Method for exchanging information

• US 20050132073A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Karp, Alan H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2123 Dummy operation

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to a method of exchanging information between at least one party and a plurality of intermediaries, the plurality of intermediaries including a selected intermediary. The method may comprise providing correct information to the selected intermediary, providing incorrect information to each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediary, receiving modified information based on the correct information from the selected intermediary, receiving modified information based on the incorrect information from each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediaries, and wherein the plurality of intermediaries do not know the identity of the selected intermediary.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging information between at least one party and a plurality of intermediaries, the plurality of intermediaries including a selected intermediary, the method comprising:

providing correct information to the selected intermediary;

providing incorrect information to each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediary;

receiving modified information based on the correct information from the selected intermediary;

receiving modified information based on the incorrect information from each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediary; and

wherein the plurality of intermediaries do not know the identity of the selected intermediary.

2. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising creating the incorrect information from the correct information.

3. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising creating the incorrect information as a plausible variation of the correct information.

4. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing proprietary data as the correct information.

5. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing a proprietary program as the correct information.

6. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing the correct information in encrypted form.

7. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing the incorrect information in encrypted form.

8. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising receiving the modified information based on the correct information in encrypted form.

9. A method of exchanging information among a first party, a second party, a selected intermediary and a non-selected intermediary, the method comprising:

providing, by the first party, correct first party information to the selected intermediary;

providing, by the second party, correct second party information to the selected intermediary;

providing, by the first party, incorrect first party information to the non-selected intermediary;

providing, by the second party, incorrect second party information to the non-selected intermediary;

processing, by the selected intermediary, the correct first party information in conjunction with the correct second party information to produce selected intermediary information;

processing, by the non-selected intermediary, the incorrect first party information in conjunction with the incorrect second party information to produce non-selected intermediary information;

providing, by the selected intermediary, the selected intermediary information to at least one of the first party and the second party; and

providing, by the non-selected intermediary, the non-selected intermediary information to the at least one of the first party and the second party.

10. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising selecting the selected intermediary.

11. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising creating the incorrect first party information from the correct first party information.

12. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising creating the incorrect first party information as a plausible variation of the correct first party information.

13. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing proprietary data as the correct first party information.

14. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing a proprietary program as the correct first party information.

15. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing the correct first party information in encrypted form.

16. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing the incorrect first party information in encrypted form.

17. The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing the selected intermediary information in encrypted form.

18. A method of processing information, comprising:

receiving, by an intermediary, correct first party information from a first party;

receiving, by the intermediary, correct second party information from a second party;

processing the correct first party information in conjunction with the correct second party information to produce intermediary information;

providing the intermediary information to at least one of the first party and the second party; and

wherein a plurality of additional intermediaries receive and process incorrect first party information in conjunction with incorrect second party information.

19. The method set forth in claim 18, comprising receiving proprietary data as the correct first party information.

20. The method set forth in claim 18, comprising receiving a proprietary program as the correct first party information.

21. The method set forth in claim 18, comprising providing the intermediary information in encrypted form.

22. The method set forth in claim 18, comprising receiving the correct first party information in encrypted form.

23. A method of exchanging information between at least one party and an intermediary, the method comprising:

providing correct information and incorrect information to the intermediary;

receiving modified information based on the correct information from the intermediary;

receiving modified information based on the incorrect information from the intermediary; and

wherein the intermediary does not know which information is the correct information.

24. The method set forth in claim 24, comprising creating the incorrect information from the correct information.

25. The method set forth in claim 24, comprising creating the incorrect information as a plausible variation of the correct information.

26. The method set forth in claim 24, comprising providing proprietary data as the correct information.

27. The method set forth in claim 24, comprising providing a proprietary program as the correct information.

28. The method set forth in claim 24, comprising providing the correct information in encrypted form.

29. The method set forth in claim 24, comprising providing the incorrect information in encrypted form.

30. The method set forth in claim 24, comprising receiving the modified information based on the correct information in encrypted form.