Patent ID: 8396489

Claim:
A method of selectively communicating with one or more other devices whose identification information is unknown, the method comprising: launching a client application on a device (the “sending device”), wherein the client application enables communication with other devices whose identification information is unknown; locating other devices in a geographical zone defined with reference to the sending device; obtaining identification information regarding the other devices located in the defined geographical zone; compiling the identification information regarding the other devices located in the defined geographical zone to enable selection of at least one device to initiate communication using service messages; displaying a selection of the at least one device from the compiled identification information of the other devices located in the defined geographical zone; enabling privacy preferences for the sending device, wherein the privacy preferences enable the device to send variable identification information to the at least one other device; enabling the client application on the sending device to specify whether a service message is a private service message, wherein the private service message is accessible only to the at least one other device; and sending the message from the sending device and delivering it, using such variable identification information, to the at least one other device (herein, the ‘recipient device’), where either of the following conditions is also satisfied: (a) the contact information (e.g., email address; IM screen name; social media or Internet screen name, handle, alias, or avatar; phone number; MAC address; IP address) (collectively herein “Contact Information”) of the recipient device is not previously known to any of: the sending device, its users, or any business, social or communications network to which the sending device or any of its users is a member; or (b) the service message is delivered from the sending device using such variable identification information, and without using email, instant messaging (IM), text messaging, telephony or any other communications protocol or technique based on fixed endpoints where any of such Contact Information is known to any of: the sending device, any of its users, or any business, social or communications network of which the sending device or any of its users is a member.