`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0027901A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 7, 2002
`Liu et al.
`
`US 20020027901A1
`
`(54)
`
`(76)
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`(21)
`(22)
`
`(63)
`
`APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMS
`FOR ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATION
`
`Inventors: Christina Ying Liu, Vancouver, WA
`(US); William Ho Chang, Vancouver,
`WA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`SMITH-HILL AND BEDELL
`12670 NW BARNES ROAD
`SUTE 104
`PORTLAND, OR 97229
`Appl. No.:
`09/947,116
`Filed:
`Sep. 4, 2001
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Non-provisional of provisional application No.
`60/230,021, filed on Sep. 5, 2000.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`H04L 12/66
`Int. Cl."
`5
`nt. Cl.' .....................................................
`1.
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................... 370/352; 370/338; 370/349
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Anonymous voice communication between a first Station
`and a Second Station is facilitated by providing an interface
`that allows input of a transaction Specification from at least
`one of the first and Second Stations. A reference code
`asSociated with the transaction is generated, there being a
`defined relationship between the reference code and the
`address of the Second Station for voice communication. The
`reference code is Supplied to the first Station, and a voice
`communication request and the reference code are received
`from the first station. The reference code is used to recover
`Said address and a channel for voice communication is
`opened between Said first and Second Stations. Voice com
`munication can thereby be established between the first and
`Second Stations without providing the address of the Second
`Station to the first Station.
`
`
`
`PACKETDATA
`
`RANSACTION
`SPECIFICATO
`3.
`
`2
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`
`
`
`
`1.
`
`INTERNET
`ENABLED
`
`NTERNET
`ENABLED
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`NETWORK
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`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 001
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 7, 2002 Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`
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`PACKETDATA
`
`INTERNET
`ENABLED
`DEVICE
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`.
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`,
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`45
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`INTERNET
`ENABLED
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`CONTROLLER
`UNIT
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`CODE 36
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`COMMUNICATION
`NETWORK
`
`FIG.
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`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 002
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 7, 2002. Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`
`
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`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 003
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`Mar. 7, 2002. Sheet 3 of 6
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`
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`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 004
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`Mar. 7, 2002 Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`O
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`12
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`USERS CONDUCT ON-LINE
`TRANSACTIONS
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`TRANSACTION
`SPECIFICATIONS
`SUBMITTED
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`
`
`REQUEST
`ANONYMOUSWOCE
`CONVERSATION?
`
`USE OTHER
`COMMUNICATION
`MEANS
`
`18
`
`SERWER PASSES CONNECTION
`INSTRUCTION
`
`122
`
`24
`
`CONTROLLER UNIT
`GENERATES REFERENCE CODE
`FOR CONNECTION
`
`
`
`
`
`DELIVERY OF REFERENCE
`CODE AND OTHER
`NFORMATION
`
`ASSIGNED USER
`MANUALLY RECORDS
`THE CONFIRMATION
`
`CONFIRMATION
`AUTOMATICALLY STORED
`
`
`
`128
`
`PG 4A
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`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 005
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Mar. 7, 2002 Sheet 5 of 6
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`REECT THE
`CONNECTION
`
`NOTFY CAL ED
`PARTY OF THE
`ATTEMPT
`
`140
`
`42
`
`CONNECTION PROGRAM
`REMINDSASSIGNED USER
`OF THE CONNECTION
`
`CONNECTION PROGRAM
`AUTOMATICALY MAKES
`CONNECTION
`
`130
`
`132
`
`35
`
`ASSIGNED USERNITATES
`THE CA.
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`ASSIGNED USERNPUIS
`REFERENCE CODE
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`CONTROLER UNIT
`RETREVES CONNECTION
`INSTRUCTION
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`138
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`N
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`139
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`CONNECTION
`CRERAME?
`
`y
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`44
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`CONTROLLER UNITROUES
`THE CA TO THE CAED
`PARTY
`
`
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`46
`
`CONNECTION
`ESTABLISHED?
`
`
`
`N
`
`CONTROLLERUN
`PROVIDESFURTHER
`ASSISTANCE
`
`Y
`
`150
`
`8
`
`52
`
`CONTROLLER UNIT
`GENERAESTRANSACTION
`LOG
`
`CONNECTION
`TIME, DURATION,
`SATSFACTION
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`CONTROLER UNIT
`TRANSMTS CONNECTION
`REPORTS
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`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 006
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`Mar. 7, 2002. Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 007
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`Mar. 7, 2002
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`APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR
`ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`0001. This application claims benefit of Provisional
`Application No. 60/230,021 filed Sep. 5, 2000, the entire
`disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference
`herein for all purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0002 The Internet is a collection of computer networks
`from which users obtain and share information. The Internet
`has evolved from the ARPAnet to become the largest com
`puter network in the World. The Internet Supports various
`services. Of these services, the World Wide Web (the
`“Web”) and email are among the most widely used. Of these,
`the Web comprises a collection of hundreds of millions of
`documents (“Web pages') written in mark up languages
`Such as HTML, XML, and WML.
`0003. In Internet transmissions, Transaction Control Pro
`tocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) is the communication
`standard. TCP/IP is a suite of protocols enabling communi
`cation between each node of the network. With the increas
`ing bandwidth being offered by network carriers, not only
`data but also voice, audio and Video are increasingly being
`transmitted through the network.
`0004. The evolution of the Internet continues and, in so
`doing, drives Internet-related product development, includ
`ing in hardware, Software and protocols. The Internet is
`extending in wireleSS communication and handheld devices.
`As an example, Internet-enabled cellular phones (Such as
`Smart and Super phones) combine the features of cellular
`phones with the ability to access the Internet. AS another
`example, certain personal digital assistants ("PDAs) are
`directed to couple Standard features with wireleSS access to
`the Internet. These phones, PDAs and other handheld
`devices exploit protocols such as, but not limited to, WAP,
`Web clipping, HDML or CHTML. Through these Internet
`enabled devices, it is anticipated that users will not only
`place phone calls, organize their Schedules and/or otherwise
`exploit the respective device's Standard functionality, but
`also access the Internet for browsing the Web, obtaining
`information, communicating (e.g., via email) and the like. In
`So doing, it is also anticipated that the device's Standard
`features and the Internet's benefits will both be enhanced.
`0005 The evolution of the Internet also implicates an
`evolution, if not revolution, in the infrastructure of commu
`nication networks. Today, people generally obtain personal
`access to the Internet by dialing up Internet Service provid
`ers, the dial up may be carried for example over circuit
`switched networks (“CSN”), typically via local telecommu
`nications providers. In dial up, CSNs establish a physical
`circuit, which is dedicated exclusively to the call between
`the parties.
`0006 While generally available to users, CSNs appear to
`be in relative decline, being increasingly Supplanted by
`packet-Switched technologies. Packet-Switched technolo
`gies significantly increase a network's Speed and capacity. In
`packet-Switched networks, traffic is digitized, compressed,
`and transported as packets. These networks enable the
`
`packets of a particular transmission to travel through various
`channels from Source to destination. Moreover, these net
`WorkS enable traffic in varied media types, including Voice,
`audio, Video, text, data and facsimile. In enabling the varied
`types, moreover, the networks may deploy technologies
`(e.g., ATM), which enable significant features, Such as
`quality of Service, wherein priorities are assigned to and
`among the media types (e.g., So that packets of voice
`communications arrive timely, thereby ensuring adequate
`fidelity for the conversation).
`0007 Packet-switched networks follow open standards.
`Accordingly, these networks enhance the ability of Service
`providers to deploy new Services, including high-bandwidth
`Services for Internet use or otherwise (e.g., television pro
`gramming and/or Video on demand). By comparison, in
`circuit-Switched networks, the call control functionality and
`the service logic tend to be buried within the Switch.
`Moreover, the functionality generally is proprietary to the
`Switch vendors. AS Such, new Services generally are
`deployed at the discretion of the Switch vendor, not the
`Service providers.
`0008. In addition to hardware, software, protocols and
`infrastructure, the evolution of the Internet also implicates
`development of new and improved Services. Already, mar
`ketplaces on the Internet (i.e., virtual marketplaces) are well
`known and increasingly diverse in direction, content and
`business model. Ebay, Yahoo, E*Trade and Amazon are
`examples, each facilitating transactions, including the Sell
`ing, buying and auctioning of merchandise and the provision
`of Services, with and among enterprises and individuals. The
`merchandise and Services comprise a wide variety, from
`books to automobiles, to Stocks, to calendaring, that seems
`ever expanding in breadth.
`0009. Overcoming the geographic constraints of physical
`proximity, the Internet also introduces increasing and new
`opportunities for people to meet and interact with each other.
`Communities on the Internet (i.e., virtual communities) are
`well known and increasingly diverse in Style, content and
`target participants. Virtual communities typically offer Ser
`vices and associated tools, Such as chat rooms, email and
`Web publishing. Through these services and tools, virtual
`communities enable their participants to communicate,
`including to express their respective views, share common
`interest(s) and otherwise interact as if in the physical world,
`and increasingly in ways not available in the physical world.
`0010 Virtual marketplaces may facilitate the exchange or
`trading of ideas, knowledge and information between and
`among individuals and entities (sometimes referred to col
`lectively herein as “participants”). These virtual market
`places (“information marketplaces”) tend to have an express
`or implied premise, understanding or foundation: individu
`als and entities have one or more interests and/or areas of
`expertise that can or should be (a) shared with or provided
`to participants, (b) nurtured/advanced by interaction with
`participants, and/or (c) otherwise communicated to or with
`other participants for some derived benefit of either or both
`participants.
`0011. In an example of a transaction in a contemplated
`information marketplace, a participant (the “initiator') posts
`a question, inquiry or view ("posting”) at a Selected Web site
`of the marketplace. The initiator has the goal of obtaining
`one or more of answers, information, direction, responses or
`
`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 008
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`Mar. 7, 2002
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`interaction (“response') from or with one or more partici
`pants. The initiator may choose to direct the posting to
`Selected participants (“experts'). The initiator preferably is
`enabled to Select experts based on the expertsidentified or
`claimed interest/expertise. The initiator may have identified
`interests and expertise. Indeed, the initiator may also be an
`expert in the marketplace and, conversely, the expert may
`also be an initiator in the marketplace.
`0012. A contemplated information marketplace prefer
`ably Supports provision of the qualifications or characteris
`tics of its experts, initiators and/or participants and may do
`So variously. In an example case, the marketplace publishes
`qualifications/characteristics (e.g., on Web sites or page(s)).
`The qualifications/characteristics may be mandated or Vol
`untary, or a combination. The qualifications/characteristics
`may, particularly in the case of initiators, be Selectable by the
`participant. The qualifications/characteristics may include
`various data, Such as, among others, profile descriptions,
`transaction history (e.g., in the marketplace), ratings (e.g.,
`marketplace, participant, expert and/or initiator provided),
`comments and reviews (e.g., marketplace, participant,
`expert and/or initiator provided), fee Schedules or other
`forms of pricing. Profile descriptions may include, among
`other things, certifications (e.g., marketplace, professional,
`or governmental), Specialties, Sub-area(s) of interest/exper
`tise, education, years of practice, awards, geographic loca
`tion, and geographic Scope or limitation on the interest/
`expertise.
`Profile descriptions may also include
`particularly for initiators-qualifications or characteristics
`in the field of the posting, transaction history in the field of
`the posting, credit rating, age, education level, and geo
`graphic location.
