Method for concealed communication, system, and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for concealed communication, in particular via a messenger service, comprising the following steps: generating (7), by a first user (1), a first message (8); sending (9) the first message (8); informing (11) at least one second user (2) that the first message (8) has been sent without the second user (2) being able to know the content of the first message (8); requesting (13) at least one input from at least one of the second users (2) in order to generate (14) at least one second message (15), the content of which is to be compared with the content of the first message (8); sending (16) the second message (15); and displaying (18) the content of the first message (8) for the at least one second user (2).

Description

[0001] METHOD FOR COVERED COMMUNICATION, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

[0002] The invention relates to a method for covert communication, in particular via a messenger service.

[0003] Methods of communication have been known in practice for years. For example, document WO 2005 / 115576 A2 describes a computer-based rock-paper-scissors game in which two users have a predefined time to select their inputs. The inputs are only displayed after both users have made their selections or after the time has expired (see line 29 on page 10 of WO 2005 / 115576 A2). Covert communication is not described, particularly not via a messenger service.

[0004] The problem with known communication methods is that users can only exchange their input and the resulting messages in such a way that the respective group of recipients can become aware of the content of an initial message before at least one other user from that group responds with a second message. While this familiar form of communication may be advantageous for exchanging information efficiently and openly, it is not optimal for many conceivable technical applications.

[0005] Thus, an unbiased comparison of inputs and / or messages generated from inputs between users is not possible using known methods, because each additional user in the recipient group already has knowledge of the content of the first user's input or the content of the first message before their own reply / input or before composing their own second message.

[0006] The present invention therefore aims to design and further develop a communication method in such a way that an exchange of messages is enabled without the respective recipient group being able to directly become aware of the content of a first message. Furthermore, a correspondingly configured system for covert communication and a computer program product are to be provided.

[0007] According to the invention, the aforementioned problem is solved by the features of claim 1. A method for covert communication, in particular via a messenger service, is proposed. The method comprises the following steps:

[0008] Generating an initial message by an initial user;

[0009] Sending the first message;

[0010] Inform at least one second user that the first message has been sent, without the second user being able to see the content of the first message;

[0011] Requesting at least one input from at least one of the second users to generate at least one second message, the content of which is to be compared with the content of the first message;

[0012] Sending the second message; and

[0013] Display the content of the first message to at least one other user.

[0014] Preferably, the aforementioned process steps can be carried out in the order given above.

[0015] Covert communication can particularly involve electronic communication. Messenger services—for example, instant messaging software, mobile text and voice messaging services, and the like—represent a rapidly developing technology on electronic devices (such as computers, mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and the like). Messenger services are widespread, achieving high usage figures daily.

[0016] In accordance with the invention, it has first been recognized that an exchange of messages, without the respective recipient group being able to directly become aware of the content of the first message from the first user, can be achieved in a surprisingly simple way by informing the recipient group – i.e., the at least one second user – that the first message has been sent, without the second user being able to become aware of the content of the first message. This informing of the at least one second user about the presence of the first message is also referred to as notification.

[0017] Following notification of the second user, at least one input from at least one of the second users is requested to generate at least one second message. The content of this second message, written impartially and independently of the content of the first message, is then suitable for a meaningful comparison with the content of the first message. Only after at least one second user has generated and sent at least one second message can the content of the first message be displayed to this second user.

[0018] The method can preferably include the further step of comparing the first message with the second message. This comparison can facilitate or improve communication. Inputs or the content of messages from different users can be compared. The comparison can, for example, take place in the manner of the familiar game of rock-paper-scissors, so that if the inputs do not match, one user "wins" against the other. In particular, an earlier input from the first user is unreadable to the second user and, in other words, remains "hidden" until the second user has made their subsequent input.The second user is informed or notified of the first user's earlier input, for example, by seeing a grayed-out field / icon instead of the symbol entered by the first user – scissors, paper, or rock – thus prompting the second user to make their subsequent input unaware of the first user's input and thereby advancing the game. For instance, if the first user chose the symbol "paper" and the second user chose the symbol "scissors," the comparison shows that "scissors" cuts "paper," and therefore the second user "wins" this comparison.

[0019] With a preferred advanced training, each result of a comparison between the first and second messages can be counted. The counter can be computer-based. For example, a game of rock-paper-scissors can be played over several rounds, and the score can be kept track of the results.

[0020] For example, counting can be performed using at least one counter or with the help of counters, preferably each assigned to at least one specific user. This also makes it possible to count multiple duels between individuals and / or multiple comparisons between groups of individuals. This mode can be useful depending on the application.

[0021] Another possible use case for comparison or appropriate matching would be a dating app. Matching can be performed with one or more messages from a specific category. A wide variety of message or input categories are conceivable. For example, the messages to be compared could be preferences. The category could then be, for instance, the favorite bull or color of two people interested in dating who are getting to know each other.

[0022] Generating the first and / or second message may preferably involve one of the following processes:

[0023] Writing a text;

[0024] Recording a media file; and / or

[0025] Selecting one option from a group of options.

[0026] A message can be information that can be described quantitatively as a signal and qualitatively as a meaningful character or sequence of characters. Messages are transmitted for communication purposes from a sender to a group of receivers according to a code. The receiver group includes at least one other user. The relevant messages here—first, second, and subsequent—can include, for example, chat messages, icons / smileys / emoticons, voice messages, image or video content, etc.

[0027] The use of icons, smileys, and emoticons in chats and social media with messaging apps has increased significantly in recent years. Messaging services now access a pool of standardized icons, smileys, and emoticons. The Unicode block—U+1 F600 to U+1 F64F—continues to grow. The method described here allows two or more users—chat partners—to check whether their selected icons, smileys, or emoticons "match" each other, or whether, for example, one user's icon "wins" against another's.

[0028] The selection of shared activities can also be improved using covert communication techniques. For example, the first user can express interest in a sport—such as swimming, jogging, golf, etc.—by selecting an icon from a group of icons—such as a bikini, running shoe, golf club, etc. This is an example of selecting one option from a group of options. After the recipients have been informed that the first user has selected an icon—this selection is the "first message" in this example—one or more of the second users also request a selection from the same group of icons—this selection is the at least one "second message" in this example. The group of icons can also be referred to as a "pool."

[0029] The comparison process can then, for example, identify a shared interest in one or more joint activities without the recipients being biased by knowing the first user's selection. By using a counter, the "votes" of multiple users within the recipient group can be added together, allowing the comparison to be used to conduct a vote on a joint activity.

[0030] Other categories could include zodiac signs, professions, favorite vacations—such as skiing, beach, and mountains—favorite emojis, favorite animals, favorite food, favorite drinks, favorite flowers, favorite country, favorite candy, favorite musical instrument, etc. Negative favorites are also conceivable, such as the least liked food / drink, disliked activities, famous and / or historical figures, or other dislikes. By adding icons / smileys / emoticons—for example, in a Unicode block—even currently unknown categories can be created and devised.

[0031] Following a beneficial further development, the described step of "sending the first message" by the first user includes transmitting the first message to the device of at least one second user. In this case, the content of the first message can be directly stored or temporarily cached on the storage of the second user's device. Only after the second user has been notified of receiving the first message and prompted for input, and preferably after the second user has sent the second message, will the content of the first message be displayed on the second user's device.

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, the step of sending the first message can include transmitting the first message to a messaging application server. In this case, the first message can be transmitted to the terminal of at least one other user only after the second message has been sent and before the content of the first message has been displayed to that user.

[0033] With regard to the improved covert communication system, the aforementioned task is solved by a covert communication system comprising: one or more terminal devices; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium containing instructions which, when executed on the one or more terminal devices, cause one or more processors of the terminal devices to execute the described procedure. The storage medium may also be at least one internal memory of one or more terminal devices.

