Internet strawman and user interface therefor
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for facilitating a transaction between a subscriber and a vendor through an intermediary, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving at said intermediary personal information from said subscriber to establish a user account;
b) storing said personal information for subsequent access;
c) receiving at said intermediary a request from said subscriber to access said user account, whereupon said subscriber'"'"'s identity is verified by said intermediary against said personal information;
d) responsive to successful verification of said subscriber'"'"'s identity, said intermediary entering into a transaction with said vendor on behalf of said subscriber pursuant to said subscriber'"'"'s instruction; and
e) notifying said subscriber upon completion of said transaction, wherein said transaction is completed without disclosing said personal information about said subscriber to said vendor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for implementing an intermediary to preserve user privacy and anonymity in electronic transactions. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method for facilitating a transaction between a subscriber and a vendor through an intermediary is provided. In this embodiment, the method comprises the step of receiving at the intermediary personal information from the subscriber to establish a user account. The method also comprises the step of storing the personal information for subsequent access. The method further comprises the step of receiving a request from the subscriber to access the user account, upon which the subscriber'"'"'s identity is verified by the intermediary against the personal information. The method also comprises the step of the intermediary entering into a transaction with the vendor on behalf of the subscriber based on the subscriber'"'"'s instruction once the subscriber'"'"'s identity is successfully verified. The method further comprises the step of notifying the subscriber upon completion of the transaction. Importantly, the transaction is completed without disclosing the subscriber'"'"'s personal information to the vendor. As such, the consumer remains anonymous with respect to the vendor.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for facilitating a transaction between a subscriber and a vendor through an intermediary, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving at said intermediary personal information from said subscriber to establish a user account;
b) storing said personal information for subsequent access;
c) receiving at said intermediary a request from said subscriber to access said user account, whereupon said subscriber'"'"'s identity is verified by said intermediary against said personal information;
d) responsive to successful verification of said subscriber'"'"'s identity, said intermediary entering into a transaction with said vendor on behalf of said subscriber pursuant to said subscriber'"'"'s instruction; and
e) notifying said subscriber upon completion of said transaction, wherein said transaction is completed without disclosing said personal information about said subscriber to said vendor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory unit coupled to said bus, said memory unit having stored therein instructions that when executed implement a method for facilitating a transaction between a subscriber and a vendor through an intermediary, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving at said intermediary personal information from said subscriber to establish a user account;
b) storing said personal information for subsequent access;
c) receiving at said intermediary a request from said subscriber to access said user account, whereupon said subscriber'"'"'s identity is verified by said intermediary against said personal information;
d) responsive to successful verification of said subscriber'"'"'s identity, said intermediary entering into a transaction with said vendor on behalf of said subscriber pursuant to said subscriber'"'"'s instruction; and
e) notifying said subscriber upon completion of said transaction, wherein said transaction is completed without disclosing said personal information about said subscriber to said vendor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer system for facilitating a transaction between a subscriber and a vendor through an intermediary, said computer system comprising:
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input means for receiving at said intermediary personal information from said subscriber to establish a user account;
storage means for storing said personal information for subsequent access;
said input means also for receiving at said intermediary a request from said subscriber to access said user account, whereupon said subscriber'"'"'s identity is verified by said intermediary against said personal information;
means for enabling said intermediary to enter into a transaction with said vendor on behalf of said subscriber pursuant to said subscriber'"'"'s instruction responsive to successful verification of said subscriber'"'"'s identity; and
notification means for notifying said subscriber upon completion of said transaction, wherein said transaction is completed without disclosing said personal information about said subscriber to said vendor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification