Methods and apparatus for providing user anonymity in online transactions

• US 7,693,283 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Owen Livesay
• Original Assignee: Paul Owen Livesay
• Inventors: Livesay, Paul Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US11/503,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20060274896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 726/4, 726/5, 380/255
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0421 Anonymous communication, i.e. the party's identifiers are hidden from the other party or parties, e.g. using an anonymizer

Abstract

End-to-end user anonymity is provided in electronic commerce or other types of online transactions through the use of an intermediary. An intermediary machine, which may be implemented in the form of a set of servers, receives communications from a consumer or other user, and generates and maintains an alias for that user. Connections between the user machine and any online vendor or other web site are implemented through the intermediary using the alias. The intermediary then communicates with the online vendor and supplies intermediary payment information. The online vendor charges the purchase to the intermediary, and redirects the delivery of the goods or services to the destination address provided by the intermediary. The intermediary charges the payment card number of the user, and arranges for the redirection of the delivery to the real user address.

Claims

1. A method of providing user anonymity in conjunction with transactions conducted over a network, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing an association in an intermediary machine between real identity information for a particular user and corresponding alias identity information for the user;

supplying at least a portion of the alias identity information from the intermediary machine to a machine associated with a web site operator in conjunction with an action by the user;

providing intermediary payment authorization information to the web site operator machine in conjunction with an online transaction involving the user, such that the user is able to enter into the transaction without the real identity information being disclosed to the web site operator;

wherein the intermediary machine comprises a processor and a memory, the memory being configured to store a plurality of payment card numbers of differing expirations, and the processor being configured to select a particular one of the plurality of payment card numbers for use as the intermediary payment authorization information based at least in part on an evaluation of the trustworthiness of the web site operator.

2. A processor-implemented method of providing user anonymity in conjunction with transactions conducted over a network, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing an association in an intermediary machine between real identity information for a particular user and corresponding alias identity information for the user;

supplying at least a portion of the alias identity information from the intermediary machine to a machine associated with a web site operator in conjunction with an action by the user;

providing intermediary payment authorization information to the web site operator machine in conjunction with an online transaction involving the user, such that the user is able to enter into the transaction without the real identity information being disclosed to the web site operator;

wherein a transaction database associated with the intermediary machine is interfaced with a corresponding credit clearing infrastructure element so as to facilitate comparison of transactions authorized by the intermediary with transactions reported by one or more web site operators.

3. A processor-implemented method of providing user anonymity in conjunction with transactions conducted over a network, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing an association in an intermediary machine between real identity information for a particular user and corresponding alias identity information for the user;

supplying at least a portion of the alias identity information from the intermediary machine to a machine associated with a web site operator in conjunction with an action by the user;

providing intermediary payment authorization information to the web site operator machine in conjunction with an online transaction involving the user, such that the user is able to enter into the transaction without the real identity information being disclosed to the web site operator;

wherein the intermediary machine in conjunction with the online transaction supplies an alias destination address to the web site operator machine for delivery of goods or services purchased by the user as part of the transaction;

wherein the alias destination address comprises an address of a third party destination determined by the intermediary to be in sufficient proximity to a real destination address of the user, such that physical goods purchased by the user as part of the transaction are delivered by the web site operator to the third party destination address.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein data from the intermediary machine correlating a unique identifier on a label of a package containing the goods with a real name and destination address of the user is utilized to re-label the package while the package is in the custody of a shipping channel, such that the re-labeled package is delivered to the destination address of the user.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein data from the intermediary machine correlating a unique identifier on a label of a package containing the goods with a real name and destination address of the user is utilized to re-label the package while the package is in the custody of an entity associated with the third party destination, such that the re-labeled package is delivered to the destination address of the user.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein data from the intermediary machine correlating a unique identifier on a label of a package containing the goods with a real name and destination address of the user is utilized by the user to generate a receipt which authorizes the user to pick up the package at the third party destination.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein data from the intermediary machine correlating a unique identifier on a label of a package containing the goods with a real name and destination address of the user is utilized to re-label the package while the package is in the custody of an entity associated with the third party destination, and wherein data from the intermediary machine is also utilized by the user to generate a receipt which authorizes the user to pick up the package at the third party destination.