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.
125 Citations
46 Claims
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1-5. -5. (Canceled).
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6. A method comprising:
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establishing for a first user of an electronic network a key with a single-use characteristic, the key including a pseudo payment type; and
using the key and the single-use characteristic thereof to facilitate through the network a purchase by the first user of something from a second user, including using the pseudo payment type to facilitate payment for the purchase to the second user on behalf of the first user. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising an electronic system that includes:
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a first portion which establishes for a first user of an electronic network a key with a single-use characteristic, the key including a pseudo payment type; and
a second portion which facilitates use of the key and the single-use characteristic thereof to effect through the network a purchase by the first user of something from a second user, including use of the pseudo payment type to facilitate payment for the purchase to the second user on behalf of the first user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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establishing at a financial institution a pseudo payment type for a user; and
using the pseudo payment type to make a monetary payment on behalf of the user to a party other than the financial institution, without revealing to that party an actual identity of the user. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus comprising an electronic system that includes:
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a first portion which establishes at a financial institution a pseudo payment type for a user; and
a second portion which makes under the pseudo payment type a monetary payment on behalf of the user to a party other than the financial institution, without revealing to that party an actual identity of the user. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification