Third party privacy system
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of providing privacy through anonymity is described. As one aspect of the invention, a person registers at a privacy server and is given a pseudo identity that can be used to browse, register, purchase, pay for, and take delivery of products and services. Transactions are completed with the privacy server on a need-to-know basis. A seller communicates with the privacy server but only sees a demand, not the identity of the buyer. The financial institution communicates with the privacy server and sees the payment, not the merchandise. The freight company communicates with the privacy server and sees the package, not its contents. The privacy server operates in a manner that assures privacy and anonymity for the buyer and, if necessary, both the seller as well.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1-5. -5. (Canceled).
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6. A method comprising:
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permitting a first user of an electronic network to interact through the network with other users;
maintaining selected information regarding the first user in a storage portion which is coupled to the network;
accepting inquiries regarding the selected information from at least one second user different from the first user; and
responding to a request from the first user by providing the first user with an identification of each second user that made inquiry relating to the selected information. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising an electronic system that includes:
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a first portion that permits a first user of an electronic network to interact through the network with other users;
a storage portion which is coupled to the network and which maintains selected information regarding the first user; and
a second portion which accepts inquiries regarding the selected information from at least one second user different from the first user, and which responds to a request from the first user by providing the first user with an identification of each second user that made inquiry relating to the selected information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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permitting a first user of an electronic network to interact through the network with other users;
maintaining transaction information in a storage portion which is coupled to the network, the transaction information relating to transactions executed by the first user through the network, and having first and second parts for each transaction;
accepting an inquiry regarding the transaction information from a second user different from the first user; and
responding to the inquiry by providing to that second user the first part for each transaction which is within the request, and by providing to that second user the second part for each transaction which is within the request and to which the second user was a party. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising an electronic system that includes:
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a first portion which permits a first user of an electronic network to interact through the network with other users; and
a second portion which maintains transaction information in a storage portion that is coupled to the network, the transaction information relating to transactions executed by the first user through the network, and having first and second parts for each transaction, the second portion responding to an inquiry from a second user regarding the transaction information by providing to that second user the first part for each transaction which is within the request, and by providing to that second user the second part for each transaction which is within the request and to which the second user was a party. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification