Methods and apparatus for anonymously transacting internet shopping and shipping
First Claim
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1. A system for facilitating electronic commerce among users, a service provider and vendors, wherein each user has established an account with the service provider but the vendors do not have access to the identity or address of the user, the system comprising:
- one or more vendor computers, each vendor computer programmed to provide a website at which a user at a user device may purchase an item for anonymous shipping;
a service provider computer at which the user has established an account, the service provider computer programmed to accept purchase information from a vendor computer, to provide shipping instructions to the vendor computer, and to settle an account with the vendor for purchase of the item, without identifying an identity or address of the user; and
a communications network enabling the user device to communicate with the one or more vendor computers and the service provider computer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for supporting electronic commerce in an environment in which the service provider has vendors, shipping companies and users registered with its system so that a user can purchase goods and services from a participating vendor'"'"'s website and have the vendor ship the purchased products to the user without disclosing to the vendor any personal information including shipping address.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating electronic commerce among users, a service provider and vendors, wherein each user has established an account with the service provider but the vendors do not have access to the identity or address of the user, the system comprising:
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one or more vendor computers, each vendor computer programmed to provide a website at which a user at a user device may purchase an item for anonymous shipping;
a service provider computer at which the user has established an account, the service provider computer programmed to accept purchase information from a vendor computer, to provide shipping instructions to the vendor computer, and to settle an account with the vendor for purchase of the item, without identifying an identity or address of the user; and
a communications network enabling the user device to communicate with the one or more vendor computers and the service provider computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for a vendor to conduct electronic commerce among a user, a service provider and the vendor, wherein the user has established an account with the service provider but the vendor does not have access to the identity or address of the user, the method comprising:
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providing a website, associated with the vendor, at which a user may identify an item for purchase and anonymous shipping;
upon the user selecting an anonymous shipping option, directing the user to a computer associated with the service provider;
receiving shipping instructions from the service provider that do not disclose the identity or address of the user;
designating the item for shipment in accordance with the shipping instructions; and
accepting payment from the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for a service provider to facilitate electronic commerce among a user, the service provider and a vendor, wherein the user has established an account with the service provider but the vendor does not have access to the identity or address of the user, the method comprising:
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providing a website with which vendors may register to sell goods and services to registered users of the service provider, each vendor having a website at which users may identify items for purchase and anonymous shipping;
upon a user selecting an item for purchase with an anonymous shipping option at one of vendors'"'"' websites, enabling the user log-on to a computer associated with the service provider;
obtaining a shipping cost for the item and a total sales price from the vendor;
creating a transaction record in which the vendor is credited for the total sales price less any service charge due to the service provider;
providing shipping instructions to the vendor that do not disclose the identity or address of the user; and
providing pick-up instructions to the user. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification