Computer Method and Apparatus Providing Brokered Privacy of User Data During Searches
First Claim
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1. A computer method of providing user data, comprising:
- in a computer network of users, storing user data of the users;
for a given user, enabling the given user to query the stored user data in a manner maintaining anonymity of each user to which the stored user data is with respect to;
brokering query results by;
(i) notifying each anonymous user whose stored user data matches the given user query, and(ii) for each notified anonymous user, effectively obtaining permission from the anonymous user to expose his user data to the given user; and
providing as output to the given user, indications of the user data from each anonymous user that gave his permission to expose his user data to the given user.
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Abstract
Computer method and apparatus brokers and provides user data in a computer network of users. The invention system stores user data of the users. A search engine enables a searching user to query the stored user data and maintain anonymity of the users. The invention system brokers the query/search results. Each user whose stored user data matches the query maintains stewardship or control over the exposure of her/his user data. An output unit displays to the searching user the matching user data as brokered through (approved and optionally edited by) the respective user.
47 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer method of providing user data, comprising:
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in a computer network of users, storing user data of the users; for a given user, enabling the given user to query the stored user data in a manner maintaining anonymity of each user to which the stored user data is with respect to; brokering query results by; (i) notifying each anonymous user whose stored user data matches the given user query, and (ii) for each notified anonymous user, effectively obtaining permission from the anonymous user to expose his user data to the given user; and providing as output to the given user, indications of the user data from each anonymous user that gave his permission to expose his user data to the given user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Computer apparatus providing user data comprising:
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in a network of computer users, a data store storing user data of the users; a search engine coupleable to the data store and configured to enable a given user to query the stored user data in a manner maintaining anonymity of the users; a brokering member brokering results of queries processed by the search engine, the brokering member enabling each user whose stored user data matches the given user query, to maintain stewardship over exposure of his respective user data; and an output unit responsive to the brokering member and displaying to the given user respective user data from each anonymous user (i) whose stored user data matches the given user query and (ii) who gives permission to display his user data as brokered by the brokering member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product for providing user data, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising; computer usable program code configured to store user data of users in a computer network; computer usable program code configured to, for a given user, enable the given user to query the stored user data in a manner maintaining anonymity of the users; computer usable program code configured to broker query results in a manner that enables each user, whose stored user data matches the given user query, to maintain stewardship over exposure of his respective user data; and computer usable program code configured to display to the given user brokered, respective user data from each anonymous user whose stored user data matches the given user query and gives permission to display his user data.
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Specification