Communication networks and methods and computer program products for performing searches thereon while maintaining user privacy
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communication network, comprising:
- associating a pseudonym with a user of the communication network at a proxy searcher;
receiving a complex search request from the user at the proxy searcher, the complex search request being associated with the pseudonym;
forwarding the complex search request and pseudonym from the proxy searcher to a central searcher;
dividing the complex search request into a plurality of simple search requests at the central searcher;
performing the plurality of simple search requests on at least one database; and
providing results of the plurality of simple search requests to the proxy searcher, the results being associated with the pseudonym;
wherein the complex search request comprises a complex search request matrix, the complex search request matrix comprising;
a first matrix dimension corresponding to general search categories; and
a second matrix dimension corresponding to sub-categories of the general search categories.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network is operated by associating a pseudonym with a user of the communication network at a proxy searcher. A complex search request from the user is received at the proxy searcher, the complex search request being associated with the pseudonym. The complex search request and pseudonym are forwarded from the proxy searcher to a central searcher. The complex search request is divided into a plurality of simple search requests at the central searcher. The plurality of simple search requests are performed on at least one database. The results of the plurality of simple search requests are provided to the proxy searcher, the results being associated with the pseudonym.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communication network, comprising:
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associating a pseudonym with a user of the communication network at a proxy searcher; receiving a complex search request from the user at the proxy searcher, the complex search request being associated with the pseudonym; forwarding the complex search request and pseudonym from the proxy searcher to a central searcher; dividing the complex search request into a plurality of simple search requests at the central searcher; performing the plurality of simple search requests on at least one database; and providing results of the plurality of simple search requests to the proxy searcher, the results being associated with the pseudonym; wherein the complex search request comprises a complex search request matrix, the complex search request matrix comprising; a first matrix dimension corresponding to general search categories; and a second matrix dimension corresponding to sub-categories of the general search categories. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication network, comprising:
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a central searcher; a pseudonym server that is configured to associate a pseudonym with a user of the communication network; and a proxy server that is connected to the pseudonym server and the central searcher, the proxy server being configured to receive a complex search request from the user and to forward the complex search request and pseudonym to the central searcher; wherein the central searcher is configured to divide the complex search request into a plurality of simple search requests, to perform the plurality of search requests on at least one database, and to provide results of the plurality of simple search requests to the proxy searcher such that the results are associated with the pseudonym; wherein the complex search request comprises a complex search request matrix, the complex search request matrix comprising; a first matrix dimension corresponding to general search categories; and a second matrix dimension corresponding to sub-categories of the general search categories; and wherein the central searcher, the proxy server and the pseudonym server comprise at least one processor running software that implements the central searcher, the proxy server and the pseudonym server. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for operating a communication network, comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising; computer readable program code configured to associate a pseudonym with a user of the communication network at a proxy searcher; computer readable program code configured to receive a complex search request from the user at the proxy searcher, the complex search request being associated with the pseudonym; computer readable program code configured to forward the complex search request and pseudonym from the proxy searcher to a central searcher; computer readable program code configured to divide the complex search request into a plurality of simple search requests at the central searcher; computer readable program code configured to perform the plurality of simple search requests on at least one database; and computer readable program code configured to provide results of the plurality of simple search requests to the proxy searcher, the results being associated with the pseudonym; wherein the complex search request comprises a complex search request matrix, the complex search request matrix comprising; a first matrix dimension corresponding to general search categories; and a second matrix dimension corresponding to sub-categories of the general search categories. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification