In general, however, it is possible to operate the solution presented here as a background system (or backend system) that can be embedded in other application programs or called up by them (preferably in the background). Such a link or such an access can take place, for example, by means of a software interface and in particular an API interface (Application Programming Interface). In such a case, however, communication is preferably established using the solution disclosed herein. It is therefore preferably not a pure search function for subscriber profiles in virtual social networks, with communication having to be established by accessing or switching to these networks and using separate communication systems there.

In addition or as an alternative, there is preferably no provision for the participant to have to independently search for a communication option in a member profile or the like found in response to the communication request in order to carry out the communication. Instead, participants found can be displayed to him and these can preferably be contacted directly by simple selection or confirmation input. The latter may include automatically providing and specifically displaying a text field or record activation control for audio and/or video input.

Establishing the communication link taking into account the address feature can therefore include identifying a participant using the address feature and displaying it to the requesting participant in the sense of a potential search hit. In particular, the communication connection can be established immediately (e.g. automatically without further user input) or after as few additional inputs as possible by the requesting participant.

A further development provides that when the address feature of the communication request corresponds to activated address features of a number of participants, a communication connection to the number of participants is set up. This can also be referred to as a multicast communication.

On the other hand, if only a single participant is to be contacted (also referred to as unicast communication), it may be necessary to specify at least as many address characteristics per communication request until a single participant is clearly identified.

The communication connection can be established in such a way that a message of any format (e.g. text, audio or video) can be transmitted by the searching participant to a participant who has been found. The message can be entered via the terminal (and/or the computer-implemented interface) of the searching participant and output by means of the terminal (and/or the computer-implemented interface) of the participant found. For this purpose, the message can be exchanged between the end devices via the communication system, e.g. via an established mobile phone connection.

The participants can be managed as electronic identities within the communication system and/or be defined as such. Address characteristics can be assigned to these electronic identities in the databases or directories mentioned herein. There can also be a database and/or directory that assigns the devices used by the participants and in particular their electronic identities (e.g. the IP addresses of these devices or preferably an assignment by means of an authenticating token (token-base authentication).

According to a preferred aspect, at least the second interface is comprised of a computer-implemented application program that is executed on a terminal of the user making the communication request. The first interface can also be provided on a subscriber's terminal device and, in particular, can be included in a computer-implemented application program executed there. The terminals can be set up to set up the communication link and/or to maintain it, in particular, reciprocally.

A development provides that the address features assigned to a respective subscriber can be exchanged and/or that at least one of a plurality of stored address features can be variably activated for addressing (ie can be selectively activated and deactivated). The latter is based on the aspect already mentioned above, according to which a number of address features can be assigned to a subscriber and this can only activate selected ones variably and/or as required. However, this activation is preferably always changeable.

In general, the following examples can be used as address characteristics, alone or in any combination: the designation of a type of clothing or fashion accessory and/or its brand and/or its color, with the participant currently wearing this clothing or fashion accessory or having worn it in the past ; a specific item of clothing that is stored, for example, as an image file as an address feature; a hair color; a hairstyle name or a photo of the hairstyle; a description of biometric characteristics; a text feature, such as printing on a garment or fashion accessory; a tattoo or other body decoration (e.g. piercings, nail polish color or make-up); gender, height; a worn perfume. From the above it is clear that objects such as items of clothing or properties thereof can be assigned to a participant as address characteristics.

If the address carrier (or address feature carrier) is an object, properties such as noises emitted by it, light emitted, electronically detectable signal patterns emitted and/or smells emitted can also serve as address features. The signal pattern may include or serve as identity information. In particular, signal patterns can be assigned to individual devices (then e.g. as or via a Bluetooth (MAC) address) or to a network (then e.g. as SSID of a WLAN). Shapes, decorative elements (e.g. fonts, graphics or patterns) and/or approximate sizes or shape specifications can also be properties of objects that can be used as address characteristics.

In summary, the address features can be properties in general, or the address features can correspond to properties that other participants can perceive in the real environment. In particular, these can be physical properties and/or visually perceptible properties of a participant or of objects with which a participant associates. This makes it possible to find contacts later, even without an immediate exchange and getting to know each other on site. This also reduces the risk of spelling mistakes, which can prevent contact being made with previous e-mail addresses or user names.

Additionally or alternatively, location-related information about the participants can be generated as address characteristics. This can be understood to mean location information that describes locations where the participants have been and where, for example, other participants were or are potentially visually perceptible. The location information is preferably also supplemented with time information, e.g. in the sense of the above movement or location profiles. Location information can also be specified in such a way that a seat in a means of transport or at a public event is recorded. This can be entered manually by a participant as an address feature or, for example, transmitted by a booking system of the organizer as an address feature. Alternatively or additionally, location information of a means of transport (e.g. its movement data) can be integrated in order to determine and/or limit the location information of a participant using the means of transport.

Likewise, (in particular electromagnetic) signals or signal patterns of the type described above and/or transmitter identities coded therein or with it can be defined as address features. It can also be determined with which data networks (e.g. WLAN networks) a device of a participant has connected. This can also be stored as an address feature, preferably provided with time information relating to the connection time or period.

A possible communication request could therefore be aimed at contacting a person with certain physical characteristics that one saw at a certain place at a certain time. However, knowledge of real names or user names of participants to be contacted is not required.

