WO2008008825A2

WO2008008825A2 - A method and system for anonymous communication

Info

Publication number: WO2008008825A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/073243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Howard R. Baer
Original assignee: The Suggestion Box, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-07-11
Filing date: 2007-07-11
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: WO2008008825A3

Abstract

A method and a system for an anonymous communication system. The system includes a user identifier, a first user is identified, an authenticator to verify the user, a communicator, the first user enters a message on the communicator to anonymously communicate with a second user, a software, the software manages the anonymous communication, a server application, the server application processes the anonymous communication, a processor, the processor sends the message to the server application, a notifier, the notifier generates and sends a notification to the second user, and a database, the database stores information about a plurality of users.

Description

A Method and System for Anonymous Communication

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to anonymous communications and more particularly, a method and a system for anonymously communicating with others using email, chat rooms and SMS messaging.

Background of the Invention

Chat rooms presently in the art provide for communication amongst known users. Typically, in order to participate in a chat room, the users must register themselves.

Generally, there is no way for a participant to remain anonymous because the identity of the participant is given up upon the sending of a message.

The ability to send anonymous text messages by SMS is limited because typically, the recipient can not respond to the sender of an anonymous message. Text messaging is stateless and there is no way to track a message. This presents an issue in providing the ability to respond to anonymous messages if all message responses came to one phone number.

The ability to send anonymous text messages by SMS to an email is limited because typically the recipient can not receive email messages from SMS. Text messages are typically sent to another SMS capable phone. This presents an issue in providing the ability to send messages to an email address.

Summary of the Invention

One embodiment of the present invention is an anonymous communication system. The system includes a user identifier, a first user is identified, an authenticator to verify the user, a communicator, the first user enters a message on the communicator to anonymously communicate with a second user, a software, the software manages the anonymous communication, a server application, the server application processes the anonymous communication, a processor, the processor sends the message to the server application, a notifier, the notifϊer generates and sends a notification to the second user, and a database, the database stores information about a plurality of users. Another embodiment of the present invention is a system for communicating anonymously in a chat room over the Internet. The system includes a subscriber, a database, the database stores information about the subscriber, a verifier, the verifier confirms a match between information entered by the subscriber and information stored in the database, a software, a virtual chat room, the virtual chat room is selected by the subscriber, a random generator, the random generator generates random guest names and unique keys for each of at least one invited guest, an invitation generator, the invitation generator generates and sends an invitation to each of the at least one invited guest, and a notifier, the notifier sends a notification to the subscriber when each of the at least one invited guest joins the virtual chat room.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention is a system for sending an anonymous email from an SMS text message. The system includes a subscriber, an SMS gateway, wherein the SMS gateway manages a communication of an SMS text message from a cellular telephone from the subscriber, a server, wherein the server includes a connection to the Internet, wherein the server transmits the SMS text message, an SMS gateway software, a processor, the processor converts the SMS text message to an email message, and a communicator, the communicator transmits the email message to a receiver anonymously.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of sending an anonymous email message from an SMS text message. The method includes entering in a subscriber identification, sending an SMS text message to a specified phone number, wherein the phone number is at an SMS gateway server, including an email address of a recipient in the SMS text message, receiving the SMS text message, passing the SMS text message along with the email address to an application server, parsing the recipient email address from the SMS text message, sending the SMS text message to the recipient along with a reply link in the email message with a random code in the email message, and entering the random code, the email message, the subscriber identification and the recipient email address into a database.

Yet another embodiment is a system for sending and receiving an anonymous SMS text message. The system includes a subscriber, a subscriber identifier, an SMS gateway, the SMS gateway receives an SMS text message from the subscriber, an application server, the application server receives the SMS text message and an identification for the subscriber, an application server software, the software parses the SMS text message from the identification for the subscriber, a communicator, the communicator sends the SMS text message to the SMS gateway, and a recipient, the recipient receives the SMS text message from the SMS gateway.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is an anonymous communication system. The system includes a user identifier, wherein a first user is identified, a message from the first user, a gateway to receive the message, and a server to route the message to a recipient anonymously.

An embodiment of the present invention is a method for anonymously communicating. The method includes logging in as a subscriber, verifying log in information of the subscriber, entering a message to be communicated anonymously to at least one recipient, processing and parsing the message, sending the message to a server application, notifying the at least one recipient of the message, and storing the information of the subscriber, the message, and information of the recipient.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for communicating anonymously in a chat room over the Internet. The method includes logging in as a subscriber, storing information about the subscriber, verifying a match between information entered by the subscriber and information stored in the database, selecting an option to start a virtual chat room, generating random guest names and unique keys for each of at least one invited guest, inviting at least one invited guest, and notifying the subscriber when each of the at least one invited guest joins the virtual chat room.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of a subscriber paying for his/her subscription or for purchasing credits; Figure 2 is a screen shot illustrating an example of where a user may enter information;

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of inviting guests to join an anonymous chat room; Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of a guest joining an anonymous chat room;

Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of an anonymous chat room;

Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of communication with a cell phone provider;

Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of sending an anonymous SMS message and receiving an anonymous email;

Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of sending and receiving anonymous SMS messages; Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example of verifying a phone number when sending an anonymous SMS message;

Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an anonymous SMS message being sent and stored;

Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of sending and receiving anonymous SMS messages; and

Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of sending and receiving anonymous SMS messages.

Detailed Description Anonymous communications between a plurality of people may manifest in a number of ways. The present invention discloses, for example, several methods of anonymous communication. Anonymous communications may occur in an anonymous chat room, by anonymous emails, and through anonymous SMS text messaging.

In order to take part in an anonymous communication, a user registers to become a subscriber of the system, in accordance with the present invention. For subscription purposes, subscriber 12 may enter in their personal information, including but not limited to their email address, mobile phone number, a username and a password. Upon submission, a web application queries a user database to insure that the username has not already been selected. If the username has already been used, registrant is alerted and asked to select another username. If the username has not been selected, then the information is set into a browser cookie.

In an embodiment of the present invention, registrant is asked to accept the terms and conditions of the website. Registrant may also enter in credit card and/or other payment information to charge a subscription fee, as shown in FIG. 1. Payment information, along with billing address information, is entered by subscriber 12 and captured and sent to a web server 14 for processing and verification. In one embodiment, the information is posted as parameters in an XML stream over a SSL connection to a payment gateway 60. Payment gateway 60 replies over the connection with a response notifying subscriber 12 if the transaction is approved or declined in an XML string. If the transaction is declined, subscriber 12 is alerted. If the transaction is approved, subscriber's 12 information previously stored in a cookie is written into the database and their account is marked active.

In addition to initially entering in personal information, subscribers have the ability to update their email address and mobile number, along with any other relevant information. Subscribers also have the option to select if they want to automatically receive SMS responses. A subscriber may also choose to enter their updated information into the application. When a subscriber submits the information, their database record is updated, as shown in FIG. 2.

Additionally, application administrators may update user information. Once an administrator logs into a web application, they may choose to enter an administration or user management area. A list of subscribers is queried from the database and presented to the administrator through the web interface.

The administrator has an ability to delete any subscriber, which removes the subscriber's record from the database, or edit the subscriber. If the administrator selects the edit button, the subscriber's information is queried from the database and presented through the web application.

The administrator also has the ability to update the subscriber's email address, mobile number, username, password, account expiration date, response notification, approved for access and number of credits available, among other things. After information is edited, the administrator has the ability to submit changes or cancellations. If the administrator chooses to update the information, the application updates the subscriber's record in the database.

Anonymous chat rooms are enabled by an embodiment of the present invention. Overall, chat server software manages chat rooms and conversations among subscribers and invited participants. A web server application creates the chat rooms and anonymous chat user accounts, sending invitations to the chat room and authenticating an anonymous user. Anonymous messages are sent over a standard https protocol to insure the security of messages sent over the Internet.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a chat room is created and invitations are sent out to users to chat anonymously. As shown in FIG. 3, a subscriber 12 logs into a web server 14. Once logged in, subscriber 12 may select an option to create an anonymous chat room. Subscriber 12 enters a username and password, which is validated against a table of users stored in an application database (not shown). Web server 14 creates an anonymous chat room 16 for subscriber 12 who has several options. Subscriber 12 may enter a name for chat room 16, or may select an option to have the name of chat room 16 created randomly. If subscriber 12 chooses to have the chat room named randomly, the name is assigned from a list of character strings stored in the database. Subscriber 12 also may select how to be notified when a guest enters chat room 16. There are several ways for subscriber 12 to be notified, including but not limited to, notification by an email and notification by an SMS text message. Depending on how subscriber 12 chooses to be notified, he/she enters in relevant data and information. For example, if subscriber 12 chooses to be notified by email, then he/she enters a contact email address.

Subscriber 12 also has an option of choosing a number of chat participants for anonymous chat room 16. Information (i.e., email address) about the participants is entered. In this embodiment, once the email addresses are submitted, random guest names are created and unique keys are created. The unique keys allow the guests to automatically log in to the chat room 16. Invitations 18a, 18b are sent out to at least one guest 20a, 20b, where invitations 18a, 18b contain a link to the chat room with a unique key embedded in it. Generally, chat rooms may be set up in advance of their scheduled start time. In an embodiment of the present invention, the chat rooms may be set up days before the start time.

When subscriber 12 submits a request for a new chat room, the application creates a new chat room entry into the database. This database entry holds the unique identifier for the chat room along with the chat room name and the user ID of the subscriber that created the room, along with the room owner's name. Additionally, all of the users are created, at this time and assigned to their chat room. The unique database chat room identifier is inserted into each chat room user's record. All chat room users who have been invited are assigned random names from the database to insure anonymity.

Referring now to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, once guest 20a clicks on a link 38 in email invitation 18a, guest 20a is automatically logged into anonymous chat room 16. The URL sent in the email invitation contains the guest's unique identifier. By going to the URL, the web application can query the database and direct guest 20a to the correct chat room. An email or an SMS notification 40 is sent to subscriber 12 letting him/her know that guest 20a is in chat room 16. The script that directs guest 20a to the correct chat room also finds an email address for subscriber 12 or SMS information entered while creating the chat room that is stored in the database. In an embodiment, an email message is sent via an SMTP server or an SMS message through an SMS gateway. Once guest 20a has arrived into chat room 16, anonymous chatting may begin without any user identification known. Anonymous chat rooms and guest accounts may expire after a predetermined time. In one embodiment, anonymous chat room and guest accounts expire after eight days. In this embodiment, a notification is sent to subscriber 12 once a chat room has expired.

A cron tab is set up on web server 14 to run at predetermined intervals. In one embodiment, the cron tab is set to run each night. A script queries the database to find chat rooms that exist past their predetermined expiration time. From the queried list, the users for that chat room are deleted from the database along with the actual chat room. The same script sends an email message to subscriber 12 through an SMTP server or an SMS text message is sent through an SMS gateway, depending on the notification method the subscriber used while creating the chat room. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for anonymous SMS to email messaging. As shown in FIG. 6, an SMS gateway 26 is used to manage the SMS text communication with cell phones. Web server 28 has multiple GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) modems installed 80a, 80b, 80c and 8Od. The SMS gateway software within SMS gateway 26 manages the incoming messages over multiple phone numbers. The system is also capable of managing a message with multiple short cues from an SMS service provider. The SMS gateway software communicates through HTTP to web application server 28. In one embodiment, four GSM cards are configured. The GSM cards facilitate methods of communication with the cell phone provider 82, as shown in FIG. 6.

SMS messages are sent over standard cell phone numbers that have normal voice communication blocked. The numbers are routed to GSM cards which are attached to web server 28 with PCI cards. The phone numbers have been acquired through a local mobile phone service provider. In one embodiment of the present invention, GSM cards are used, but the present invention would work with multiple short codes provided by a service provider and messages would be sent through an SMS service provider over TCP/IP.

Email messages are sent out through an SMTP server. This server is used for relaying the email messages to intended recipients from the web application server. The web application server handles the logic in routing messages. It is responsible for routing incoming and outgoing email messages along with storing messages in a database.

In another method, anonymous SMS text messages are sent to a specified phone number at an SMS gateway server and then are converted to an email address and sent to a recipient as an email. In reference to FIG. 7, subscriber 12 sends an SMS message 24 including an email address. An SMS gateway 26 receives SMS message 24 and passes SMS message 24 along with the email address of subscriber 12 to application server 28 via an HTTP query string.

An anonymous server application parses recipient's email address from SMS message 24 by setting the words in the message into an array. The first item in the array is checked to see if it is a valid email address format. If the email address is not properly formatted a failure notification is sent to subscriber 12. In order to send message 24 to SMS gateway 26 through its http, the message text is URL encoded. Web application server 28 handles the logic in routing messages. An email message 30 is sent to a message recipient 32, and the email address is parsed out to form a unique random code created for email message 30. Email message 30 is sent to a requested email address along with a reply link in email message 30 with a unique random code embedded in it. At the same time as email message 30 is sent, the unique random code, email message 30, the identification of subscriber 12 and the recipients email address are entered into the database (not shown).

When recipient 32 receives email message 30, he/she may reply to email message 30 by clicking on the reply link, with the embedded message code. The link takes recipient 32 to the anonymous web server, where he/she may enter a message response 34 to email message 30. Once submitted, email message 30 is tied to the original message by the embedded unique random code. Response 34 is entered into the database for viewing by subscriber 12. By looking up the subscriber's identification from the original message sent, the subscriber 12 cell phone number is retrieved. Email message 30 is then sent to the subscriber's 12 cell phone through SMS gateway 26, in the form of an SMS message 24.

Messages are stored for each subscriber in a database. In addition, received and sent messages may be viewed at anytime through a web interface securely, by logging in over a secure socket layer. Each subscriber has an inbox and an outbox that lists messages that they have sent and received. The application server retrieves the user's message from the database and presents a list of messages. When prompted, the application queries the database and retrieves the user's message which is then displayed. The subscriber has the option to delete messages from both the inbox and outbox. If this option is selected, the message is removed from the user's inbox or outbox.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to send text messages, subscribers purchase credits. After a subscriber has logged into their account, they may select the option to purchase credits in the web application. Credits are typically purchased in blocks of 50 at a specified cost. The purchase process is similar to the subscription process as shown in FIG. 1, however, if the transaction is approved, the credits are entered into the subscriber's record in the database. Credits are used for sending and receiving SMS text messages. In an embodiment, each message sent costs one credit and each message received by SMS costs one credit. Each credit used is marked in the subscriber's record. The total credits purchased minus the total credits are the number of credits available. When a subscriber sends an anonymous text message, their account information is queried from the database and available credits are retrieved. If the subscriber does not have credits available, an SMS message is sent to the subscriber notifying them to purchase more credits and the message is not sent. If the subscriber selects the option to send a message from the web browser interface, the available credits are queried before and they are alerted if they do not have available credits. If the subscriber has enough credits, the message is sent and their account is updated by adding a credit to their database record. If the subscriber has selected to receive the response by SMS message and has received a response, the subscriber is charged a credit and his/her account record in the database is updated. If the subscriber does not have enough credits, he/she is notified that he/she does not have enough credits and may view their message through the website and purchase more credits.

In another embodiment of the present invention, anonymous SMS messages are sent. An SMS server is used to manage the text communication with cell phones. The server has multiple GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) modems installed. The SMS server software manages the incoming and outgoing messages over multiple phone numbers. The system is also capable of managing messages with multiple short codes from an SMS service provider. The SMS server software communicates through an API to the web application server. In one embodiment, the web application server is configured with four GSM cards. The GSM cards are the method of communication with the cell phone provider.

Messages are sent over standard cell phone numbers that have normal voice communication blocked. The numbers are routed to GSM cards which are attached to the server with PCI cards. The phone numbers have been acquired through a local mobile phone service provider. In one embodiment, GSM cards are used, but the system would work with multiple short codes provided by a service provider and messages would be sent through an SMS service provider over TCP/IP. The web application server handles the logic in routing messages. It is responsible for routing incoming and outgoing messages along with storing the messages in a database.

Sending anonymous SMS text messages presents a many-to-one scenario, as shown in FIG. 8. There are many potential anonymous text message subscribers that can send messages to one potential recipient. Because text messaging is stateless and not easily trackable, this presents an issue in handling responses if all message responses came to one phone number. In an embodiment, multiple phone numbers are used. In an illustrative system, in FIG. 8, four phone numbers are used. Anonymous messages are sent out from one of these four numbers. A unique phone number is assigned for each message from the pool. This allows a recipient 50 to respond and the message may be routed to the correct sender using the combination of the recipient's phone number and the phone number the recipient is responding to. The use of the combination of the system set phone number and the recipient's number creates a unique pair that allows for keeping message state.

For a subscriber to send an SMS message to someone anonymously, subscriber 12 sends the message to one of the numbers of the SMS gateway 26. Subscriber 12 includes, in the beginning of their text message, the recipients phone number. SMS gateway 26 receives the message and passes the message along with the phone number of the sender to an application server 52 via an HTTP query string.

