Method, system and computer program product for selective data disclosure and contract negotiation in an E-marketplace based on predetermined preferences

• US 20040225574A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kuehr-McLaren, David G., Arnold, Gordon K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

Parties involved in a transaction in an E-marketplace identify characteristics of a transaction that they are willing to accept and/or that they can provide. To do this, an attribute certificate is created for each party that contains the attributes of a buyer, seller, or third-party participant who will be transacting business in the particular E-marketplace. The attributes pertain to specifics of the transaction. The party submitting the attribute also identifies alternative conditions which, if they exist would be acceptable for conducting the transaction. Once these criteria, in the form of the attribute certificates, are received by the E-marketplace, the E-marketplace verifies the attributes. A server in the E-marketplace is configured to determine various combinations of participants that can match the deal criteria. In this manner, the E-marketplace “choreographs” the transaction to meet the needs of all.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an electronic commerce transaction having predefined satisfaction requirements set forth by a requesting party, comprising the steps of:

creating an attribute certificate for each prospective participant to said transaction;

submitting each of said attribute certificates to a third party;

validating each of said attribute certificates;

identifying, based on said validated attribute certificates, prospective participants and/or combinations of prospective participants who can satisfy said predefined satisfaction requirements;

designating each of said prospective participants and/or combinations of prospective participants who can satisfy said predefined satisfaction requirements as a distinct entity; and

conveying each of said entity designations to said requesting party.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said attribute certificates contains only non-identity information pertaining to said transaction.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said validation step is conducted by said third party.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said non-identity information comprises one or more non-identity elements and wherein said validation step comprises at least the steps of:

checking the accuracy of each non-identity element; and

deleting from said attribute certificate those non-identity elements that are inaccurate.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said non-identity information comprises one or more non-identity elements and wherein said validation step comprises at least the steps of:

checking the accuracy of each non-identity element; and

deleting any attribute certificate that contains an inaccurate non-identity element.

6. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said third party comprises an E-marketplace.

7. A system for conducting an electronic commerce transaction having predefined satisfaction requirements set forth by a requesting party, comprising:

means for creating an attribute certificate for each prospective participant to said transaction;

means for submitting each of said attribute certificates to a third party;

means for validating each of said attribute certificates;

means for identifying, based on said validated attribute certificates, prospective participants and/or combinations of prospective participants who can satisfy said predefined satisfaction requirements;

means for designating each of said prospective participants and/or combinations of prospective participants who can satisfy said predefined satisfaction requirements as a distinct entity; and

means for conveying each of said entity designations to said requesting party.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said attribute certificates contains only non-identity information pertaining to said transaction.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said validation means is used by said third party to validate each of said attribute certificates.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said non-identity information comprises one or more non-identity elements and wherein said validation means comprises:

means for checking the accuracy of each non-identity element; and

means for deleting from said attribute certificate those non-identity elements that are inaccurate.

11. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said non-identity information comprises one or more non-identity elements and wherein said validation means comprises:

means for checking the accuracy of each non-identity element; and

means for deleting any attribute certificate that contains an inaccurate non-identity element.

12. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said third party comprises an E-marketplace.

13. A computer program product recorded on computer-readable storage medium, for conducting an electronic commerce transaction having predefined satisfaction requirements set forth by a requesting party, comprising:

computer-readable means for creating an attribute certificate for each prospective participant to said transaction;

computer-readable means for submitting each of said attribute certificates to a third party;

computer-readable means for validating each of said attribute certificates;

computer-readable means for identifying, based on said validated attribute certificates, prospective participants and/or combinations of prospective participants who can satisfy said predefined satisfaction requirements;

computer-readable means for designating each of said prospective participants and/or combinations of prospective participants who can satisfy said predefined satisfaction requirements as a distinct entity; and

computer-readable means for conveying each of said entity designations to said requesting party.

14. A computer program product as set forth in claim 13, wherein each of said attribute certificates contains only non-identity information pertaining to said transaction.

15. A computer program product as set forth in claim 14, wherein said computer-readable validation means is used by said third party to validate each of said attribute certificates.

16. A computer program product as set forth in claim 15, wherein said non-identity information comprises one or more non-identity elements and wherein said computer-readable validation means comprises:

computer-readable means for checking the accuracy of each non-identity element;

and

computer-readable means for deleting from said attribute certificate those non-identity elements that are inaccurate.

17. A computer program product as set forth in claim 15, wherein said non-identity information comprises one or more non-identity elements and wherein said computer-readable validation means comprises:

computer-readable means for checking the accuracy of each non-identity element;

and

computer-readable means for deleting any attribute certificate that contains an inaccurate non-identity element.

18. A computer program product as set forth in claim 15, wherein said third party comprises an E-marketplace.