`0013. Once an initiator selects one or more experts, a next
`Step is to establish a communication link between the
`initiator and an expert for posting and response (an “infor
`mation transaction”). A communication link may be vari
`ously provided, including via email, online chat and instant
`messaging. However, a drawback of email is that it relies on
`text communication (e.g., typing), with its attendant
`mechanical challenges. Another drawback of email is the
`time lag (“latency') between sending an email and receiving
`a response. Yet another drawback of email is that it has a low
`level of interactivity and, as Such, tends to be impersonal,
`ambiguous and inefficient in communication. Accordingly,
`email tends to hinder experts in providing a response,
`particularly one Suited to and Satisfying of the initiator's
`needs.
`Online chat and instant messaging tend to be more
`0.014.
`interactive than email. Even So, each also again relies on text
`communication. Moreover, by their nature, chat and instant
`messaging tend to introduce an emphasis on Speed in that
`text communication (e.g., fast typing). This emphasis gen
`erally is undesirable. Indeed, this emphasis can be a Sub
`Stantial hindrance for people either who are not familiar or
`adept with keyboards, who are physically excluded from
`keyboard use and/or whose written language is not based on
`Roman characters (e.g., those using Symbol-based written
`languages, such as Chinese). Moreover, this emphasis may
`be specifically undesirable and the hindrance exacerbated in
`the context of an information instruction (e.g., initiators
`and/or experts in an information marketplace find the
`emphasis on rapid typing to be detrimental to an information
`instruction).
`
`0015) Given these drawbacks, a contemplated informa
`tion marketplace preferably Supplants or Supplements email,
`online chat and instant messaging with other forms of
`Internet-based or Internet-related communication. Such
`forms of communication typically rely—at least in part-on
`Voice communication. These forms include audio and/or
`audio/video conferencing, with or without text communica
`tion. These forms are desirable in their enhanced interactiv
`ity, reduced latency and de-emphasis on writing, particularly
`rapid writing. AS Such, these forms tend to provide more
`personal, direct, clear and efficient communication. These
`forms are simply more natural. Accordingly, these forms
`tend to be particularly desirable for initiators and experts
`alike in the context of an information marketplace.
`0016 Although voice communication tends to be more
`direct, efficient and otherwise desirable than e-mail, chat,
`and instant messaging, Voice communication also tends to
`have Some drawbacks. In particular, voice communication
`generally is Subject to a lower level of anonymity (whether
`real or perceived) than is typically associated with each of
`email, chat and instant messaging.
`0017 Anonymity typically characterizes interaction and
`other communication via the Internet. For example, people
`are enabled to interact and otherwise communicate in cyber
`Space without revealing much, if any, personal information,
`Such as legal names or phone numbers.
`0018 Internet users tend to prefer anonymity for various
`reasons. AS an example, an employee using the Internet to
`Search for a new job desires anonymity So as to preclude any
`revelation of their identity to a current employer, Supervisors
`and/or colleagues. AS another example, an individual who
`has provided personal financial data to an online planner
`may desire anonymity So that the data is not associated with
`the individual's identity (Such association potentially trans
`forming the raw data into valuable information). As yet
`another example, members of Internet communities use
`various kinds of Substitute names (e.g., aliases, nicknames or
`user names) in communicating with each other.
`0019. The shortfall of anonymity in voice communica
`tions - particularly conversations conducted via the Stan
`dard telephone System-tends to introduce problems with
`privacy, particularly expectations of privacy. A common
`Such problem is the receipt of unwanted phone calls. These
`unwanted calls can be annoying (e.g., telephone calls from
`tele-marketers), disturbing (e.g., contact from objectionable
`political organizations) and even frightening (e.g., intrusions
`from Ostensibly dangerous individuals). Perhaps because
`Voice communication is direct, unwanted calls tend to be
`difficult to terminate. Perhaps because telephone conversa
`tions are more personal, people tend not to fully block,
`automatically reject or otherwise absolutely deal with calls
`from unknown Sources, which calls have a tendency to be
`unwanted but which could cause desirable or important calls
`to be missed (e.g., a friend of family member calling for
`emergency assistance).
`0020 Based at least in part on concerns about unwanted
`calls, people remain reluctant to disclose their phone num
`bers, particularly their home telephone and personal cellular
`numbers. This reluctance also tends to reflect, at least in part,
`the perception that phone numbers enable the recipients to
`more readily discover personal information about the perSon
`that disclosed the number, Such as name and physical
`
`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 009
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`US 2002/0027901 A1
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`Mar. 7, 2002
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`address. This reluctance also tends to result in Slow accep
`tance and lesser use among Internet users of Voice commu
`nication (i.e., as compared to email, chat and instant mes
`Saging), whether Such communication is Internet-based or
`Internet-related (e.g., via Standard telephone Service (also
`known as the plain old telephone system (“POTS”)), but
`initiated by or in connection with Internet Services).
`0021. It is desirable, then, to integrate voice communi
`cation and anonymity. An example of Such integration may
`be illustrated in the context of an information marketplace.
`There, an initiator determines to conduct an information
`instruction with a Selected expert Via Voice communication.
`To do So, the initiator Submits a request for voice commu
`nication with the Selected expert, the Submission being
`through the Internet to the operator or other infrastructure of
`the information marketplace (or other Service or System that
`Supports linking by voice communication). The marketplace
`contacts the Selected expert. The contact may be via (a) the
`Internet, So as to Support Voice communication as voice over
`Internet protocol (“VoIP) or (b) telephone service. In either
`case, if the contact results in establishing a voice commu
`nication link with the expert, the marketplace maintains that
`link (e.g., puts the expert on hold) while establishing voice
`connection with the initiator before connecting the expert
`and the initiator. The marketplace makes that connection, in
`one case, by linking the initiator and the expert over the
`Internet, with the marketplace either interposed in the trans
`mission of packets or enabling direct transmission. In
`another case, the marketplace bridges between the initiator
`communicating over the Internet (e.g., VoIP) and the expert
`communicating via Standard telephony. In yet another case,
`the marketplace connects by contacting the initiator by
`telephone and, once the initiator is on the line, connecting
`the initiator with the expert who is also linked by telephone.
`In each and any case, a connection is made and Voice
`communication is enabled, characterized by enhanced Sup
`port for anonymity.
`0022 Integration of anonymity and voice communication
`in this form tends to have shortfalls. One of the shortfalls is
`that a party may be contacted, without advance notice and at
`any time by the marketplace, responsive to any initiator's
`request. That Scope of contact tends to deprive the contacted
`party of control over their respective Schedules, which in
`turn, tends to degrade productivity and efficiency in their
`work and to reduce the quality of their personal time. Indeed,
`without advance notice of calls in an information market
`place, an expert may be induced to keep the telephone
`proximate at all times, So as to either take calls in interrup
`tion of other work or play and/or to forestall work or play in
`anticipation of calls (e.g., calls that might never arise). This
`tends to have enhanced relevance in the commercial or
`professional context, wherein the expert Seeks to provide
`high quality and highly responsive Service to clients (e.g.,
`initiators) So as to, among other things, keep clients satisfied
`and otherwise happy with the provided Services (e.g., to
`avoid unanswered calls).
`0023. One solution to this shortfall is to support specified
`times and/or time range(s) during which a party (e.g., an
`expert of an information marketplace) is committed to be
`available for receipt of calls from the information market
`place. In the information marketplace, these times and
`ranges are office hours. During an experts office hours, the
`expert commits, or even guarantees, to be present to receive
`
`calls from the marketplace. At the same time, the expert
`benefits by enhanced knowledge of and personal control
`over, when Such calls, if any, may arise.
`0024. This solution, however, also has shortfalls. In the
`information marketplace, one shortfall is its tendency to
`reduce, from an already finite number of experts available
`via the marketplace, the number of experts actually available
`at any given time. That is, at any given time, it is to be
`expected that, via the marketplace, less than all of the
`experts are within their office hours. Moreover, even if a
`particular expert is within their office hours, a reduced
`Supply of experts will tend to reduce the frequency at which
`requests result in a connection (e.g., the expert will have an
`increased chance of being busy with another, earlier initia
`tor).
`0025. Another shortfall is that the initiator will generally
`attempt to contact the expert promptly, if not immediately or
`Substantially immediately, after indicating interest in con
`tact, and this might not be convenient for the expert even if
`the initiator attempts to make contact within the expert's
`office hours.
`0026 AS another example, a service or System Supporting
`integration may assign individuals and entities respective
`user codes, each of which uniquely identifies the particular
`user. To Support Such codes, the Service/system Stores the
`codes, e.g., in one or more databases. Preferably, the Service/
`System associates the codes with the telephone number
`and/or contact information of the respective individuals and
`entities.
`0027. The service/system may use the user codes vari
`ously. For example, in a virtual chat room context, the
`Service/system may enable participants to place an adver
`tisement (e.g., in a publication, Such as a physical or virtual
`magazine) carrying the telephone number of the marketplace
`and citing the user code. In that circumstance, an observer of
`the advertisement may contact the participant by placing a
`telephone call to the marketplace and entering the user code.
`The Service/System then establishes the communication link
`to the participant, e.g., by placing the observer on hold,
`retrieving the participant's telephone number by association
`with the user code, contacting the participant and, once the
`participant is contacted and found to be available, connect
`ing the participant with the calling observer. In this manner,
`the observer does not know the actual phone number of the
`participant, thus preserving the participants anonymity.
`0028. This design is suitable for chat rooms where par
`ticipants talk to each other casually, and the System only
`needs to identify different participants. However, user code
`is not sufficient to identify and describe different transac
`tions having different transaction Specifications and connec
`tion criteria among participants, as in the context of an
`information marketplace where participants buy and Sell
`information.
`0029. As still another example, a service or system Sup
`porting integration of anonymity and Voice communication
`may assign each user a contact code, the contact code
`identifying each user as a party to a Scheduled Voice com
`munication. The contact code may be one or more groups of
`alphanumeric characters (e.g., if the contact code comprises
`a call code and password, it may be provided as one or two
`numbers). In Supporting contact codes, the Service/system
`
`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 010
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`Mar. 7, 2002
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`enables the parties to place separate telephone calls (through
`the public Switched telephone network or via the Internet) to
`the Service/system (or related infrastructure) at a Scheduled
`time. Upon connection with the Service/System, each party
`enters their respective contact codes (e.g., through their
`telephone keypads). The Service/system compares the con
`tact codes entered by the parties and connects the telephone
`calls if the contact codes are proper (e.g., the codes must
`either match exactly or match in accordance with predeter
`mined criteria).
`0030 Yet another example is an extension of the contact
`code feature. In this case, the Service/system creates, after
`the first Successful connection between two parties, a record
`indicative of these two parties and/or of the connection.
`Based on that record, the Service/system may be configured
`to connect either party to the other when, in the future, one
`party dials into the System and inputs their contact code.
`That is, the Service/system places a call to the non-calling
`party, rather than requiring the non-calling party to dial in.
`In Such case, the Service/system may be configured to
`Support (a) provision of information to the called party about
`the calling party, e.g., upon the Service/system contacting the
`called party, (b) a request that the called party enter their
`contact code, (c) a combination of these. The Service/system
`may be configured So that either or both parties may elect in
`or out of this feature.
`0031. In addition to the shortfall of using user code, this
`method requires participants placing Separate phone calls to
`the Service/system at the same time.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0032. It has now been recognized that the services/
`Systems described above do not allow one or more parties to
`Specify the nature of the transaction, e.g. with respect to time
`or time interval, billing arrangements, and other variables.
`0033. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention
`there is provided a method of facilitating anonymous voice
`communication between a first Station and a Second Station,
`at least the Second Station having an address for voice
`communication, the method comprising providing an inter
`face that allows input of a transaction Specification from at
`least one of the first and Second Stations, generating a
`reference code associated with the transaction, there being a
`defined relationship between the reference code and Said
`address, Supplying the reference code to at least the first
`Station, receiving a voice communication request from the
`first Station, receiving the reference code from the first
`Station, using the reference code to recover Said address, and
`opening a channel for Voice communication between said
`first and Second Stations, whereby voice communication can
`be established between the first and second stations without
`providing Said address to the first Station.
`0034.
`In accordance with a second aspect of the invention
`there is provided a method of establishing anonymous voice
`communication between a first Station and a Second Station,
`at least the Second Station having an address for voice
`communication, the method comprising Supplying a trans
`action Specification from at least one of the first and Second
`Stations to a controller, generating a reference code associ
`ated with the transaction at the controller, there being a
`defined relationship between the reference code and Said
`address, Supplying the reference code from the controller to
`
`at least the first Station, making a voice communication
`request from the first Station to the controller, Supplying the
`reference code from the first Station to the controller, using
`the controller to recover Said address from the reference
`code, and opening a channel for voice communication
`between said first and Second Stations.
`0035) In accordance with a third aspect of the invention
`there is provided an apparatus for facilitating anonymous
`Voice communication between a first party and a Second
`party, at least the Second party having an address for voice
`communication, including a means for enabling negotiation
`of a transaction specification, a means for generating a
`reference code, there being a defined relationship between
`the reference code and Said address, and for Supplying the
`reference code to the first party, a means for receiving a
`Voice communication request from the first party and for
`receiving the reference code from the first party, a means for
`using the reference code to recover Said address, and a
`means for opening a voice communication channel between
`Said first party and Said address without Supplying Said
`address to the first party.
`0036) A preferred embodiment of the invention facilitates
`anonymous Voice communication between parties involved
`in online transactions.
`0037. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, either/
`both parties are able to schedule individually or in coordi
`nation one or more future (and/or immediate) appointments
`for voice communication while preserving anonymity.
`0038 A preferred embodiment of the invention allows
`transacting parties to Specify their mutually agreed connec
`tion criteria, Such as connection time frame, which party
`should initiate the connection, charging method and duration
`of the communication. Referring to the example of an expert
`community, experts are not restricted to their office hours
`without knowing when, if ever, they will be contacted by the
`System for Servicing a user request. On the other hand, users
`would be able to have access to all registered experts without
`having to wait for their office hours because both parties can
`Set up mutually agreed upon appointment time for voice
`communication.
`0039. In various forms of integration of voice commu
`nication and anonymity, one or more additional features may
`be desirable. As an example, a Service or System Supporting
`integration may provide a transaction tracking mechanism
`and/or process that enables identification and cataloging of
`a user's various transactions. Such mechanism and/or pro
`ceSS responds to the fact that a given user may have a history
`of transactions and, at any given time, may be involved in
`Several transactions, with each Such past and current trans
`action typically having different attributes and connection
`criteria.
`0040. To illustrate by scenario, users A, B and C are
`participants in an information marketplace. In the market
`place, participant A is an expert in both career planning and
`fishing. Participant A is counseling participants B and C,
`individually, as to career planning, with the assistance being
`provided via anonymous voice communication. Participant
`A is also advising participant C as to fishing skills, which
`advice if provided via email. Participant A charges different
`fees to participant B than to participant C for career plan
`ning, based on the differing complexity of the cases. Par
`
`WhatsApp LLC
`Exhibit 1031
`Page 011
`
`
`
`US 2002/0027901 A1
`
`Mar. 7, 2002
`
`ticipant A charges participant C a much lower price for the
`fishing advice. Moreover, participant A counsels participant