The anonymous web server application 52 parses the recipient's phone number from the message by setting all the words in the message into an array. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first item in the array is checked to see if it is a valid phone number format. The format is checked for international phone numbers, and the use of parenthesis and hyphens. If the first item in the array is a phone number, it is cleaned of all formatting by replacing all non-numeric characters with nothing. The database is then queried for the user identification of the sender based off the sender's cell phone number. The message is then entered into the database and tied to the sender's user identification. The message is then sent to SMS gateway 26 to be sent to the recipient's cell phone number that was previously parsed from the message. If the phone number is not properly formatted a failure notification is sent to the subscriber. In order to send message 24 to SMS gateway 26 through its http, message text is URL encoded. In addition, the number that message 24 is sent from should be known. The web application server handles the logic in routing messages. Following FIG. 9, when a subscriber sends an SMS message 100, the application is responsible for randomly selecting a number, from a pool of numbers, to send the message out from. In the application, the numbers are set into an array. The phone number to use is randomly selected from this array and checked to see if that number has been used by another subscriber to send an SMS to the same recipient within 48 hours, in step 102. If the number has been used, another number is randomly selected from the array minus the previous number. The number is validated in step 104 to determine if the recipient has already received a message from that number in the last 48 hours. If the number has been used then another number is selected in step 108. Otherwise, the number is used to send the message, in step 106. If the recipient has received more than four anonymous messages from separate subscribers in the last 48 hours, notification is sent back to the subscriber that all available lines to that recipient are currently used. To decrease the probability of this, more phone numbers may be added to the gateway. Therefore, anonymous messages to different recipients may be sent out using the same number, the only restriction is that a single recipient may not receive different anonymous messages using the same number.

As shown in FIG. 10, once the message 24 is prepared for sending, message 24 is sent to SMS gateway 26 through an HTTP API interface along with the recipient number and the number that should be used to send the message out from. With the provided information, SMS gateway 26 sends the anonymous message to the recipient 50. The message information, the recipient's number and the number the message was sent from, is written into a database 85.

Alternatively, subscribers may send SMS messages through the anonymous web server's website. As shown in FIG. 11, after logging into their account, a subscriber 12 enters the recipient's phone number and text message into form fields. The process for sending messages out through the web interface is similar to other outlined processes except the number is not parsed out from the message. Instead, the form information is passed to the application as separate data fields and the message is prepared for sending. In order for a message to be sent from application server 52 to gateway 26, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the sender of the anonymous message must be a valid subscriber and have available credits for sending the message. If the sender is not a subscriber or is out of credits, a text message response is sent to the sender notifying them of their status.

When recipient 50 responds to the message, the application looks for the sender/receiver phone number combination in the database and writes the response. The sender's phone number, and the number the message was sent to are written into the database assigning it to the subscriber 12 who originally sent the initial message. If the subscriber has selected to receive the response by an SMS message, in their account or while sending the message through the web interface, it is sent using the phone number they have listed in their profile.

If there is no response to a message, the message remains inactive for 48 hours and the application flags the message as expired. If the recipient responds after 48 hours, an SMS message is sent from the application server to the SMS gateway notifying them that the message has expired.

Alternatively, if an original text message may be identified based on the recipient's phone number, the number used for sending the original message, and/or the time the original message was sent, then the response may be forwarded to the original sender, depending on system settings. The phone numbers selected for sending the original message may be chosen in order to maximize the probability that the response message may be matched up to the original message, even after the passage of time. For example, if a subscriber is sending out several anonymous messages to different recipients in a short period of time, a different number may be used for each message, thereby increasing the likelihood that if a recipient responds at some point in the future (even after 48 hours), the system may match up the response to the original message (and therefore the subscriber). Alternatively, if the subscriber responds to the recipient's response, the same number may be used as for the original message, with the original message no longer identifiable by that number.

Messages are stored for each subscriber in a database. Received and sent messages may be viewed through a web interface securely, by logging in over a secure socket layer. Each subscriber has an inbox and outbox that list messages they have sent and received. The application server retrieves the user's message from the database and presents a list of messages. By clicking on the phone number of the message, the application queries the database and retrieves the user's message which is displayed in the web browser. The subscriber has the option to delete messages from both the inbox and outbox. In an embodiment, by clicking on a check box next to the message in the inbox or outbox and selecting a "delete selected items button" the application queries the database and flags the message as deleted. This removes the message from the user's inbox or outbox.

