METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY-ASSISTED COMMERICAL NETWORK SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FACILITATE AND SUPPORT EXPERT-BASED COMMERCE

• US 20060224510A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bryce Schneier, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker
• Original Assignee: Bryce Schneier, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker
• Inventors: SCHNEIER, BRYCE, WALKER, JAY S., JORASCH, JAMES A.
• Application Number:
  US11/423,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224510A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

The present invention is an expert matching method and apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an expert request. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller having a database for storing expert qualifications. In one embodiment, the controller receives an expert request. A search program identifies experts qualified to respond to the expert request. The expert request is then transmitted to the expert, which results in an expert answer transmitted to and received by the central controller. After authentication of the expert answer, using a wide range of security levels from passwords to cryptography, the answer is forwarded to the end user. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional voice telephony systems.

Claims

1. An expert matching apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an end user request, comprising:

a controller unit for receiving an end user request generated by an end user, the controller unit having a database for storing therein a plurality of qualifications for a plurality of experts, each expert qualification associated with an address corresponding to a particular expert;

means for searching the database to generate a search result containing expert qualifications which correspond to the end user request;

means for guaranteeing payment to the expert for services rendered to the end user;

means for initiating remittance of payments to the experts;

means for transmitting at least a portion of the end user request to the expert address based on the search result;

means for receiving an expert answer corresponding to the end user request transmitted; and

means for transmitting at least a portion of the expert answer to the end user.

2-176. -176. (canceled)