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EP-4742619-A1 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

EP4742619A1EP 4742619 A1EP4742619 A1EP 4742619A1EP-4742619-A1

Abstract

A method for sending vetted communication between first and second users, wherein the first user uses a first communication application via a first user account and the second user uses a second communication application via a second user account, the method comprising: maintaining a first platform account and a second platform account on the first and second communication applications respectively, relaying message content from the first user to the second user via a communication platform wherein a first message is sent from the first user account to the first platform account containing the message content, processing the message content by a monitor module to determine the presence of any inappropriate message content, the monitor module generating a signal to the platform on whether to forward the message content from the second platform account to the second user account, and selectively sending a second message from the platform containing the message content from the second platform account to the second user account using the second communication application.

Inventors

  • SALUSSOLIA, Francesca

Assignees

  • Wowment Ltd

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241121

Claims (15)

  1. A method for sending vetted communication between first and second users, wherein the first user uses a first communication application via a first user account and the second user uses a second communication application via a second user account, the method comprising: maintaining a first platform account and a second platform account on the first and second communication applications respectively, relaying message content from the first user to the second user via a communication platform wherein a first message is sent from the first user account to the first platform account containing the message content, processing the message content by a monitor module to determine the presence of any inappropriate message content, the monitor module generating a signal to the platform on whether to forward the message content from the second platform account to the second user account, and selectively sending a second message from the platform containing the message content from the second platform account to the second user account using the second communication application.
  2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the signal halts the platform from sending at least part of the message content from the second platform account to the second user account.
  3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the signal halts the platform from sending all of the message content from the second platform account to the second user account.
  4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the signal instructs the platform to send at least part of the message content from the second platform account to the second user account.
  5. A method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the monitor module is configured to parse the message content to determine inappropriate content in text, video or multimedia messages.
  6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the inappropriate message content includes contact identifier of the first user, including contact information such as name, telephone numbers or email addresses.
  7. A method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the platform comprises a data store comprising contact identifiers of the first and second users, the data store comprising user-pairs where the first user account associated to the second user second user account.
  8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the platform parses the first message to extract the contact identifiers of the first user and searches the data store user-pairs to determine a second user account.
  9. A method according to claim 8 when appended to claim 4, wherein the platform generates the second message with the message content of the first message absent of any contact identifiers of the first user.
  10. A method according to any of the previous claims, where the first and second communication application are the same.
  11. A method according to claim 1, where the first communication application is a different application from the second communication application.
  12. A method according to claim 1, where the platform received the first message as a webhook request.
  13. A communication system for message transmission, comprising a first user device configured to send a first message, and a second user device configured to receive a second message, the first message containing payload and header data, the header containing user contact information, a server configured to receive the first message from the first user device, comprising a parsing module configured to process the header data of the first message extract user contact information, a data store of user data comprising user contact information and corresponding partner contact information, where the server identifies the recipient of the first message by matching the user contact information from the header data to a partner's contact information from the data store, and sends a second message to the second user device containing the payload of the first message.
  14. A communication system according to claim 13, comprising a monitoring module configured to analyse the content payload of the message and configured to send a signal to a system administrator if predetermined content is detected.
  15. A communication system according to claim 13, comprising a sentiment analysis module configured to detect the sentiment and tone of message and configured to signal to a system administrator of inappropriate or sentiment changes.

Description

The present invention relates to an anonymous communication system, specifically allowing parties to communicate anonymously over electronic platforms. Introduction The internet allows communication between two parties to happen seamlessly and instantaneously, anywhere in the world. Various communication apps provide different ways of communicating, for example, text message, voice calls, or video messaging. The sender will identify the intended recipient of the message which is sent over a data transmission network. The recipient contact information must be known to the sender and vice-versa. However, revealing contact information can create privacy risks since it can easily be used to find other forms of privacy information about the user. For example, a user's email address or mobile telephone number can be used to find a user's name, address and social media accounts. The current system therefore creates an unnecessary risk of identity fraud. This is a particular concern when one of the parties is a vulnerable person such as children or people with severe learning disabilities. Current communication systems typically are not interoperable, meaning they don't allow communication across different platforms. Users must agree how to communicate beforehand, eg SMS, email etc. Some communication platforms have limited functionality, eg, cannot be used for video messaging, voice notes, or picture messaging. It is the aim of the present invention to eliminate or mitigate one or more the above-mentioned problems. Statements of Invention According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication system that allows anonymous and/or vetted communication between a sender using a first communication application and a recipient using a second communication application, the communication system operating by processing a message from the first communication application of the sender at an intermediate server to (1) compare sender and/or recipient data from the message with data held in a data store of the intermediate server in order to approve a conversation between the sender and recipient, and (2) process the payload of the message received by the server to forward at least a portion of the payload to the recipient in accordance with the second communication application. The server may act as an intermediate server to catch or receive the message prior to delivery to the recipient. The server may act in the manner of a communication relay, only with the ability to approve, deny and/or adapt messages from a sender to a recipient, e.g. in order to preserve safety and/or anonymity of the sender/recipient. The first and second communication applications may be the same or different communication applications. The first and second communication application may use the same or different communication protocols. The message typically comprises payload and header data, the header containing the sender and/or recipient data, e.g. as user contact data. The server may be configured to process the header data of the message to identify/extract sender and/or recipient data. The server may identify/extract one or more fields from the header to match with data stored in the data store. The server may comprise a conversation approval or consent module. The server may comprise or access a data store of user data comprising user contact information and corresponding partner contact information. Partner contact information may comprise one or more approved recipient contact data. A plurality of approved recipients/partners may be logged for a single user in the data store. The server may identify the recipient (eg second user) of the first message by matching the user contact information from the header data to a partner's contact information from the data store. The server may send a second message to the recipient containing at least a portion of the payload of the message. The server may compose or create the second message. The communication system may parse, vet or process the message payload/content, e.g. at the server or a content monitoring system associated with the server. The communication system may approve or disapprove the message payload/content or a portion thereof. The communication system may redact a portion of the message payload/content. The communication system may include some or all of the message payload in the second message. The communication system may modify/translate some or all of the message payload for inclusion in the second message. The data store may comprise a log of the second communication application and/or a protocol associated therewith. The server may compose or create the second message according to the second communication application or a protocol associated therewith. The communication system may redact or modify sender data of the message when composing or creating the second message. The communication system may redact or modify sender data of the message according to dat