This invention relates to communication system and method
High profile individuals do not want to provide their communication details to be known by a potential caller. This problem can particularly acute for individuals who come under intense scrutiny from news media and other members of the public, and hence may wish the details of their communication channels to remain anonymous.
It is an object of the invention to provide a communication system and method or to at least provide the public or industry with a useful choice.
According to one example embodiment there is provided a method of establishing a communication session between at least two parties comprising the steps of:
Preferably the authorisers are authorised representatives of a target.
Preferably the authoriser and the target party are the same party.
Preferably including the step of receiving from each party information on a plurality of communication channels.
Preferably the communication channels are kept confidential and the step of establishing a communication session between the requesting party and the target party includes establishing a confidential communication session between the requesting party and the target party.
Preferably including the step of notifying the target party of the communication session including notifying the target party of the time period.
Preferably including the step of notifying the parties of the communication session.
Preferably including the step of providing a search tool to search the stored information on the parties and wherein the method incudes receiving a request to search for a target party and providing a list of target parties that match the search criteria.
Preferably including the step of receiving a request to exclude a target party for a search and wherein a target party that is excluded from a search is not provided in the list of target parties.
Preferably the communication session is established over a channel selected from the group comprising a web application, a mobile telephone, a telephone line
Preferably the steps of notifying the requesting party of the at least one time period occurs by connecting the requesting party.
Preferably establishing a communication session between the requesting party and the target party if the requesting party is authorised to contact the target party at the time the communication session is initiated occurs immediately.
Preferably the authoriser is a virtual authoriser.
Preferably the virtual authoriser accesses multiple data sources and applies machine learning to assist with connection and scheduling decisions.
Preferably the virtual authoriser uses neural networks to assist with connection and scheduling decisions.
Preferably one or more computer readable media storing computer-usable instructions that, when used by a computing device, causes the computing device to implement the method.
According to a further example embodiment there is provided a system for controlling communication session between at least two parties, the system comprising:
wherein the one or more processors are programmed to:
Preferably the authorisers are authorised representatives of a target party.
Preferably the authoriser and the target party are the same party.
Preferably the one or more processors are further programmed to receive from each party information on a plurality of communication channels.
Preferably the communication channels are kept confidential and establishing a communication session between the requesting party and the target party includes establishing a confidential communication session between the requesting party and the target party.
Preferably the one or more processors are further programmed to notify the target party of the communication session including notifying the target party of the time period.
Preferably the one or more processors are further programmed to notify the parties of the communication session.
Preferably the one or more processors are further programmed to provide a search tool to search the stored information on the parties and wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to receive a request to search for a target party and provide a list of target parties that match the search criteria.
Preferably the one or more processors are further programmed to receive a request to exclude a target party for a search and wherein a target party that is excluded from a search is not provided in the list of target parties.
Preferably the communication session is established over a channel selected from the group comprising a web application, a mobile telephone, a telephone line
Preferably the steps of notifying the requesting party of the at least one time period occurs by connecting the requesting party.
Preferably establishing a communication session between the requesting party and the target party if the requesting party is authorised to contact the target party at the time the communication session is initiated occurs immediately.
Preferably the authoriser is a virtual authoriser.
Preferably the virtual authoriser accesses multiple data sources and applies machine learning to assist with connection and scheduling decisions.
Preferably the virtual authoriser uses neural networks to assist with connection and scheduling decisions.
It is acknowledged that the terms “comprise”, “comprises” and “comprising” may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning—i.e., they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components which the use directly references, and possibly also of other non-specified components or elements.
Reference to any document in this specification does not constitute an admission that it is prior art, validly combinable with other documents or that it forms part of the common general knowledge.
The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which:
The present application in one embodiment relates to a communication protocol that allows the user of a mobile device or other communication channel such as a web application or telephone line to schedule at least one communication session or telephone call to or from the communication channel without sharing the contact details for the communication session or native identification information.
The system provides a means for parties to negotiate and agree a specific time and duration, and optionally having a specific purpose. The system and method provides a software platform that can be used to register, negotiate, agree, schedule and route the call, and can be utilised with a broker, agent or authoriser acting as an intermediary or direct between individuals. The system and method is directed to situations where a requesting party knows the identity of the call target party but may not know their direct communication channel details, for example does not know their private mobile telephone number. The target party may be a VIP, and the requesting party may have a valid reason for requesting contact on a time limited basis, such as for a media interview. In a further example scenario, the target may authorize the authoriser to intercept incoming calls to their phone number (i.e. in the case where the requestor already has the targets contact information). The authoriser would then consider this initial call attempt as a request, and proceed to negotiate from there.
The system and method includes means for making requests to schedule a call with a target party, together with negotiation, agreement, scheduling and routing, while keeping contact details anonymous. The system and method provides for a traditional agent to act as a broker (or authorizer) for the communication session and allows negotiation, agreement and scheduling of calls.
In a further embodiment, the system and method provides a means to record the communication session and a means to enable the recorded session to be retrieved by the target party and with the authorisation of the target party the requesting party may also retrieve the recorded communication session.
In a further embodiment, the system and method provides a means to allow a target to share their direct communication channel details, for example their mobile telephone number and have an authoriser screen incoming calls and decide if the call should be connected 551 immediately, scheduled for a later date or ignored completely.
The system and method provides that an authorizer may authorise the communication session between a party requesting a communication session and a target party. In one embodiment, the target party may authorize the communication session or alternatively a party authorized by the target party may authorize the communication sessions
The system and method provides for unified communications such that one party may use an analogue telephone and another a messaging application. Communication between, analogue telephones, cellular telephone, voice over IP, internet messaging and video is provided for while allowing the parties to have anonymity.
A search engine is also provided that allows parties to find each other and initiate a call negotiation. Target parties may choose not to be searchable.
Referring to
Once the requestor 122 has the target's 121 information the requestor 122 can request 126 a communication session. Again, a virtual assistant/authoriser 131 or an authorizer 123 can process the request and if the request is acceptable will schedule the communication session. Both the requestor's 122 and target's 121 schedule 141, 142 can be taken into account by the authoriser 123 or virtual assistant/authoriser 131.
Once the time window 150 is agreed the requestor 122 can initiate 155 the communication session, the system 110 checks that the communication session is authorised and connects 156 the requestor 122 to the target 121.
The system 110 analyses 160 the session and make the information available to the authoriser 123.
While it is envisaged most the communication sessions may be one off, the system and method provides for the control of time-based communication sessions. For example the requesting party may be granted access anytime, once only at a specific time, business days between 8 am and 6 pm. An example could be a romantic partner is allowed access anytime, but because the communication session goes through the system and method of the present invention should the parties separate then the target party 121 can remove the authorization. This potentially saves the target party 121 from having to change their phone number.
The system has been created to address the needs of those people that have high public profiles and provides the ability to communicate with a caller on an agreed basis, either one time or ongoing all while not revealing their private communication details.
Referring to
The processor of the system controller 110 is arranged to perform the steps of a program stored as program instructions within the memory device. The program instructions enable the various methods of performing the invention as described herein to be performed.
Referring to
The contact details of a user may include their mobile phone number (for calls and SMS), other telephone numbers, email addresses and social handles. Registered devices in the system are identified by their MAC Address—“a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications”. This allows registered devices to communicate without the use of phone numbers.
A user may add other users. For example, an authoriser may become an authoriser for existing users 512 by asking 513 the user or the users authoriser to authorise them, if the user or authoriser accepts the authoriser then the authoriser becomes an authoriser for the user. Alternative an authoriser may send information 513 to new user, who may or may not decide to register 514. Requesting and target users who are not registered may still have a communication session set up by an authoriser.
Referring again to
Once the searched user has been found or the caller is provided with the details in another way, such as being provided with the targets details a request 530 for a call 531 can be made and has an initial status of requested 531. The details of the call are discussed below. A call is managed and negotiated by an authoriser and a requester. If the target of the call is an existing user then it may be as simple as the authoriser accepting the request, this may happen immediately. Alternatively, if the request is for a user not on the system and possibly not having an authoriser the system may send request information to the target 121. If the target 121 then registers with the system or is registered by another user the request can be accepted.
A communication session may be scheduled 540 and has an initial status of unscheduled, once scheduled has a status 541 of scheduled. A system user, or their authoriser may schedule a communication session, once the requester and authoriser agree the call is scheduled or authorised 541. In some situations, the schedule may not be acceptable to either party and may be renegotiated. In some cases, the call may be connected 551 immediately. Optionally the system may remind the parties (authorisers, requestor and targets 121) of the upcoming scheduled 542 communication session. Connect 551 immediately may be implemented by scheduled 541 immediately leading to connect 551, and simply bypassing the need for notifications/reminders 542.
The interface for scheduling the communication sessions can be seen in
Once the communication session is scheduled 541 a confirmation 542 may be sent, for example the txt messages 401, 402 to the requester and the target 121 as seen in
When the communication session is connected 550 the status 551 changes to connected 551. After the communication session is completed 553, the system may archive 560 the details update the status of the communication session to completed and may send a communication session report 562. Optionally the communication session may be recorded, this is usually decided during scheduling and the parties will be notified. Alternatively, the decision on whether or not to record a communication session may be made by the authoriser depending on factors such as the source of the communication session.
In some embodiments a request for a communication session may be a request to negotiate for a communication session.
In other embodiments, a system-enabled virtual assistant/authoriser may act as an authorizer for a user, e.g. in cases where a target user 121 does not want to self-authorise or does not have an authoriser such as a manager.
In one embodiment the virtual assistant/authoriser could have access to the multiple data sources and applys machine learning to assist with connection and scheduling decisions for communication sessions. The data sources may include:
In another embodiment it is envisaged that the virtual assistant/authoriser would use a neural network to assist in deciding whether or not to connect a call, reject a call or schedule the call for later.
It is further envisaged that instead of having a contact list on a mobile device a system user would store their contacts on the system and would use the system to place all calls. The mobile device would be authorised to access the contact using the unique ID (IMEI, MEID, or ESN) the device. In a similar manner, the system could be used as a plug in for applications to secure contact details.
Each user may be associated with multiple organisation(s) and the organisation(s) may authorise one of more authorisers. The authoriser(s) are users who are authorised by another user (the authorisee) or authorised by an organisation(s) to act as an authoriser for users associated with the organisation.
An authoriser will usually have more than one authorisees. For example, one or more media liaison officers for a sport team may be an authoriser for the team's players, coaches and management.
Authorisee(s) are users who has given authority to another user to manage their calls. A user may assign authoriser status to more than one other user and this will often be done on an organisation basis. A single user can be a target, an authoriser and an authorisee.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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736391 | Oct 2017 | NZ | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/NZ2018/050146 | 10/19/2018 | WO | 00 |