METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY-ASSISTED COMMERCIAL NETWORK SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FACILITATE AND SUPPORT EXPERT-BASED COMMERCE
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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.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. A method of providing payment to an expert for a response to an end user request, comprising:
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by a controller, storing in a database data relating to a plurality of experts, said data including, for each expert, a corresponding name, address, and qualification; receiving at the controller an end user request from an end user;
posting, by the controller, at least a portion of the end user request on a web page;receiving, by the controller, a response to the end user request from a first expert identified in the database; and compensating the first expert for the response. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21-32. -32. (canceled)
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33. An apparatus for providing payment to an expert who provides a response to an end user request, comprising a controller having a database storing data relating to a plurality of experts, said data including, for each expert, a corresponding name, address, and qualification, the controller configured to receive an end user request from an end user, post at least a portion of the end user request on a web page, receive a response to the end user request from a first expert identified in the database;
- and compensate the first expert for the response.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
Specification