• - Ermitteln eines Zeitbezugs und/oder eines Ortsbezugs der Kommunikationsanfrage;
• - Ermitteln derjenigen Adressmerkmale anderer Teilnehmer (und insbesondere aktiver Adressmerkmale), die diesen Zeitbezug und/oder Ortsbezug aufweisen.

According to a preferred variant, the address features can be provided with a time reference and/or location reference and the method has:

• - determining a time reference and/or a location reference of the communication request;
• - Determination of those address characteristics of other participants (and in particular active address characteristics) that have this time reference and/or location reference.

In other words, the time reference or location reference can be a type of validity criterion and/or validity restriction for the address features. A subscriber can therefore activate address features for a location, but only if the communication request is based on the time or place reference valid for these address features. If this is not the case, the address features cannot be found using the communication request and/or cannot be evaluated as matching the searched address features of the communication request.

The time reference can define a period of time and the location reference can define a geographic area. A participant can define, for example, that he would like to be able to be found via a specific, e.g. physical or virtual address feature if a person has seen the participant and thus the address feature in a specific period of time and/or at a specific location. In a different temporal and/or spatial context, however, the subscriber can prefer a different feature as an address feature.

For example, the participant may prefer to be findable and addressable using different characteristics in the context of a party than in a professional context. Consequently, he can use the time and/or place reference (e.g. in the evening and at the place of the party) for the party at least one first address feature and for the professional context about the time and/or place reference (e.g. during the day and at the place of the professional activity) define at least one further address feature that differs from the first feature.

Both address features can be active, but can only be found and enable communication to be established if the communication request also refers to this time and/or location reference. This makes it possible for a subscriber to define his findability in a more differentiated and, in particular, context-dependent manner. He then does not have to create any separate profiles or user accounts, for example, in order to be found in more private or more professional contexts. This reduces data volumes within the communication system and increases usability.

A type of time- and/or location-dependent path or a time- and/or location-dependent course of active address features can consequently be defined by means of the references mentioned. The references can also be automatically generated or recorded. It can be stored for each address feature when and/or where it was activated.

It goes without saying that the time and/or location references can be variably defined and, in particular, can only be added later (e.g. after an address feature has already been generated and/or activated). In other words, according to a further embodiment, the time reference and/or location reference (e.g. by a respective participant) can be subsequently changed, supplemented and/or removed, which can preferably be user-controlled.

The time and/or location reference of the communication request can relate in general to the content of the communication request, ie, for example, at what time or at what location a searched participant was seen or is being searched for by a communication request. It can therefore preferably not relate to the time or place at which the communication request was made.

It is generally possible for the participants to have virtual features as address features and/or virtual profiles comprising such virtual features. Generally possible representation and control functions of virtual features are explained above.

The profiles can, for example, be retrievable after they have been found by means of a communication request and/or can be displayed to a searching participant. In addition to virtual characteristics, they can also contain other (particularly active) address characteristics of a subscriber. However, the profiles preferably allow only limited disclosure of personal information. For example, they can also contain no unwanted private information via a suitable user-controlled selection of virtual features and/or only active address features and/or only those address features that the subscriber has released for display in his profile.

The profiles can also have a time reference and/or location reference. Depending on which time and/or location reference a communication request has (or on the basis of which time and/or location reference of the communication request the profiles were found), a profile that matches this time and/or location reference can be displayed (in particular the matching address characteristics and/or any other characteristics (in particular virtual profile characteristics) of the participant found). This gives the participants more differentiated options for context-dependent self-presentation (via corresponding profiles) without having to create a large number of user accounts.

In addition or as an alternative to the references described above, any other criteria can also be stored, which can limit visibility and/or findability by other participants and/or their communication requests.

• - Ermitteln, dass diese Adressmerkmale einer Kommunikationsanfrage (insbesondere darin enthaltenen oder daraus ableitbaren Adressmerkmalen) entsprechen;
• - Ermitteln eines Zeitbezugs und/oder eines Ortsbezugs des die Kommunikationsanfrage stellenden Teilnehmers;
• - Herstellen der Kommunikationsverbindung unter der zusätzlichen Voraussetzung, dass der Zeitbezug und/oder Ortsbezug des die Kommunikationsanfrage stellenden Teilnehmers dem Zeitbezug und/oder Ortsbezug der Adressmerkmale entspricht.

A further development provides that the address features can be provided with a time reference and/or location reference (in particular of any type described above), the method having:

• - Determine that these address features correspond to a communication request (in particular address features contained therein or derivable therefrom);
• - determining a time reference and/or a location reference of the participant submitting the communication request;
• - Establishing the communication connection under the additional condition that the time reference and/or location reference of the communication request-making subscriber corresponds to the time reference and/or location reference of the address characteristics.

For example, it can be determined whether the searching participant was in the past in the vicinity of a participant who has the address characteristics. For this purpose, the communication request itself does not necessarily have to have a corresponding time or location reference, so it can be directed, for example, to a generally observed external property. However, from the point of view of the subscriber who has the address characteristics, it can be ensured (and e.g. specified by means of a setting option) that he is actually only found via the address characteristics if he has also encountered other subscribers in reality.

In summary, provision can therefore be made for the participants to be able to define their ability to be found as a function of time and/or location. This is achieved by making certain address characteristics fixed as a function of time and/or location. In order to find these via a communication request, it may be a prerequisite that either the communication request itself (or contained therein or address characteristics that can be derived from it) or the participants (e.g. via movement profiles recorded by you) have similar time and/or location properties as the Address characteristics of the subscriber being searched for.

In principle, however, it can also be provided that, regardless of specific time and/or location dependencies of address features, participants can only be found and contacted by other participants if their movement profiles are spatially close (e.g. currently or in the past). If a participant or its address characteristics were identified as matching a communication request or before this (i.e. before this or its address characteristics can be called up for a comparison with a communication request), it can be checked as an additional condition whether the movement profile of the participant e.g. in relation to a defined period of time sufficiently matches the movement profile of the searching participant. In addition to or as an alternative to location information from a positioning system (e.g. GPS system), spatial proximity can be determined indirectly by dialing into a common local wireless network (e.g. WLAN network), by assignment to the same radio cells of a mobile radio network (e.g. ascertainable using GSM cell assignment) and/or be determined using a Bluetooth location function (e.g. the so-called Bluetooth Direction Finding).

Any of the foregoing examples (network dial-in, cell assignment, Bluetooth location) may generally be captured and/or stored as a subscriber's location in the context of the solution disclosed herein.

A time dependency and/or location dependency can also be achieved by activating address features only temporarily or when staying at certain locations (preferably automatically). For example, a participant can define time periods and locations when certain features are active and others are not. This can be used, for example, to adjust the findability during the day versus in the evening or at work versus where you live, automatically but user-controlled.

In general, address features can also be subsequently deleted (e.g. not only deactivated and/or limited in terms of their ability to be found by means of a time or location reference). Deletion can mean that these address characteristics can no longer be found in general. Even if a participant has successfully contacted another participant in the past using these address characteristics and these were optionally also displayed to him as part of a profile, this address characteristic can no longer be found and/or displayed when this profile is called up again and/or this search is carried out will. In particular, this cannot be the case in the case of address features that have only been deactivated subsequently, ie if the search result is called up again, the address feature that has meanwhile been deactivated can, for example, also be a component a profile of the subscriber found can be displayed further.

A preferred embodiment provides that when it is determined that the address feature of the communication request does not correspond to an activated address feature (i.e. no contactable participant was determined who is assigned to this address feature and has activated it), a message (of any format) can still be stored for this address feature is. For example, the message can be stored in a memory device of the communication system. If the address feature is subsequently supplemented by a subscriber at a later point in time and/or an address feature that has already been stored is not activated until later, it can be determined whether a message has already been stored for this. This can be displayed or output to the subscriber assigned to the address feature. This also increases the range of functions of the communication system compared to existing solutions.

According to a further aspect, the participants can define (in particular their own potential) address features and/or raw data or specific information or virtual information carriers for address features, based on which they cannot be found (e.g. by a communication request) (or, in other words, can be contacted or reached). want. For example, a public figure may wish to be discoverable via private snapshots or the like. However, it may not be desirable to be discoverable via public photos or photos published for advertising purposes. These photos or their raw data or potential address features shown in them (e.g. the clothing worn there) can be defined as properties that cannot be found. Alternatively, e.g. an audio recording of a conversation (e.g. a public interview) and/or a speech pattern derived from it cannot enable addressing, but a different and in particular private voice recording can.

If such an address feature and/or such raw data or information is contained in a communication request, the participant cannot be found and/or cannot be contacted, preferably even if the communication request contains further address features that correspond to the activated address features of the participant. This variant creates an intuitive and reliable way to limit availability.

The participants can also define address features and/or any virtual features of other participants, which the other participants have stored in the communication system, e.g. as part of their own profile, based on which contact by these other participants is to be blocked. If the other participants have a corresponding address feature and/or any other (virtual) feature, they can be refused contact.

This is particularly advantageous in the case of biometric features or other address features that identify a specific participant as clearly as possible. If this participant (in particular his profile and/or electronic identity) is deleted and he was previously blocked by another participant using these features, contact can be prevented even if he logs in again and registers these features again. The blocking can therefore be linked to the address features and/or to virtual features and stored permanently. A participant cannot circumvent the blocking by registering as a participant again in a different way and, for example, again storing a photo of himself with the same biometric characteristics as an address characteristic. Since the blocking is preferably linked to these features and not to an exchangeable virtual subscriber identity, the blocking can be maintained. This procedure can also be referred to as inheritance (in the presence of a block) and, as explained below, can also be applied in the context of ratings or general virtual characteristics.

It can also be required that the participants have certain address features and/or other properties, such as virtual features, in particular in a virtual profile, in order to be able to establish contact. This relates, for example, to connections to data networks described above or time and/or location references of the participants who make a communication request. This can be used to ensure that the participants were actually in the vicinity of the participant they were looking for. However, it is not mandatory that corresponding connection information and time and/or location references of the participants (for example in the form of movement profiles) are explicitly stored and/or activated as their address features. In particular, such information can also be stored and evaluated independently of, for example, an address database.

According to a preferred option, it is also possible to link specific features (in particular virtual features of any type described herein) with one another. In particular, address features can be linked to other features be, such links can be stored in directories of the communication system. The link can also be established to electronic identities and/or to participants. If one of the features is registered as an address feature and/or it is recognized that a participant would like to register under a new name or with a new profile, for example, the features associated with this feature and/or participant can be determined and, if necessary, assigned automatically. This can also be referred to as an inheritance. This is particularly advantageous when ratings for a specific participant have been stored as virtual characteristics. These ratings should also continue to be used if the participant registers again with a different profile or identity.

The invention also relates to a communication system set up to carry out a method according to any aspect described herein. For this purpose, it can have any feature in order to carry out all the steps and measures described herein. All the variants and developments explained in the context of the method can also be provided for the communication system or apply to it.

• - für jeden der Teilnehmer eine erste computerimplementierte Schnittstelle, mittels derer generierte Adressmerkmale für ein Adressieren des jeweiligen Teilnehmers aktivierbar sind;
• - für jeden der Teilnehmer eine zweite computerimplementierte Schnittstelle, mittels derer eine Kommunikationsanfrage eingebbar ist;

wobei das Kommunikationssystem ferner dazu eingerichtet ist, wenigstens ein Adressmerkmal auf Basis einer erhaltenen Kommunikationsanfrage zu ermitteln (z.B. per nachstehender Analyseeinheit), sowie zu ermitteln (z.B. ebenfalls per nachstehender Analyseeinheit), ob das Adressmerkmal der Kommunikationsanfrage einem für das Adressieren eines Teilnehmers aktivierten Adressmerkmal zumindest teilweise entspricht (d.h. insbesondere gemäß einem definierten Kriterium ausreichend ähnlich hierzu ist), und wenn dies der Fall ist, eine Kommunikationsverbindung mittels des Kommunikationssystems zwischen dem ermittelten Teilnehmer und dem die Kommunikationsanfrage stellenden Teilnehmer herzustellen, bevorzugt unter Berücksichtigung des Adressmerkmals.In particular, the communication system can be configured as follows: a communication system for a large number of participants, which is set up to generate (and preferably store in a database) at least one address feature for each participant (preferably based on sensor-detected information) that corresponds to the respective Subscriber is assigned, and wherein the communication system has:

• - For each of the participants, a first computer-implemented interface, by means of which generated address features can be activated for addressing the respective participant;
• - For each of the participants, a second computer-implemented interface, by means of which a communication request can be entered;

the communication system is also set up to determine at least one address feature on the basis of a received communication request (e.g. using the analysis unit below), and to determine (e.g. also using the analysis unit below) whether the address feature of the communication request corresponds to an address feature activated for addressing a subscriber at least partially corresponds (ie is sufficiently similar in particular according to a defined criterion), and if this is the case, to establish a communication link by means of the communication system between the identified participant and the participant submitting the communication request, preferably taking into account the address feature.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht eines Kommunikationssystems gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel, das ein Verfahren gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel ausführt.
• 2 zeigt ein Ablaufschema für ein Verfahren gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel, das mit dem Kommunikationssystem aus 1 ausführbar ist.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. Any proportions in these figures are purely exemplary and not representative of reality.

• 1 12 shows a schematic view of a communication system according to an embodiment performing a method according to an embodiment.
• 2 shows a flowchart for a method according to a further exemplary embodiment, which is carried out with the communication system 1 is executable.

In 1 A communication system 10 according to an embodiment is shown. It includes a central computer system 12, which may include at least one computer server, for example. The central computer system 12 can also comprise a plurality of locally distributed individual computer devices which communicate with one another. It can therefore be a network of individual computer devices. The term "central" can be understood functionally and not necessarily locally. It can describe the status of the computer system 12 within the communication system 10 .

The computer system 12 is connected via data connections 14 (for example in the form of a mobile radio or Internet connection) to terminals 16 which are each assigned to a subscriber T1, T2. It goes without saying that any number of terminals 16 and subscribers T1-T2 can be provided and the number shown is purely exemplary. The terminals 16 each represent interfaces 21, 23 to and from the communication system 10 that can be operated by the subscribers T1-T2.

The terminals 16, which can in particular be mobile radio devices such as smartphones, each run application software in the form of a mobile software application (mobile app). The application software and optionally also the terminals 16 can each be a component of the communication system 10 . In general, however, the communication system 10 can be provided independently of the exact type of terminal 16, ie the application software can be executable on a wide variety of terminals 16.

Any data exchange described herein can be carried out with the computer system 12 by means of the application software n the participants T1, T2 make any inputs described herein. The application software accordingly provides a computer-implemented interface between the participants T1, T2 and the computer system 12.

Optionally, other application programs can also be executed in the foreground (and/or in the front end), e.g. Consequently, from the user's point of view, the application software can run behind the scenes and/or hidden or in the backend and, so to speak, indirectly provide an interface to the computer system 12 via the superficial application program.

Subscribers T1, T2 can be assigned to terminals 16 by the subscribers T1, T2 logging in (or also registering) using the terminals 16 or the application software running on them. In doing so, they signal the use of the specific terminal device 16 on which the application software that transmits the registration process to the computer system 12 is running. The participants can be stored as electronic identities and/or represented by such. The address and/or virtual features described herein can be assigned to these electronic identities. Information about the assignment of terminals 16 (e.g. identifiable via device-specific addresses and/or tokens of the type described above) to the respective subscribers T1, T2 and/or their electronic identities can be stored in a first schematically indicated database 17 of the computer system 12.

The computer system 12, but at least the databases 17 and/or directories contained therein, can form a backend system of the communication system 10. The application software and/or the terminals 16 can form a front-end system.

In order to communicate with one another, the participants T1, T2 can use their application software to define features in the context of a communication request that identify that participant T1, T2 or a plurality of participants T1, T2 and/or the object(s) assigned to this or them ) describe who should be contacted. These features are essentially syntax-free. As a result, they can be freely formulated and, for example, are not bound by specific regulations with regard to the sequence of characters, address formats or address content. Image data can also be entered (in addition to or as an alternative to features described in writing) as at least part of a communication request. The image data can, for example, depict properties and in particular the appearance of another subscriber T1, T2 who is to be contacted.

In order to be found or, in other words, to be reachable via the communication system 12, the subscribers T1, T2 can also define syntax-free features (so-called address features). For this purpose, the computer system 12 comprises a second database 18 (or, in general terms, a directory). There, the individual subscribers T1, T2 are assigned address features A1.1-A2.1. The number and type of address features A1.1-A2.1 described in the context of the exemplary embodiment is merely an example.

Examples of options for defining address features A1.1-A1.3 for the first subscriber T1 are described below. Its terminal 16 has a camera device (in short: camera) 20 and a location sensor 22 (in particular a GPS sensor) as sensory devices. The subscriber T1 can take a picture of himself with the camera 20 and store this picture as an address feature.

The image can be analyzed using an image analysis algorithm in order to derive, for example, biometric properties of the participant T1, particularly in the form of personal biometric characteristics such as hair color, hair type, eye color, size, etc., or to determine other visually perceptible properties of the participant T1 or objects associated with it that are suitable as an address feature (e.g. clothing color or clothing brand). These analysis results can also be address characteristics. They can optionally be displayed to subscriber T1 for confirmation.

A movement profile of the subscriber T1 can be recorded with the location sensor 22 (e.g. in the form of a time-location vector or matrix with a large number of time-location value pairs). This movement profile can be stored as an address feature A1.1-A2.1. The profile can contain a large number of individual address features that can be requested via a search query or corresponding individual features can be derived from them (e.g. "at 5 p.m. at the main station").

It goes without saying that, in addition or as an alternative to the continuous recording of a movement profile, the participant T1 can also define only selective location information as address characteristics (e.g. “from 12 p.m. at the XY trade fair”).

Each address feature A1.1-A2.1 can be selectively activated or deactivated by the associated subscriber T1, T2. This can be understood to mean that it can be switched to be selectively active (ie findable) or inactive (ie not findable) for finding by communication request from another subscriber T1, T2.

A time reference and/or location reference can also optionally be defined for each address feature A1.1-A2.1. Irrespective of any activation or deactivation, these can define an additional condition with which the findability of the address characteristics A1.1-A2.1 can be determined by communication request. Thus, the address features A1.1-A2.1 can only be found if the communication request is also aimed at this specific or a sufficiently similar time or location reference.

In the following, referring to the first subscriber T1 as an example, the latter has stored three address features A1.1-A1.3. The first address feature A1.1 relates to the lettering "Partylion". This can be printed on a piece of clothing worn by him that the participant T1 wore to a party. The subscriber T1 would like to be able to be reached or found using this lettering as an address feature A1.1, but if possible only by other visitors to the party. Correspondingly, the address feature A1.1 is activated by the subscriber T1, but with the period of the party as the time reference Z and the location of the party as the location reference O.

Only when a communication request and/or a subscriber T2 making the communication request also has such a reference Z, O can he find and contact the address features or the associated subscriber T1.

The presence of a time reference Z and a location reference O is in 1 symbolically marked with a cross. A blank field means that no such reference Z, O exists. It goes without saying that the time references can also be added or removed later and thus managed flexibly.

The second address feature A1.2 relates to a conference attended by the participant T1 as the whereabouts. Subscriber T1 always wants to be addressable via this. He therefore makes it active and does not provide it with any additionally required time or place references Z, O. The whereabouts can also be automatically recorded and, if necessary, automatically created and/or proposed as address feature A1.2. For this purpose, the participant T1 can activate the recording of his movement profile when he is at the trade fair.

Alternatively, a location reference O could be added in order, for example, to be addressable exclusively by other participants who were also at the trade fair. The movement profiles of inquiring participants can be used to check, for example, whether they were at the trade fair location or in sufficient proximity to it. A time reference Z can also optionally be added to ensure that these participants have attended the same and not another trade fair.

The third address feature A1.3 relates to a piece of clothing that the subscriber T1 has not worn for a long time. He therefore does not expect any contact requests that relate to this item of clothing and sets address attribute A1.3 to inactive. The next time he wears the item of clothing, he can set address feature A1.3 to be active again. If he only wants to be found in the specific context of wearing this article of clothing, he can optionally define a time and/or location reference Z, O.

In principle, a subscriber T1 can also link specific (preferably active) address features A1.1-A1.3 with one another in order to define coherent feature patterns. He can then, e.g. by setting his application software, request that he only wants to be found via an active address feature A1.1-A1.3 if all other or at least a specific selection or subset of other required address features A1.1-A1. 3 of this coherent feature pattern are met (i.e. contained in a communication request). He can use this to define a particularly clear traceability, e.g. if he specifies his external appearance particularly clearly using the coherent pattern of features.

In general, combinations of different types of address features A1.1-A2.1 in communication requests, but also within the scope of the above feature pattern, can increase the probability that a specifically desired subscriber T1, T2 will actually be addressed or make itself addressable. In particular, deficits with regard to the recording accuracy and/or uniqueness of certain address characteristics or information recorded for this purpose can be at least partially compensated for. For example, a more precise search and/or findability can be defined by combining a rather imprecisely detectable location with fewer individual biometric features such as a hair color than if these features were only used on their own.

However, subscriber T1 can also make itself discoverable independently of other characteristics via other address characteristics A1.1-A1.3. As soon as these are included in a communication request, he can be found as a candidate communication addressee even if other active address characteristics are not included in the communication request.

An address feature A2.1 is also shown as an example for the second subscriber T2. This underscores the fact that all subscribers T1, T2 preferably both actively make communication requests and can also be addressable via communication requests. But this is not mandatory. It is preferably possible to contact other participants T1, T2 even without their own active address feature A1.1-A2.1.

The case in which the second subscriber T2 makes a communication request to find the subscriber T1 is described as an example below. For example, it is assumed that subscriber T2 saw subscriber T1 in reality, but did not speak to him, for example. At least he has not received full contact information (e.g. for contacting independently of the communication system 12 and by e-mail or telephone) from it or has not written it down correctly. The subscriber T2 therefore attempts to describe the subscriber T1 on the basis of his physical or visually perceptible features (ie his appearance). Preferably, reference is also made to the time and place of the encounter.

Accordingly, a possible communication request from participant T2 to contact participant T1 could be: “The approximately 1.70 m tall man with the checked suit, who was also at the conference this morning”. This communication request is transmitted to the computer system 12 of the communication system 10 via a data connection 14 . There it is analyzed by an analysis unit 24 . The analysis unit 24 can run algorithms to capture the semantic content of the communication request and/or to identify potential address features therein.

For example, the algorithms can be set up to record time and location information as well as descriptions of the appearance. Referring to the above example, the analysis unit 24 can identify any of the following as address characteristics of the communication request: “height: 1.70 m”, “man”, “suit”, “checkered”, “this morning”, “conference” or “ place of the conference”.

Analysis unit 24 can also be set up to define or use similarity criteria, by means of which address features A1.1-A2.1 stored for subscribers T1, T2 are evaluated as sufficiently similar to the features searched for by communication request or as sufficiently corresponding to these features be able. For example, stored address features A1.1-A2.1 can be evaluated as sufficiently similar to the requested address features or as sufficiently corresponding to them if they are within an extended range of the requested height (e.g. 1.65-1.75m), one larger selected period ("today" instead of "this morning") and/or an extended location range (e.g. location of the conference plus a radius of 1 km). Other descriptive and in particular optically perceptible features can also be evaluated in an expanded manner in this way, for example “patterned” can be sufficiently similar to “checkered”.

The computer system 12 and in particular its analysis unit 24 can then search for these address features in the second database 18 . Alternative options for searching in distributed databases or decentralized in directories of the terminals 16 are mentioned in the general description. If a match with, or at least a sufficient correspondence to, the address features A1.1-A2.1 stored there is recognized, the associated subscriber T1, T2 can be identified as the subscriber T1, T2 to be addressed. Optionally, a confirmation of this identification can be requested by the subscriber T2, for example by displaying information about the subscriber T1. Such information can be part of an optional profile that each subscriber T1, T2 can create and that can contain and display, for example, all of the address features A1.1-A2.1 and/or virtual features of the type described herein that have been activated by the subscriber.

However, the optional profiles are advantageously kept as anonymous as possible. In particular, the subscribers T1, T2 can be found and contacted via a communication request without necessarily having to disclose detailed information about themselves apart from the preferably self-administered address features A1.1-A2.1.

If no agreement is detected or several potentially eligible participants T1, T2 are identified, the participant T2 making the communication request can be requested to further specify the communication request until there is an unequivocal agreement with only a single participant T1, T2.

As explained, however, there is also the possibility of simultaneously contacting a number of subscribers T1, T2 found on the basis of the communication request and of sending identical messages to them. It is also possible to send messages to address features that are not yet assigned to a subscriber T1, T2. These messages can then be stored by the computer system 12 until the corresponding address feature is registered and/or activated by a subscriber T1, T2.

Referring to the specific address features A1.1-A1.3 of the subscriber T1 explained above, the search query above will at best determine a match with the address feature A1.2 (conference). Address feature 1.3 is not found because it is inactive. The address feature 1.1 is also not found, since the location reference O and time reference Z are not fulfilled. The analysis unit 24 thus ascertains “this morning” as the time reference Z of the communication request and the location of the conference as the location reference O. However, the party to which characteristic 1.1 refers lies further in the past and also took place at a different location. Consequently, the address feature 1.1 is not displayed to the searching subscriber T2 as part of a profile or a search hit.

However, if the subscriber T2 was at the party and would like to contact the subscriber T1 afterwards, he can specifically search for the address feature A1.1 by means of a communication request. However, it is preferably not mandatory for the location reference O or the time reference Z to be part of the communication request. Instead (additionally alternatively) it can be checked whether the searching participant T2 itself has such a location reference O or time reference Z, which can be derived, for example, from a recorded movement profile of this participant T2 (e.g. by the analysis unit 24).

Movement profiles of participants T1, T2 can be stored in a separate location database of the computer system 12 (not shown).

In principle, a subscriber T1, T2 can also set that it should only be discoverable by subscribers T1, T2 who were or are in its vicinity, without time or location references Z, O of individual address features being absolutely important. This can be checked based on recorded movement profiles of the participants T1, T2 and e.g. as an additional condition for establishing contact in addition to matching address characteristics.

The communication connection between the participants T1, T2 can be established in such a way that messages entered by the participant T2 into the terminal 16 are transmitted via the data connection 14 to a communication server 26 of the computer system 12. The communication server 26 can then transmit this message to the terminal 16 that is currently assigned to the subscriber T1 that has been found. This assignment can be determined using the entries in the first database 17, in which the participants T1 can be represented and stored as electronic identities. The message is transmitted to the subscriber T1 by any output or playback option of the terminal 16, e.g. by text display or by playing audio or video content.

In the exemplary embodiment described, the front-end systems (the terminals 16 or interfaces 21, 23 provided via them) communicate via a back-end system (the communication system 10 or its computer system 12). Alternatively, the front-end systems can also communicate directly with each other, e.g. via WLAN or Bluetooth or another wireless communication connection. For this purpose, the physical and possibly virtual feature patterns can be stored at least in part in the front end, in particular by means of the decentralized directories described above. A search query can then, for example, be directed to those front-end systems or terminals 16 or take place there that are within a defined range for direct communication with the front-end system or terminal 16 of a requesting subscriber T1, T2.

The range of functions of the disclosed communication system 12, which is improved compared to existing solutions, is already clear from the above. The subscribers T1, T2 can also search for and contact other subscribers T1, T2 without precise detailed knowledge of correct address data by means of freely formulated communication requests. In order to be contacted, the subscribers T1, T2 can also freely store features as address features and (optionally depending on location and/or time) activate them to be found.

According to a preferred development, the address features A1.1-A2.1 can also be virtual features of any type described herein. Additionally or alternatively, at least selected virtual features and/or address features A1.1-A2.1 (particularly activated address features A1.1-A2.1) can be part of virtual profiles 28 of subscribers T1, T2. These profiles 28 are also stored in the second database 18 purely by way of example. However, they could also be stored in another database. If, by means of the analysis unit 24, a participant T1, T2 identified as a communication target based on a communication request, the profile 28 of this participant T1, T2 can be read out and displayed, for example, to the requesting participant T1, T2.

Furthermore, the participants T1, T2 can also store conditions, in particular in the form of a collection 30 of data and/or characteristics, which the requesting participants T1, T2 must meet or have in order for a communication to take place (and/or the requesting participants T1, T2 may not have, so that a communication can come about). This collection 30 can also be stored in the database 18 or in a separate database. The features covered by this can be address features A1.1-A2.1 or any other features that are stored in the computer system 12 for the participants T1, T2 or can be determined by them. For example, the subscribers T1, T2 can store as a condition for addressability by other subscribers T1, T2 that the other subscribers T1, T2 must be a member of a specific group (see also the discussion below regarding group identifiers). Individually assigned features can also be stored, for example if contacting a participant with a specific artist name is desired or not.

A variant is shown here, according to which the communication system 10 itself directly establishes and/or enables the communication between the terminals 16 . However, a variant is also possible, according to which the communication system 10 manages address features A1.1-A2.1 and uses these to identify the subscribers T1, T2 to be addressed by communication request. However, additional communication or address information from other communication services can also be stored and the communication system 10 can establish communication using these communication services based on this.

Exemplary process sequences are described with reference to the following figures, as they are with the communication system 10 1 are realizable.

Based on 2 an opportunity is explained to define and use address features A1.1-A2.1, which cannot be freely used by any subscriber T1, T2. Instead, it can be private or also closed address features A1.1-A2.1 that are only accessible to specific subscribers T1, T2 and/or can be used by them.

One possibility for this is the use of a membership feature or also a group identification feature as address feature A1.1-A2.1. Participants T1, T2 can be invited by other participants T1, T2 or by a higher authority and/or authorized to use such a group identification feature as address feature A1.1-A2.1. The existence of an invitation can be checked, for example, by the fact that the computer system 12 has a list of invitations that have been sent, together with their addressees, and compares this with the participants T1, T2 and their address characteristics A1.1-A2.1 in the database 18.

According to 2 In a step S1, a subscriber T1 acquires, for example, an object with a text imprint, for example a parasol or umbrella, and stores this imprint in text form as an address feature A1.1-A2.1. Optionally, the subscriber T1 can define from the outset as a property that this imprint or text is a group identification feature that can also be used by other subscribers T1, T2, ie can have a 1:n assignment. Additionally or alternatively, it can also be stored that it is an address feature A1.1-A2.1 that cannot be used arbitrarily, but can only be used, for example, upon invitation or as a result of some other authentication.

Subscriber T1 can define itself as the managing entity for managing the use of the group identifier. Alternatively, he can define conditions which the computer system 12 automatically checks and correspondingly automatically invites and/or authorizes other participants T2 to use the group identifier.

In a step S2, another participant T2 would also like to register the imprint for himself as an address feature A1.1-A2.1, for example because he is acquiring the same object and/or moves around in public with the participant T1. To do this, it transmits a virtual request (legitimation request) to the subscriber T1 or to its terminal 16 if it has not yet received an invitation from the subscriber. In particular, the subscriber T2 can be informed that such a request is necessary if he first independently tries to register the imprint as an address feature A1.1-A2.1.

In a step S3, subscriber T1 confirms the request and thus releases the group identification feature for use by subscriber T2 as address feature A1.1-A2.1. Optionally, the subscriber T1 could also release this withdraw again at a later point in time, ie generally manage the use of the group identification feature by other participants T2 flexibly and in particular reversibly.

