DE102004032225B4 - Method and device for setting up and operating a communication connection - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for setting up and operating a communication connection,
a first communication partner being indicated by a first symbol (S1) on a network-based information page (IS),
wherein the signaling of the communication connection at the first communication partner is initiated by a second communication partner by accessing the first symbol (S1),
wherein after confirmation of the signaling by the first communication partner the communication connection between the first and the second communication partner is established,
wherein as the first symbol (S1) an anonymized name (VK_1) of the first communication partner is used, wherein as the communication connection a data stream oriented real-time communication connection is used, and wherein in the signaling and in the operation of the communication connection at the first communication partner of the second communication partner is displayed as a second icon, using as the second icon an anonymized name of the second communication partner,
characterized in that
via the information page (IS) to a first communication terminal (EG1) of the first communication partner and / or a ...

Description

The The invention relates to a method for constructing and operating a Communication connection according to the preamble of claim 1 and a device for building and operating a Communication connection according to claim 14th

To the Exchanging information is often used information pages, which are kept ready for retrieval in a data network and that of a large number of users by means of their communication terminal (computer) be loaded and read. A well-known example of such Information pages are the web sites on the Internet, worldwide a virtually unlimited number of users are accessible.

The Information pages on the internet are also often used for communication between used by individual users, for example, the so-called "chatting", with individual Users as communication partners targeted messages among themselves can exchange. Alternatively to the "chat function" users can send targeted messages via electronic messages ("e-mail") provided they are in the possession of the personal Communication address (e-mail address) of the other user or its communication terminal or its e-mail message mailbox are. Provided two users alternately electronic messages You can also send it by a communication link speak.

A special application for Information pages is Internet commerce, including so-called Internet auctions serve. This information, for example, about to be sold Product ready for retrieval on a corresponding information page posed. If a user decides to buy the goods, can this user over the information page in the possession of the communication address (e-mail address) of the provider and get in touch with this. Frequently becomes but desired, even before the conclusion of trade with the seller (supplier) contact the goods, for example details of the offer to clarify. For this However, communication is desired that a user does not in possession of the communication address (e.g., e-mail address) of the provider get to the abusive Use of the communication address to prevent.

The publication EP 1 333 637 A1 van der Werff et al. "Telecommunication method and system" shows an arrangement with which successive or parallel text-based chat communication as well as anonymized voice communication can be initiated and carried out, proposing, after confirming at least two chat participants, a telephone connection between to build the chat participants and a central facility and interconnect these phone calls using the central facility so that the chat participants can talk to each other.

Also the document US 2001/0026609 A1 Weinstein et al. "Method and apparatus facilitating the placing, receiving, and billing of telephone calls "shows a method and an arrangement in which participants by means of a anonymized address to establish a telephone connection with each other can. The anonymized address consists of a temporary valid access code, entered by means of an internet website or a similar user interface and passed on to the central facility. After input This access code is provided by the central facility respectively a telephone connection to the subscriber initiating the call and to the desired Subscriber (destination subscriber), with the two telephone connections subsequently connected to one another in such a way by the central device be that the participants can communicate with each other.

One well-known provider for Information pages for Internet trading is the company Ebay, taking on the through the company Ebay looked after information pages of the offering User (seller) represented by an anonymous symbol ("nickname") and any one other user (interested party) by accessing the icon ("mouse click") sending a Message to the seller can initiate. This will send a message to the seller without the prospect the actual Communication address (e-mail address) of the seller divulge by the Message from the interested party in the server of the provider (e.g. Ebay) and from this server using a deposited real communication address (e-mail address) of the seller this is sent. The "sender" displayed at the recipient of the message (seller) is the real communication address (E-mail address) of the requesting user, so the seller to this user can reply directly by e-mail.

Thus, a text-based communication connection between two users can be established via the information page, with the sender only being aware of an anonymized name (symbol, nickname) of the seller when the first message is sent. However, the seller is aware of the true "identity", ie the real communication address, of the potential buyer immediately upon receipt of the first email message, and continues to be the potential buyer upon receipt The reply e-mail message also known the seller's real communication address. However, the communication addresses that have become known can also be used outside of the intended Internet trade (Internet auction), whereby the risk of abuse exists. Another disadvantage of the initiated by the known information pages communication links is the restriction to text-based communication, so the medium of e-mail messages or "chatting". Although two users can exchange their telephone numbers or the numbers of a video conference device as communication addresses by means of the exchanged e-mail messages, but also in these exchanged communication addresses (telephone numbers, etc.) is the risk of misuse. The same applies when exchanging, for example, the IP addresses of the computers used by the users, with the help of which a computer-aided video-telephony connection can be established, for example with the aid of the well-known program "Microsoft Net Meeting".

It is therefore an object of the present invention, by means of information pages to make the initiated communication links more secure and the Information exchange between users of information pages to improve.

The Task is for the method by the features of independent claim 1 and the device by the characteristics of the independent Patent claim 14 solved.

The solution provides a method for establishing and operating a communication connection, wherein a first communication partner by a first icon a network-based information page is displayed, by a second communication partner by accessing the first icon the signaling of the communication connection at the first communication partner is initiated, whereby after confirmation the signaling by the first communication partner the communication link established between the first and the second communication partner and, being the first symbol, an anonymous label the first communication partner is used. It is called as the communication link is a data stream oriented real-time communication link used, and in the signaling and in the operation of the communication link becomes the second communication partner for the first communication partner displayed as a second icon, where as the second icon used anonymized name of the second communication partner becomes. After all be over the information page on a first communication terminal of the first Communication partner and / or a second communication terminal of the second Communication partner program parts loaded, using the real-time communication connection by the respective communication terminal by means of the loaded program parts carried out becomes. Can be advantageous such program parts then part of the respective users Internet browsers ("browsers") are used integrable program parts are then also known as "plug-ins" and are a proven and common Method to extend the functionality of software-based applications.

The solution sees further a device for setting up and operating a communication link before, wherein the communication connection an anonymous communication connection between a first and a second communication terminal, with a receiving device for receiving first to the communication connection belonging first Data packets of the second communication terminal, wherein the first data packets a anonymized recipient communication address comprising a memory device for storing an allocation table, where the allocation table of the assignment between real and anonymized Communication addresses is set up, with a processing unit for addressing the first data packets to a the first communication terminal associated real receiver communication address, wherein the addressing table is accessed for addressing, with a transmitting device for sending by the processing unit processed first data packets to the first communication terminal based the real recipient communication address, wherein the data packets to be sent an anonymous sender address and with program parts loadable by the communication terminal to carry out the communication connection, the loadable program parts using an Internet display program used on the communication terminal are requestable and usable.

advantageous Embodiments of the method according to the invention are in the dependent claims 2 to 13 indicated, with the features shown and described advantages mutatis mutandis, for the inventive device be valid. The inventive device is due to the characteristics of the dependent Patent claim 15 advantageously designed further.

The first symbol is advantageously linked to a display, wherein the display is used to represent a presence state of the first communication partner and wherein the presence state at least the reachability of the ers communication partner for the communication connection. This can be unsuccessful attempts to establish a communication connection can be avoided, and vice versa - with "available" communication partner - can thus be encouraged to contact the potential communication partner.

A Anonymized communication connection initiated with the method becomes advantageous for communication between users of the information page being used, being a particularly common use case is given when the information page for the settlement of Internet auctions or internet commerce is used. The users are thus by applying the method to communication partners.

One special ease of use while maintaining the anonymity of the communication partner arises when in the operation of the communication link at The second communication partner is the first communication partner as the first icon is displayed. It is advantageous with the first symbol linked to a first anonymized recipient communication address, so that by accessing the symbol "im Background ", for example by a central facility, the communication link to the one associated with the first symbol first communication partner can be established.

A in computer networks, especially on the Internet, frequently used The form of communication is voice data telephony, VoIP for short (VoIP = Voice over Internet Protocol). In the case of VoIP connections, the can Audio connections, video connections or even combined or other connections, one speaks also of data stream oriented Real-time communication links because between the communication terminals data streams respectively with voice data packets via a packet-switched network are exchanged. The procedure let yourself thereby particularly advantageous apply by for the data stream oriented Real-time communication connection a first partial data stream of a second communication terminal of the second communication partner to a first communication terminal of the first communication partner is sent, the first partial data stream from first data packets exists, each with the first anonymized recipient communication address are provided, and the first data packets through the second communication terminal to a central facility, whereby the central facility addressed the first data packets to a real communication address of the first communication terminal and be forwarded to this. Because the address sation the data packets with the real recipient communication address not at the Sending the data packets through the communication terminal of the sending User happens, but at a later time, needs in the communication terminal the sending user the real recipient communication address not be deposited, causing the misuse of the real Receiver communication address avoided becomes.

If in the forwarded to the first communication terminal first data packets as a first sender communication address an anonymous sender address is used, the first passes communication terminal and thus also its user does not have the real sender communication address, making them an abusive Use is protected.

The Method is particularly easy to execute when addressing the first data packets are accessed on a mapping table, in the anonymized recipient communication address with the real receiver communication address connected is.

The Data packets can be easily edited by the central Device in the first data packets a real sender communication address is replaced by the anonymized sender address. This is the central facility already aware of the relation between real sender communication address and anonymized sender address, whereby the "return data stream" (second data packets) easy to work with.

If for the Substituting the sender address uses a second mapping table in which the real sender communication address is linked to the anonymous sender address, the central Setup the address change by simply accessing it Complete the table.

The anonymized communication connection is advantageous to a completed bidirectional anonymized communication link by from the first communication terminal second data packets to the central facility will be dispatched with the anonymized The sender address is provided and that of the central facility by means of the read out of the second assignment table real Sender communication address be forwarded to the second communication terminal, wherein for the forwarded second data packets as a second sender communication address the anonymized recipient communication address of the first communication terminal is used.

The central facility works more effectively by the first and the second allocation table formed by a common database become.

The inventive device can simultaneously both directions of the bidirectional anonymized Process communication link by the means for Reception, processing and forwarding to the communication link belonging and second data packets sent by the first communication terminal is set up, wherein the second data packets after processing addressed to the second communication terminal.

embodiments the method according to the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawing and serve simultaneously the explanation an embodiment a device according to the invention.

there shows

1 a schematic representation of an information page with a first communication partner shown as a symbol and an associated display for the presence status of this communication partner, and

2 a schematic representation of a first and a second communication terminal with a central device and a database and with partial speech data streams.

In the 1 a network-based information page IS is shown schematically, which is set up to offer an article in a data network (Internet). Any user of the information page IS can see these and access thereon arranged controls ("buttons", "links"). Of course, the information page IS can also serve entirely different purposes; the hereby described method for establishing a communication connection remains unaffected. On the information page IS a symbol S1 is shown, which is formed by an activatable ("clickable") lettering, wherein the lettering is an anonymized name VK_1 ("nickname") for the first communication partner ("VK_1" = seller 1), the offers the item to be sold, which is defined with the item description AB, for sale. The symbol S1 is extended by a display PS1, which represents the presence state of the seller or its communication terminal. The display can assume different states, for example "on", which stands for "online" and expresses that the seller is reachable. Other states may indicate that the seller is unavailable ("offline"), that the state is unknown or even that the first communication partner (seller) is reachable only through a particular medium, such as e-mail.

The Symbol S1 is also extended with a button KV, with which a viewer of the information page IS building a Initiate communication connection to the first communication partner can. Instead of a combination of the symbol S1, the ad PS1 and the KV button can these three functional elements also separated or in a different combination or in another technical realization or presentation accomplished be.

A another button DL ("Download") is marked with the label "GET PL-I" and provides users and thus potential future communication partners (e.g., those interested) the opportunity Software to their communication terminals (e.g., computer) and for execution to bring, this software consists of program parts, which for the construction and operation of a data stream oriented real-time communication link needed become. If a communication partner with his communication terminal does not yet have this needed software has or want to update one, he can get these by "clicking" the button DL. In the present embodiment the related program parts act as so-called "plug-ins", ie program parts, which after loading into an Internet display program ("browser") of the communication terminal (computer) integrated by the user. Of course, alternatively, "independent" communication applications Obtained in this way and for the communication connection can be used.

The following is based on the 2 the structure and operation of a communication connection between a first communication terminal EG1 of the first communication partner and a second communication terminal EG2 of the second communication partner explained. In this case, it is assumed that the computers used as communication terminals EG1, EG2 (alternatively, other types of communication terminals are also usable, for example IP telephones, pocket computers, mobile telephones, WLAN devices, PDAs, etc.) are already used for real-time communication connections (VoIP). Connections) are established and that the running on the computer Internet display programs ("browser") already have available through the information page IS program parts (plug-ins).

Instead of the voice connection described below can be used as a real-time Kommunikati Of course, a video connection, a real-time text communication ("chat") or another real-time communication connection can also be used.

The network-based information page IS is on the communication terminal EG2 of the second communication partner displayed, wherein the second communication partner the establishment of a communication connection to the first communication partner, which is represented by the symbol S1 wishes to produce. The "plug-in", which on the communication terminal EG1 expires, or something similar Computer program monitors the operating state of the communication terminal EG1 and thus the accessibility of the first communication partner and reports this state to a Web server on which the information page IS is stored.

alternative the first communication partner can also "manually" by an input to his communication terminal EG1 on the decide state to be displayed.

Of the State of the communication terminal EG1 (and thus the first communication partner) is here "online", so reachable and therefore, a corresponding state becomes through the display PS1 shown. The second communication partner recognizes this that the first communication partner is reachable and activated Therefore, with a selection means (mouse pointer) provided with the lettering "CALL" button KV. Clicking the button KV causes a Activation of the "plug-in" of the communication terminal EG2, whereby from the communication terminal EG2 a data channel to the central facility ZE opened becomes. The central device ZE is in the present embodiment identical to the web server on which the information page IS stored; Of course but the functions can also be mapped separately in the network. The web server is the platform for e-commerce, to which the information page IS belongs and about which the with the item description AB defined item is offered.

On the Data channel sends the plug-in a signaling message the central device ZE, the signaling message as the call destination one associated with the first symbol anonymised name ("pseudonym") of the person to be called first communication partner includes. The anonymous name, So the lettering "VK_1", is in a first Mapping table of the database DB with the real recipient communication address, So with a communication address of the communication terminal EG1, connected and thus for the central facility ZE accessible. In the signaling message is the real sender communication address as "sender" the communication terminal EG2 listed. By the central facility will after reception the signaling message accessed the database DB, in a second allocation table is stored and in which the real sender communication address of the communication terminal EG2 a Anonymized sender address of the second communication partner assigned.

The Central facility ZE now exchanges in the signaling message the real sender communication address of the communication terminal EG2 against the anonymized sender address of the second communication partner addressed by accessing the first mapping table Signaling message to the communication terminal EG1 and then sends this signaling message to the real receiver communication address the communication terminal EC1.

alternative to the "conversion" of the signaling message described here of course also on the basis of the received information and in the database DB stored information through the central facility ZE a new signaling message will be created.

The Signaling message is now received by the communication terminal EG1 and processed by the software installed there as the communication "plug-in". Thereby becomes the first communication partner visually and acoustically incoming "call" signals, where as a calling "sender" a second symbol is displayed, the second symbol is an anonymous label of the second communication partner. This anonymous name is in the present case the "nickname" of the second communication partner, where this "nickname" is the username (Pseudonym) of this second communication partner in the context of Information page IS (e.g., internet auction house).

The first communication partner accepts the incoming call by pressing a "call acceptance" button, whereby a further signaling message is generated and sent from the communication terminal EG1 to the central facility ZE. This further signaling message includes as reference the information that it is an answer for an accepted call, in connection with the anonymized sender address of the second communication partner and with the real recipient communication address of the communication terminal EG1. Alternatively, instead of the real receiver communication address also the anonymous name of the first communication partner are sent as the sender.

The Another signaling message is from a corresponding receiving device the central facility ZE and received by the processing unit the central facility ZE edited so that (if any) the real recipient Communication address of the communication terminal EG1 by the anonymized Name of the first communication partner is replaced and continues the further signaling message to the real communication address ("Sender communication address") of the communication terminal EG2 addressed and sent to this. This processing requires of course one Access to the database DB and the assignment tables stored therein. The processed further signaling message is received by the communication terminal EG2 and processed, creating an anonymous bidirectional communication link between the communication partners. In the context of this Communication connection become first data packets with payload (Audio data, etc.) sent from the communication terminal EG2 to the communication terminal EG1, and conversely, second data packets in the reverse direction. Analogous to the processing of the signaling messages are the first and second data packets from the central facility ZE, respectively edited so that none of the communication partners each in Knowledge of the real communication address of the communication terminal of the each other communication partner arrives.

The first data packets are in the present embodiment of the communication terminal EG2 with the partial data stream DS1A transmitted to the central facility ZE, where these first Data packets regarding be anonymized by their sender and by means of the partial data stream DS1B from the central device ZE to the communication terminal EG1 become. Likewise, the second data packets from the communication terminal EG1 via the Partial data stream DS2A is transmitted to the central facility ZE, there in terms of anonymized by their sender and using the partial data stream DS2B to the communication terminal EG2 transferred. This results in a complete anonymized communication connection.

alternative can the anonymization of the first data packets already take place in the communication terminal EG2, by acting as the "sender" of the first data packets the anonymous name of the second communication partner or its communication terminal EG2 is used. The same applies to the second data packets, that of the communication terminal EG1 to be shipped.

In the cases in which lower safety requirements are sufficient, can the central facility ZE, which also serves as a "proxy server" for the the respective data packet sending communication terminal EG1, EG2 serves, be waived. Then, on the respective communication terminal EG1, EG2 installed software on the correlated with the information page IS Database DB, the data packets each with the real recipient communication address the other communication terminal EG1, EG2 address and thus sending the data packets without the real receiver communication address at the respective transmitting communication terminal EG1, EG2 is displayed. In these cases becomes the real recipient communication address although from the other communication terminal EG1, EG2 processed but not displayed. It is the same with the one shown Arrangement possible, just use either the first or the second data packets with the help of the central institution ZE concerning anonymous to their sender and the other data packets either by the central facility ZE non-anonymized forward or non-anonymized directly from the sending communication terminal to the received communication terminal to convey.

The full Anonymization of the communication connection is in the present embodiment a service that facilitates the use of the central facility ZE or the Information page IS as a "proxy service" includes, where this use of the central facility by the provider of the central facility ZE as a fee Service can be offered. So can the use of this service and possibly also the purchase of program parts ("plug-ins") with a fee-based registration or with a usage-dependent fee be occupied, which advantageously together with the others for the Use of the information page IS collected fees. Depending on Use of anonymization (partial anonymization, complete anonymization) are different from the provider of the central facility ZE different levels Prices can be specified.

The in the database DB stored first and second allocation tables can also be in the form of a single whole allocation table. In addition, the pending communication connections are also advantageous in the database DB based on registration names ("Call-ID's") registered.

Claims (15)

Method for setting up and operating a Communication connection, wherein a first communication partner by a first icon (S1) is displayed on a network-based information page (IS), wherein by a second communication partner by accessing the first symbol (S1) the signaling of the communication connection is initiated at the first communication partner, wherein Confirmation of the signaling by the first communication partner, the communication connection between the first and the second communication partner is established, wherein as the first symbol (S1) an anonymous name (VK_1) of the first communication partner is used, wherein as the communication connection, a data stream oriented real-time communication connection is used , and wherein in the signaling and in the operation of the communication link at the first communication partner, the second communication partner is displayed as a second icon, wherein as the second icon anonymisi term of the second communication partner is used, characterized in that via the information page (IS) on a first communication terminal (EG1) of the first communication partner and / or a second communication terminal (EG2) of the second communication partner program parts are loaded, the real-time communication connection the respective communication terminal (EG1, EG2) is carried out by means of the loaded program parts. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first icon is linked to an ad (PS1), wherein the display for displaying a presence state (ON) the first communication partner is used and where the presence state (ON) at least the reachability of the first communication partner for the communication connection reproduces. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized that the communication link for communication between users of Information page (IS) is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the information page (IS) for the settlement of Internet auctions or internet trading is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that in the operation of the communication link for the second communication partner, the first communication partner as the first symbol (S1) is displayed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with the first symbol (S1) a first anonymized Receiver communication address connected is. Method according to one of the preceding claims, thereby marked that For the data stream oriented real-time communication connection is a first Partial data stream (DS1a, DS1B) from a second communication terminal (EG2) of the second communication partner to a first communication terminal (EG1) the first communication partner is sent, the first Partial data stream (DS1a, DS1B) consists of first data packets that each provided with the first anonymized recipient communication address are and the first data packets through the second communication terminal (EG2) be directed to a central facility (ZE), wherein by the Central facility (ZE) the first data packets to a real communication address of the first communication terminal (EG1) addressed and forwarded to this. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that in that in the forwarded to the first communication terminal (EG1) first Data packets as an anonymous first sender communication address Sender address is used. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized that for the addressing of the first data packets to a first allocation table in which the anonymized recipient communication address with the real receiver communication address connected is. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that that by the central facility (ZE) in the first data packets a real sender communication address through the anonymized Sender address is replaced. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that that for the replacement of the sender address a second allocation table is used in which the real sender communication address with the anonymized Sender address linked is. Method according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that from the first communication terminal (EG1) second data packets are sent to the central device (ZE), which are provided with the anonymized sender address and by the central device (ZE) by means of from the second allocation table read real sender communication address be forwarded to the second communication terminal (EG2), being used for the forwarded second data packets as a second sender communication address, the anonymous recipient communication address of the first communication terminal (EG1). Method according to one of claims 11 or 12, as far as referred to claim 9, characterized in that the first and the second Mapping table formed by a common database (DB) become. Device for setting up and operating a communication connection, in which the communication connection an anonymous communication connection between a first and a second communication terminal (EG1, EG2), with a receiving device for receiving first the communication connection belonging first data packets of the second communication terminal (EG2), wherein the first data packets are an anonymized recipient communication address exhibit, with a memory device for storing an allocation table, wherein the allocation table of the association between real and anonymized communication addresses is set up, with a processing unit for addressing the first data packets to a first communication terminal (EG1) assigned real receiver communication address, wherein the addressing table is accessed for addressing, With a transmitting device for sending by the processing unit processed first data packets to the first communication terminal (EG1) based on the real recipient communication address, wherein the data packets to be sent an anonymous sender address have, and with loadable by the communication terminal program parts to carry out the communication connection, the loadable program parts using an Internet display program used on the communication terminal (EG1, EG2) are requestable and usable. Device according to claim 14, characterized that the device for reception, processing and forwarding belonging to the communication connection and sent by the first communication terminal second data packets is set up, wherein the second data packets after processing to the second communication terminal (EG2) are addressed.