FR2812155A1 - Anonymous mobile telephone connection method having text message passed server and server requesting anonymous call with acceptance signal returned server and call initiated. - Google Patents

Abstract

The anonymous telephone call connection method has a server (1) relaying text messages (10,11) to a mobile telephone network (2), demanding anonymous calls. The text messages are received by a text message system signalling acceptance. The server then indicates acceptance to the telephone network and establishes communications between users.

Description

-1 Procedure for establishing anonymous telephone calls with

  The present invention relates to a method for establishing anonymous telephone calls between two or more persons, without revealing the identity of the persons or their telephone number. The entity that initiates these phone calls is a server, which makes connections by consulting the

  data entered by system users.

  This process creates communications between people who don't know each other, but who share common interests. The difference between this system and other existing systems, called "chat", is the possibility of establishing direct and anonymous telephone communications.

  between participants' phones.

  Thanks to this process people can communicate by voice using their mobile phones. People can be reached at any time by their mobile mobile phone and do not need to be connected to the Internet

with their PC.

  The server (1) has a proactive role because it can initiate communications when a certain criterion or situation is satisfied. For example, a call initiation condition can be based on proximity to people. Through his cell phone, the person can be located. People can get in touch with other people with common interests

and define a proximity zone.

  Each person who wishes to use this system must first connect 2s to the server (1) to enter the data of their own matching criteria, so that the server can reconcile with the

  other users sharing the same areas of interest.

  Each user must enter his mobile phone number, which will be kept confidential on the server (1) and will never be communicated to other people. Each user is identified by a pseudonym that he has chosen. Each user must have a mobile phone that is capable of receiving, viewing and sending text messages. (This function already exists on mobile phones of the GSM type, for example, which can receive, display and send text messages of the SMS type). A ring signal signals to

  the user that a message has arrived and the person can choose to view it.

  Each user can send text messages to the server (1) to update their profile. For example, the user can momentarily deactivate the reception of telephone communications initiated by the server -2- (1), until he decides to activate them again by sending another message. The server (1) stores all the profiles of the users who are registered, and can initiate telephone calls between two or more people (private conversation or conference). Telephone calls are initiated either by responding to specific requests from users, or when one or more

  criteria, saved by these users, are met.

  Before initiating a telephone call, the server (1) sends a message to each participant asking him to accept the call. In this message should appear the pseudonym by which the other person is identified, or a topic of a conference call. The user can confirm his agreement by sending a text message to the server (1) in a format predefined by the system. Once the users send their confirmations, the server (1) establishes the communication between them. The server (1) sends an instruction to the mobile telephone network (2) which then calls each

  person and established direct telephone communication between them.

  In another scenario the server (1) sends a message to the users to communicate to them a telephone number which they must call to take part in a conference call or a private communication between

two people.

detailed description

  The system consists of a server (1), a mobile telephone network (2) and a device or system (3) capable of sending and receiving text messages from mobile telephones (already existing system

  called SMSC in GSM, for example).

  Each telephone (4, 5) must be capable of receiving and displaying text messages, and also of sending text messages. The mobile telephone network (2) is capable of initiating and establishing a direct telephone connection between telephones. It calls the phones of the affected users and

  then established direct telephone communication between them.

  The server (1) is also accessible via the Internet and presents an interface to a Web server. A new user chooses their pseudonym and saves their phone number, which is then kept confidential on the server. Each user can indicate certain information about him and see the information that others have published. Certain themes and forums are published on the server and each user can choose criteria to put in contact with other users. A user can also ask the server to directly initiate a telephone call with another

  user that he identifies by his pseudonym.

  -3- The server (1) consults the criteria for accepting contacts from the other user to determine if it can initiate the call. Before initiating a phone call between two or more users, the server sends a text message to each user's phone. The text contains the following information: 5. Username of the user requesting the telephone call or a conference call subject To A telephone number to call for a conference call if a

  direct call cannot be made.

  An optional text that a user sends to the other person with the

  request to establish the phone call.

  The user receiving the text message can decide whether to accept or reject the phone call that the server requests to establish. If he decides to accept, he must send a text message to the server, with the following information: * His pseudonym and password for authentication To The message number which was indicated in the text sent by the server,

  to signal acceptance of the requested call.

  Users can also communicate with the server (1) via the Internet, with a PC for example, or even with their telephone if it is equipped with an Internet or WAP access function. Users can also change certain information, or their criteria for accepting calls, by sending to

  message server in a specific format (published by the server).

  For example, users can update their profile by sending text messages directly from their phone: * Activate or deactivate their availability for phone calls. If the user does not want to be contacted by the server, he can send a message, in a specific format, to the server to indicate his unavailability. * Disable their availability for calls from an unwanted user, by sending the username of the other user in a specific message. The server will block calls that the other person can initiate

to this user.

-4-

Claims (9)

claims   1. Method for establishing anonymous telephone calls between users, equipped with mobile telephones capable of receiving and sending text messages, via a server (1) communicating with the mobile telephone network (2 ) and interacting with a device or system (3) capable of sending text messages (10, 11) to telephones to notify users of an anonymous call request when communication criteria between users are satisfied, and a step d acceptance, said step consisting in the user sending text messages (10, 11) to the server (1) via the text messaging device or system (3) to indicate that he accepts the call, and then the server indicates to the mobile telephone network (2) to establish a telephone communication between users. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an initial step of registering the user in the server, said step consisting   for the user to send their phone number to the server.   3. Server allowing the implementation of the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it allows to initiate conference calls between users by sending a text message to the users concerned, specifying a telephone number to call to participate in a conference given telephone.   4. Server allowing the implementation of the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it makes it possible to interpret text messages (10, 11) in specific formats from users, to update information on their profile and / or their criteria for accepting calls anonymous telephone calls.   5. Server allowing the implementation of the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it allows users to connect via the Internet and change information on their profile and / or their acceptance criteria. anonymous phone calls.   6. Server according to claim 4, characterized in that it allows users to save criteria for the acceptance of anonymous telephone calls from other users, which will allow the server to start the   anonymous telephone calls if these criteria are met.   7. Server according to claim 4, characterized in that it allows users to save criteria for the initiation of anonymous telephone calls to other users, which will allow the server to start the process   anonymous phone calls if these criteria are met.   -5- 8. Server according to claim 4, characterized in that it allows the users to explicitly request the establishment of an anonymous telephone call with another user by sending the pseudonym of the other user to the server (1) which consults the communication criteria of the requested user and sends him a text message to request acceptance of the call. 9. Server allowing the implementation of the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it can detect whether users are available with their mobile telephone, by consulting the mobile telephone network (2), to memorize the calls to these users to and start the anonymous phone call process once these users are again   available on the mobile phone network.