In a step S4, a third participant sees the participants T1, T2 with the object in public, for example on the beach. He searches for the text of the imprint via a communication request (e.g. immediately or only at a later point in time). The analysis unit 24 then determines the subscribers T1, T2 as addressees to whom a message can be sent.

An alternative way to use closed (i.e. not freely usable) and optionally multiple assignable group identifiers is that a participant T1, T2 an object (e.g. a piece of clothing) and / or its properties only as an address feature A1.1-A2.1 can use if, for example, he legitimizes himself as the actual owner of the object via a code carrier of the object or another authentication method. This procedure can also be referred to as verification. For this purpose, the subscriber T1, T2 can, for example, use his terminal 16 to record a code carrier that is on the object or is supplied with it and can prove that he has actually purchased the object.

Additionally or alternatively, a verification may also be necessary if a subscriber T1, T2 would like to store optically perceptible and in particular biometric features as address feature A1.1-A2.1. For example, if a participant specifies their eye color, they can be asked to verify this by capturing real-time images of their face.

Claims (13)

Method for establishing a communication connection by means of a computer-implemented communication system (10) for a large number of participants (T1, T2), the method having: - Generate, for each participant (T1, T2), at least one address feature (A1.1-A2.1), which is assigned to the respective participant (T1, T2); - Activating generated address features (A1.1-A2.1) for addressing each participant (T1, T2) when the participants (T1, T2) make a predetermined input; - Receiving a communication request from at least one of the participants (T1, T2) and determining at least one address feature (A1.1-A2.1) on the basis of this communication request; - Determine whether the address feature (A1.1-A2.1) of the communication request corresponds at least partially to an address feature (A1.1-A2.1) activated for addressing a subscriber (T1, T2) and/or is sufficiently similar thereto, and if this is the case: - Establishing a communication connection by means of the communication system between the identified subscriber (T1, T2) and the subscriber (T1, T2) making the communication request. procedure after claim 1 , further comprising: sensory detection of information controlled by a respective participant (T1, T2) and generation of the address features (A1.1-A2.1) based on this information. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a respective participant (T1, T2) assigned address features (A1.1-A2.1) are interchangeable and / or that from a plurality of stored address features (A1.1-A2.1) at least one for a Addressing can be optionally activated and deactivated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that if the address feature (A1.1-A2.1) of the communication request corresponds to activated address features (A1.1-A2.1) of a number of participants (T1, T2), a communication link is established of the plurality of subscribers (T1, T2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the address features (A1.1-A2.1) correspond to physical properties and/or visually perceptible properties of the participants (T1, T2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that location-related information about the subscribers (T1, T2) can be generated as address features (A1.1-A2.1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the address features (A1.1-A2.1) can be provided with a time reference (Z) and/or location reference (O) and the method has: - determining a time reference (Z) and/or a location reference (O) of the communication request; - Determining address characteristics (A1.1-A2.1) of other participants (T1, T2) that have this time reference (Z) and/or location reference (O). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the address features (A1.1-A2.1) can be provided with a time reference (Z) and/or location reference (O) and the method has: - determining that the address characteristics (A1.1-A2.1) correspond to a communication request; - determining a time reference (Z) and/or a location reference (O) of the subscriber (T1, T2) making the communication request; - Establishment of the communication connection under the additional condition that the time reference (Z) and/or location reference (O) of the subscriber (T1, T2) making the communication request corresponds to the time reference (Z) and/or location reference (O) of the address characteristics (A1.1 -A2.1) corresponds. procedure after claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that the time reference (Z) and/or location reference (O) can be subsequently changed, supplemented and/or removed. procedure after claim 3 , characterized in that when determining that the address feature (A1.1-A2.1) of the communication request does not correspond to an activated address feature (A1.1-A2.1), for this address feature (A1.1-A2.1) nevertheless a message can be stored. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that address features (A1.1-A2.1) can be defined by the participants (T1, T2): - on the basis of which they do not want to be found; and/or - which must have searching participants (T1, T2) so that the participants (T1, T2) can be contacted by these searching participants (T1, T2); and/or - which searching participants (T1, T2) must not have, so that the participants (T1, T2) can be contacted by these searching participants (T1, T2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for each subscriber (T1, T2) features can be stored as address features (A.1.-A2.1) and/or as part of a virtual profile which have no physical properties and/or or do not relate to any visually perceptible characteristics of a participant (T1, T2). Communications system (10) for a large number of participants (T1, T2), which is set up for each participant (T1, T2), in particular based on information detected by sensors, at least one address feature (A1.1-A2.1). generate, which is assigned to the respective subscriber (T1, T2), and wherein the communication system (10) has: - For each of the participants (T1, T2) a first computer-implemented interface (21) by means of which generated address features (A 1.1-A2.1) for addressing the respective participant (T1, T2) can be activated; - For each of the participants (T1, T2) a second computer-implemented interface (23) by means of which a communication request can be entered; wherein the communication system (10) is further set up to determine at least one address feature (A1.1-A2.1) on the basis of a received communication request, and to determine whether the address feature (A1.1-A2.1) of the communication request at least partially corresponds to and/or is sufficiently similar to the address feature (A1.1-A2.1) activated for addressing a subscriber (T1, T2), and if this is the case, a communication link by means of the communication system (10) between the identified Subscriber (T1, T2) and the subscriber (T1, T2) making the communication request.

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