[0034] With regard to the computer program product, the aforementioned task is solved by a computer program product embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and comprising instructions which, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute the described procedure.

[0035] Therefore, in accordance with the task, an improved communication procedure and a correspondingly set up system for covert communication, as well as a computer program product, are specified.

[0036] There are now various ways to advantageously elaborate and further develop the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference should be made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are also explained. The drawing shows

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0038] Figure 1 illustrates – by way of example only – an embodiment of the inventive method for covert communication, in particular via a messenger service, using a schematic flowchart. To clarify the covert communication and the advantages it offers, a game of rock-paper-scissors is described as an example. The category to which the messages to be compared are assigned is the group of the three hand signals: rock, paper, and scissors.

[0039] The left half of Figure 1 shows an exemplary sequence of the process, illustrating the content the first user 1 can access during the process and the inputs they make to create and send messages. The right half of Figure 1 – separated from the left half by a vertical dashed line – shows the content the second user 2 can access during the process and the inputs they make to create and send messages.

[0040] Once communication has been initiated in the conventional way – for example, by starting a chat between the first user 1 and the second user 2 via a messenger service – the exemplary rock-paper-scissors game can be started, for example, by a call from the first user within the graphical user interface of the messenger service used.

[0041] In the first state, a) both users can initially be notified that the rock-paper-scissors game has started. Figure 1 illustrates this by displaying a group of options to both users 1 and 2, namely a group of three icons 3, from which users 1 and 2 can make a selection for each move in the rock-paper-scissors game. The group of three icons 3 comprises a hand symbol for scissors 4, a hand symbol for rock 5, and a hand symbol for paper 6.

[0042] Then, the first user 1 selects an option, for example, by choosing the icon with the hand symbol on paper 6, for instance, by tapping or clicking it on their device. In this way, the first message 8 is generated 7 by the first user 1. The first message is sent to the recipient group. In this simplified example, the recipient group consists only of the second user 2. Sending 9 is symbolically represented by a horizontal arrow and involves transmitting the first message 8 to the device of the second user 2. There, the first message 8 is directly stored or temporarily stored on the second user's device.

[0043] However, the content of the first message 8 is not displayed to the second user, so the second user 2 cannot see the content of the first message 8. Instead, in state b), the second user 2 sees a grayed-out / grayed-out icon 10. In this way, the second user 2 is informed 11 that the first message 8 has been sent, without being able to see its content. In other words, the second user 2 is notified of the presence of the first message 8.

[0044] Subsequently, a request 13 is made for input from the second user to generate a second message, the content of which is to be compared with the content of the first message 8. The request 13 is symbolically represented by a vertical arrow in Figure 1 and is preferably performed programmatically.

[0045] Upon request 13, the second user 2 selects an option by choosing, for example, the icon with the hand symbol scissors 4 from the group of three icons 3, for instance by tapping or clicking it on their device. In this way, the second message 15 is generated 14 by the second user 2. The presence of the second message 15 on the second user 2's side corresponds to state c) in Figure 1. The second message 15 is sent to the recipient group – in this case, only to the first user 1. The sending 16 of the second message 15 is symbolically represented in Figure 1 by a diagonal arrow.

[0046] Only after the second message 15 has been sent (16) is the first message 8 with the hand signal "Paper" (6) displayed to the second user 2 in state d). In this embodiment, both messages 8 and 15, or rather their contents – i.e., the hand signals "Paper" (6) and "Scissors" (4) – are displayed to both users 1 and 2 in state d). Displaying the content (18) generally allows users 1 and 2 to compare the first message 8 and the second message 15.

[0047] In other embodiments—not shown—the content of the second message 15 from the second user 2 is also initially hidden from the rest of the recipients. This is particularly useful when a comparison between more than two messages is required, for example, when a third user needs to generate a third message or make an unbiased selection without being able to see the contents of the first message 8 from the first user 1 and the second message 15 from the second user 2. The same applies—depending on the number of users or the size of the recipient group—to the fourth, fifth, and subsequent users and their respective messages for comparison.

