Method and system for private shipping to anonymous users of a computer network

• US 20010044785A1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Iprivacy Llc
• Original Assignee: Iprivacy Llc
• Inventors: Stolfo, Salvatore J., Smith, Jonathan M., Chung, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US09/754,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044785A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for private shipping to anonymous users purchasing goods on a computer or communications network linking users with merchant web-sites for electronic commerce. A user is issued a proxy identity and the user'"'"'s mailing address is received and encrypted. The proxy identity and encrypted mailing address are transmitted to a merchant, and decryption information is provided to a shipper. Upon receipt of the encrypted shipping address from the merchant, the shipper can use the decryption information to decrypt the address and generate a package label bearing the true shipping address of the user so that the merchant is prevented from electronically capturing the true identity of the user. The present invention provides for anonymity of a user when browsing and shopping, and integrates easily and simply with existing online infrastructures of banks or credit card issuers, and delivery companies.

Claims

1. A method for providing private shipping of items to users purchasing goods on a computer-based communications network comprising the steps of:

providing a proxy identity to a user;

receiving a shipping address for the user;

partially encrypting the user'"'"'s shipping address;

transmitting the proxy identity and encrypted shipping address to a merchant; and

providing decryption information to a shipper whereby upon receipt of the encrypted shipping address from the merchant, the shipper can use the decryption information to decrypt the address and generate a package label bearing the true shipping address of the user so that the merchant is prevented from electronically capturing the true identity of the user.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the proxy identity comprises a proxy name and a proxy credit card account number.

3. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the step of issuing a proxy identity includes issuing a physical integrated circuit card to the user.

4. The method of

claim 3

, further comprising the step of authenticating the user'"'"'s proxy identity.

5. The method of

claim 4

, wherein the step of authenticating the proxy identity includes reading the integrated circuit card via a card reader.

6. The method of

claim 2

wherein a new proxy name is generated for each transaction by the user.

7. The method of

claim 1

wherein the communications network is the Internet.

8. The method of

claim 1

wherein the user'"'"'s proxy identity is stored in a digital wallet.

9. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the encrypted shipping address contains sufficient information to allow the merchant to calculate an appropriate transaction tax.

10. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising:

maintaining a secure database of user transaction information; and

providing access to the database to a shipper to resolve a shipping problem.

11. The method of

claim 10

, wherein the transaction information includes instructions for returning undeliverable items.

12. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the user'"'"'s encrypted shipping address contains an identifier that may be used as an electronic mail address to contact the user.

13. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising generating a unique shopping session identification number.

14. The method of

claim 13

, wherein the encrypted shipping address is a function of the shopping session identification number.

15. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the encrypted shipping address is a function of time.

16. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the encrypted shipping address includes an index number for cross-reference to a database of real shipping addresses.

17. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising randomly inserting at least one atypical textual character into the true shipping address before encrypting the shipping address.

18. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising:

receiving a privacy level selection from the user for a shipment; and

selecting an encryption algorithm for the user'"'"'s shipping address based upon the selected privacy level.

19. A method for providing private shipping of items to users purchasing goods on a computer-based communications network comprising the steps of:

providing a proxy identity to a user;

receiving a shipping address for the user;

partially encrypting the user'"'"'s shipping address;

appending a post office box number to the user'"'"'s encrypted shipping address;

transmitting the proxy identity and encrypted shipping address to a merchant;

whereby upon receipt of the encrypted shipping address from the merchant, the shipper can generate a package label bearing the partially encrypted mailing address of the user with the post office box number so that the merchant is prevented from electronically capturing the true identity of the user.

20. A system for providing private shipping of items to users purchasing goods on a computer-based communications network comprising:

a secure server computer including

a processor configured to generate a proxy identity for a user, receive a shipping address for the user, and partially encrypt the user'"'"'s shipping address;

a database configured to store user identity information and transaction data; and

a communications link for transmitting the proxy identity and partially encrypted shipping address to a merchant;

so that the merchant is prevented from electronically capturing the true identity of the user.

21. The system of

claim 20

, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a unique shopping session identification number.

22. The system of

claim 21

, wherein the user'"'"'s encrypted shipping address is a function of the shopping session identification number.

23. The system of

claim 20

, wherein the user'"'"'s encrypted shipping address is a function of time.

24. The system of

claim 20

, wherein the encrypted shipping address includes an index number for cross-reference to a database of real shipping addresses.

25. A method for providing private shipping of items to users purchasing goods on a computer-based communications network comprising the steps of:

providing a proxy identity to a user;

receiving a shipping address for the user;

partially encrypting the shipping address so that the numerical information required for authorization under the Address Verification System is preserved;

transmitting the proxy identity and encrypted shipping address to a merchant;

and

providing decryption information to a shipper whereby upon receipt of the user'"'"'s proxy identity and Address Verification String from the merchant, a credit card issuer can authorize the purchase, and upon receipt of the encrypted shipping address from the merchant, the shipper can use the decryption information to decrypt the address and generate a package label bearing the true shipping address of the user so that the merchant is prevented from electronically capturing the true identity of the user.

26. The method of

claim 25

, wherein the proxy identity comprises a proxy name and a proxy credit card account number.

27. The method of

claim 25

, wherein the communications network is the Internet.