Protecting privacy in group communications
US9462070B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/00
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems for protecting the privacy of a user of a communication system that include enabling a first user to block a second user so that the first user generally appears to the second user to be unavailable. The method includes allowing a third user to establish a group that includes the first user and the second user. The group may be any sort of group that involves communication among three or more users. For example, the group may be an instant message group, voice chat, conference call, video conference, or any other suitable group communication. The method also enables a blocked user to be temporarily unblocked so as to prevent his blocking decision to be revealed to the blocked user.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.