[0048] Covert communication can be configured, for example, by displaying a grayed-out icon on the devices of other users for each message already sent. According to one embodiment, each user in the recipient group who has already sent their message can view all previously sent messages and their content. Alternatively, the method can be configured so that all inputs and all previously sent messages remain hidden from the entire recipient group until all messages to be compared have been sent by the respective users, and only then is the content of all messages visible or displayed for comparison.

[0049] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a comparison 20 of the first message 8 with the second message 15 is represented by a vertical arrow. In the exemplary rock-paper-scissors game, the comparison between the first message 8 – namely, the selection of the hand signal "Paper" 6 by the first user 1 – with the second message 15 – namely, the selection of the hand signal "Scissors" 4 by the first user 2 – shows that the second user 2 wins because the scissors cut the paper. Therefore, the first message 8 with the hand signal "Paper" 6 is grayed out or crossed out, and the second message 15 with the hand signal "Scissors" 4 is highlighted. The result of this comparison is shown in state e).

[0050] The result of this comparison is also counted in state e), namely with a counter 22. In Figure 1, the counter 22 shows, for example, that after this first round of the rock-paper-scissors game the score is 0:1, meaning that the first user 1 has won zero comparisons and that the second user 2 has won one comparison.

[0051] The described method for covert communication – as outlined above – can also be used for a variety of technical applications where matching between two or more users is required. By way of example, consider the selection of configuration options for a new car by two users – for instance, a married couple configuring a new car – resulting in the provision of requirements and characteristics of a technical product for production.

[0052] Regarding further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the attached claims in order to avoid repetition.

[0053] Finally, it should be expressly noted that the exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention described above serve only to illustrate the claimed teaching and do not limit it to these exemplary embodiments. Reference numerals

[0054] 1 First User

[0055] 2 Second User

[0056] 3 Group of three icons

[0057] 4 Hand symbol Scissors

[0058] 5 Hand symbol stone

[0059] 6 Hand symbol paper

[0060] 7. Generate

[0061] 8 First message

[0062] 9. Send

[0063] 10 Grayed-out Icon

[0064] 11. Inform

[0065] 13 Request

[0066] 14. Generate

[0067] 15 Second message

[0068] 16 Send

[0069] 18 ads

[0070] 20 Comparisons

[0071] 22 Counter

Claims

Claims 1. Methods of covert communication, in particular via a messenger service, comprising the following steps: Generating (7) a first message (8) by a first user (1 ); Sending (9) the first message (8); Inform (11) at least one second user (2) that the first message (8) has been sent, without the second user (2) being able to take note of the content of the first message (8); Request (13) at least one input from at least one of the second users (2) to generate (14) at least one second message (15) whose content is to be compared with the content of the first message (8); Sending (16) the second message (15); and Display (18) the content of the first message (8) to at least one second user (2).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: Compare (20) the first message (8) with the second message (15).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each result of a comparison (20) between the first message (8) and the second message (15) is counted.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the counting is carried out by means of a counter (22) which is preferably assigned to at least one user.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein generating (7, 14) the first and / or second message (8, 15) comprises: Writing a text; Recording a media file; and / or Selecting one option from a group of options.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the step of sending (9) the first message (8) comprises transmitting the first message (8) to an end device of at least one second user (2).

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the step of sending (9) the first message (8) comprises transmitting the first message (8) to a message application server and the first message (8) is transmitted to an terminal device of the at least one second user (2) only after sending (14) the second message (15) and before displaying (18) the content of the first message (8) to the at least one second user (2).

8. A covert communication system, the system comprising: one or more terminal devices; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed on the one or more terminal devices, cause one or more processors of the terminal devices to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Computer program product embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed on one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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