In addition to the description of specific, non-limited examples of embodiments of the invention provided herein, it should be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in numerous other applications involving the different configurations of anonymous messages. Although the invention is described hereinbefore with respect to illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An anonymous communication system, the system comprising: a user identifier, a fxrst user is identified; an authenticator to verify said first user; a communicator, said first user enters a message on said communicator to anonymously communicate with a second user; a software, said software manages said anonymous communication; a server application, said server application processes said anonymous communication; a processor, said processor sends said message to said server application; a notifier, said notifϊer generates and sends a notification to said second user; and a database, said database stores information about a plurality of users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an anonymous invitation is sent to a plurality of guests, wherein said anonymous invitation invites said plurality of guests to participate in said anonymous communication system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said message is transmitted over a standard https protocol.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said anonymous communication is in an anonymous chat room.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said anonymous communication is an SMS text message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said anonymous communication is an email.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said communicator is a cellular telephone.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said communicator is the Internet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said notifier alerts said first user when said message is communicated.

10. A system for communicating anonymously in a chat room over the Internet, the system comprising: a subscriber; a database, said database stores information about said subscriber; a verifier, said verifier confirms a match between information entered by said subscriber and information stored in said database; a software; a virtual chat room, said virtual chat room is selected by said subscriber; a random generator, said random generator generates random guest names and unique keys for each of at least one invited guest; an invitation generator, said invitation generator generates and sends an invitation to each of said at least one invited guest; and a notifier, said notifier sends a notification to said subscriber when each of said at least one invited guest joins said virtual chat room.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said invitation includes a URL link which links each of said at least one invited guest to said virtual chatroom.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a cron tab is installed in said system to check for an expired virtual chat room.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising an eraser, wherein said eraser removes said virtual chat room upon its expiration.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a cron tab is installed in said system to check for an expired virtual chat room and said cron tab removes said virtual chat room upon its expiration.

15. A system for sending an anonymous email from an SMS text message, the system comprising: a subscriber; an SMS gateway, wherein said SMS gateway manages a communication of an SMS text message from a cellular telephone from said subscriber; a server, wherein said server includes a connection to the Internet, wherein said server transmits said SMS text message; an SMS gateway software; a processor, said processor converts said SMS text message to an email message; and a communicator, said communicator transmits said email message to a receiver anonymously.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said SMS gateway manages incoming messages over a plurality of telephone numbers.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said SMS gateway software communicates through an HTTP to said server.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said processor parses out said email address from said SMS text message.

19. A method of sending an anonymous email message from an SMS text message, the method comprising: entering in a subscriber identification; sending an SMS text message to a specified phone number, wherein said phone number is at an SMS gateway server; including an email address of a recipient in said SMS text message; receiving said SMS text message; passing said SMS text message along with said email address to an application server; parsing said recipient email address from said SMS text message; sending said SMS text message to said recipient along with a reply link in said email message with a random code in said email message; and entering said random code, said email message, said subscriber identification and said recipient email address into a database.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said subscriber purchases at least one credit in order to send an anonymous SMS text message.

21. A system for sending and receiving an anonymous SMS text message, the system comprising: a subscriber; a subscriber identifier; an SMS gateway, said SMS gateway receives an SMS text message from said subscriber; an application server, said application server receives said SMS text message and an identification for said subscriber; an application server software, said software parses said SMS text message from said identification for said subscriber; a communicator, said communicator sends said SMS text message to said SMS gateway; a recipient, said recipient receives said SMS text message from said SMS gateway.

22. An anonymous communication system, the system comprising: a user identifier, wherein a first user is identified; a message from said first user; a gateway to receive said message; and a server to route said message to a recipient anonymously.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein said message includes a written message and an email address.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said server parses said email address from said message.

25. A method for anonymously communicating, the method comprising: logging in as a subscriber; verifying log in information of said subscriber; entering a message to be communicated anonymously to at least one recipient; processing and parsing said message; sending said message to a server application; notifying said at least one recipient of said message; and storing said information of said subscriber, said message, and information of said recipient.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said parsing step includes parsing an email address from said message.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising sending an anonymous invitation to a plurality of guests, wherein said invitation requests said guests to participate in an anonymous virtual chat room.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said sending step is sent over a standard https protocol.

29. A method for communicating anonymously in a chat room over the Internet, the method comprising: logging in as a subscriber; storing information about said subscriber; verifying a match between information entered by said subscriber and information stored in said database; selecting an option to start a virtual chat room; generating random guest names and unique keys for each of at least one invited guest; inviting at least one invited guest; and notifying said subscriber when each of said at least one invited guest joins said virtual chat room.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising checking for an expired virtual chat room.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising removing said virtual chat room upon its expiration.

2. The method of claim 29, further comprising: installing a cron tab; checking for an expired virtual chat room; and removing said virtual chat room upon its expiration.