Electronic purchase of goods over a communications network including physical delivery while securing private and personal information of the purchasing party

• US 7,536,360 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Iprivacy Llc
• Original Assignee: Iprivacy Llc
• Inventors: Yemini, Yechiam, Shaykin, Leonard P., Stolfo, Salvotore J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen; Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US11/476,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/64, 705/74, 705/78
• US Class Current: 705/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3676 Balancing accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

E-commerce which may include delivery of a good ordered or purchased over a network (e.g., the Internet) to a purchaser/user, and/or arranging for electronic payment of the good is accomplished while securing private and personal information of purchasers/users, which may include the user'"'"'s identity and address(and those of the user'"'"'s computer), and financial information. Proxy software is provided for user computers, one or more proxy computers, or both, for users to communicate with vendors anonymously over the network, provide for delivery of an ordered good and provide for electronic payment, while securing the user'"'"'s private information. The proxy software provides for a proxy party to deal with a vendor and arrange payment from a bank or credit card company to the vendor based on an account that the proxy party has with the bank. The proxy party is not required where the purchaser/user is provided with a transaction identity that masks the true identity of the purchaser.

Claims

1. A method for providing a database of a first party'"'"'s transactions using a first device with a second party using a second device to purchase a good over a communications network linking the first and second devices, the first party having first information of a personal or private nature specific to the first party or the first device, the method providing payment to the second party while securing said first information of the first party with respect to the second party, comprising the steps of:

altering first information from the first device directed to the second device to prevent the second party from determining said first information of the first party;

providing for approval or disapproval by at least a third party of the purchase of the good by the first party from the second party based on financial information relating to the first party accessible by the third party, and if the purchase is approved, providing for payment to the second party while securing said first information of the first party with respect to the second party;

providing at least certain communications between the first and the second parties to a third device and collecting said communications at the third device while securing said first information with respect to the second party; and

providing a database with the collected communications which is not accessible by the second device or the third party.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a proxy device is used to alter the first information from the first device that is directed to the second device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a proxy device is used to provide for approval or disapproval of the purchase of the good.