Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms

What is this patent about?

’019 is related to the field of real-time communication (RTC) systems and, more specifically, to a platform that bridges disparate communication protocols to facilitate anonymous, topic-based interactions between initiators and responders.

The underlying idea behind ’019 is to decouple the identity and specific communication protocol of an initiator from those of potential responders through a centralized intermediary proxy. Instead of requiring both parties to use the same software or share contact details, the system routes messages based on topic-matching and responder-defined availability criteria, such as geographic location or specific keywords. This allows a user on a web interface to engage in a live dialogue with experts or service providers who may be responding via SMS, email, or instant messaging without either party ever seeing the other's private addresses.

The claims of ’019 focus on a system that receives conversation selection criteria and preferred communication modes from multiple responders, then processes an initiator's request by generating a unique conversation identifier. The independent claims specifically cover the mechanism of determining a set of responders based on the topic, broadcasting the inquiry across different real-time modes, and then mapping incoming responses back to the original initiator using the conversation identifier. Notably, the claims require the system to handle multiple responses—such as a first response via a real-time mode and a second response via email—while maintaining the initiator's anonymity.

In practice, the invention functions as a communication gateway that translates and converges message streams. When an initiator asks a question on a website, the system acts as a protocol translator, converting that web-based input into various formats like XMPP, SIP, or SMS depending on what each matched responder has registered. To keep the initiator engaged while waiting for a human response, the system can deploy a virtual assistant to ask follow-up questions, effectively stalling for time while simultaneously gathering more context for the responders.

This approach differs from prior solutions by eliminating the need for a shared communication protocol or pre-existing knowledge of a recipient's address. Traditional RTC requires both parties to be on the same platform (e.g., both using the same IM client), whereas this system uses asymmetric management to allow the initiator to see a unified view of all responses while ensuring each responder only sees their own specific thread with the initiator. This architecture supports a marketplace or auction-style environment where responders can bid for the right to communicate with a lead without the lead being forced to subscribe to a service or disclose personal data.