System and method for a peer to peer exchange of consumer information
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for obtaining consumer information, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a network of authenticated and trusted peer computers, each connected to a communications network;
preparing a query comprising a request for the consumer information and a legal representation affirming a legally allowable purpose for obtaining the consumer information;
transmitting the query to a plurality of the peer computers via the communications network;
obtaining the consumer information from the peer computer via the communications network in response to a communication advising that one of the peer computers receiving the query possesses the consumer information; and
arranging for a payment as compensation for delivery of the consumer information by the peer computer responding to the query.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Using peer-to-peer networking to exchange consumer information in a secure environment. The seeker of consumer information transmits an encrypted query to authenticated and trusted peers which includes legal representations stating the legally permissible purpose for seeking the information. A peer, acting as a maintainer of consumer information, determines if the query matches any consumer information held by the maintainer. The maintainer then informs the seeker of the results of the match, the type of information available, the data format, and the price for such consumer information. A payment invoice can be generated and electronically presented by maintainer. The payment may be electronically debited from the designated account of seeker and remitted to maintainer. In addition, a portion of such funds may be delivered to an entity which maintains the peer-to-peer software.
202 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for obtaining consumer information, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a network of authenticated and trusted peer computers, each connected to a communications network;
preparing a query comprising a request for the consumer information and a legal representation affirming a legally allowable purpose for obtaining the consumer information;
transmitting the query to a plurality of the peer computers via the communications network;
obtaining the consumer information from the peer computer via the communications network in response to a communication advising that one of the peer computers receiving the query possesses the consumer information; and
arranging for a payment as compensation for delivery of the consumer information by the peer computer responding to the query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a peer-to-peer system for obtaining consumer information, comprising a plurality of authenticated and trusted peer computers, each connected to a communications network, one of the peer computers comprising a requesting peer and the remaining peer computers comprising potential providing peers, the requesting peer operative to:
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prepare a query comprising a request for the consumer information and a legal representation affirming a legally allowable purpose for obtaining the consumer information;
transmit the query to a plurality of the providing peers via the communications network;
receive a communication from one of the providing peers computers receiving the query, the communication advising that the providing peer possesses at least a portion of the consumer information;
obtain the portion of the consumer information via the communications network from the providing peer responding to the query;
transmit a payment as compensation for delivery of the portion of the consumer information by the providing peer responding to the query. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A peer-to-peer system for obtaining consumer information, comprising:
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a plurality of authenticated and trusted peer computers, each connected to a communications network, one of the peer computers comprising a requesting peer and the remaining peer computers comprising potential providing peers, wherein;
the requesting peer is operative to;
prepare a query comprising a request for the consumer information and a legal representation affirming a legally allowable purpose for obtaining the consumer information, transmit the query to at least a selected plurality of the providing peers via the communications network, receive an advisory communication from at least one of the providing peers computers receiving the query, the communication advising that the providing peer possesses the consumer information, responsive to receipt of the advisory communication, send a request via the communications network to obtain the consumer information from a particular one of the providing peers responding to the query, receive the consumer information from the particular providing peer, transmit a payment as compensation for delivery of the consumer information by the particular providing peer; and
each of the potentially providing peers is operative to;
receive the query from the requesting peer via the communications network, responsive to the query, complete a search to determine if the providing peer possesses the consumer information requested the requesting peer, if the providing peer possesses the consumer information, transmit the advisory communication to the requesting peer via the communication network, if the providing peer is the particular peer selected by the requesting peer, receive the request for the consumer information from the requesting peer, transmit the consumer information to the requesting peer via the communications network, and receive the payment as compensation for delivery of the consumer information to the requesting peer. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer-implemented method for obtaining financial account information about one of an individual or an entity, comprising the steps of:
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identifying authenticated peer computers by completing an authentication of each of a plurality of peer computers connected to a communications network;
identifying authenticated and trusted peer computers by completing a trust evaluation for each of the authenticated peer computers, the trust evaluation comprising a determination of whether the authenticated peer computer comprises credentials satisfying trust metrics;
determining a need for certain financial account information for one of the individual or the entity;
accepting a legal representation affirming a legally allowable purpose for obtaining the financial account information;
preparing a query comprising a request for the financial account information and the legal representation;
transmitting the query to a plurality of the authenticated and trusted peer computers via the communications network;
receiving a communication via the communications network from certain responding ones of the plurality of the authenticated and trusted peer computers receiving the query, each communication advising that the responding authenticated and trusted peer computer possesses the financial account information;
selecting one of the responding authenticated and trusted peer computers as a source for the financial account information based on an application of selection criteria;
obtaining the financial account information from the selected one of the responding peer computers via the communications network, the financial account information formatted by the responding peer computer in a designated data format. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer-implemented method for obtaining skip trace information comprising at least one of an address and a phone number for an individual, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a need for the skip trace information for the individual;
accepting a legal representation affirming a legally allowable purpose for obtaining the skip trace information;
preparing a query comprising a request for the skip trace information, identifying information for the individual, and the legal representation;
transmitting the query to a plurality of peer computers via the communications network;
receiving a communication via the communications network from certain responding ones of the plurality of the peer computers receiving the query, each communication advising that the responding peer computer possesses at least a portion of the skip trace information and presenting a payment demand for a purchase of the skip trace information;
selecting one of the responding peer computers as a source for the skip trace information based on an application of selection criteria comprising the completeness and timeliness of the skip trace information and the payment demand;
obtaining the skip trace information from the selected one of the responding peer computers via the communications network in response to issuing a request to the selected responding peer computer;
completing a payment for the purchase of the skip trace information from the selected responding peer computer. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A computer-implemented method for obtaining financial account information comprising at least one current financial account for an individual, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a network of authenticated and trusted peer computers by completing an authentication of each of a plurality of peer computers connected to a communications network and, for each of the authenticated peer computers, completing a trust evaluation comprising a determination of whether the authenticated peer computer comprises credentials satisfying trust metrics;
identifying a need for the financial account information for the individual;
accepting a legal representation affirming a legally allowable purpose for obtaining the financial account information;
preparing a query comprising a request for the financial account information, identifying information for the individual, and the legal representation;
transmitting the query to a plurality of the authenticated and trusted peer computers via the communications network;
receiving a communication via the communications network from certain responding ones of the plurality of the authenticated and trusted peer computers receiving the query, each communication advising that the responding authenticated and trusted peer computer possesses at least a portion of the financial account information and presenting a date for the portion of the financial account information, a type of the financial account information, a format of the financial account information and a payment demand for a purchase of the financial account information selecting one of the responding authenticated and trusted peer computers as a source for the financial account information based on certain selection criteria and the payment demand;
obtaining the financial account information from the selected one of the responding peer computers via the communications network in response to issuing a request to the selected responding peer computer;
completing a payment for the purchase of the financial account information from the selected responding peer computer. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification