Method and apparatus for a cryptographically-assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate and support expert-based commerce

• US 8,326,765 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Community United IP LLC (IPNav)
• Original Assignee: Community United IP LLC (IPNav)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Schneier, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Nigh, James D
• Application Number:
  US11/423,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,366 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.4, 705/40, 705/64
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

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.

Claims

1. An expert matching apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an end user request, comprising:

a controller;

a first storage device database in communication with the controller, the first storage device database storing a database including plurality of qualifications for a plurality of experts, each expert qualification associated with an address corresponding to a particular expert, each particular expert being associated with an expert profile for determining whether an end user request is accepted or rejected, the expert profile including at least one of the following bidding protocols;

an automatic bid amount, and

an automatic acceptance for end user requests greater than a predetermined price; and

a second storage device in communication with the controller, the second storage device comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by the controller cause the controller to perform the steps of;

receiving an end user request generated by an end user;

searching the database to generate a search result containing expert qualifications which correspond to the end user request;

transmitting at least a portion of the end user request to the respective expert addresses based on the search result;

receiving respective responses to the end user request from a plurality of experts, the responses indicating willingness to provide an expert answer;

automatically submitting at least one bid on behalf of one or more of the plurality of experts responding, based on the bidding protocol of the expert profile of the respective expert;

selecting at least one of the plurality of experts to provide an expert answer based on the automatically submitted at least one bid;

receiving an expert answer corresponding to the end user request transmitted; and

transmitting at least a portion of the expert answer to the end user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

selecting an expert based on said search result.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

receiving guaranteed payment information from a guaranteed payment system for payment of expert services rendered to the end user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions by which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

transmitting payment remittance information to a payment remittance system to remit payment to the selected expert.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

certifying expert qualifications.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

authenticating at least one of origin or integrity of a transmission received by the controller unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein authenticating at least one of origin or integrity of a transmission received by the controller comprises using a cryptographic operation with an encryption key.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

classifying the end user request, the apparatus first storage device further comprising a second database having predetermined subject matter classifications for classifying the end user requests by subjects contained in the second database.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

transmitting reference data to an end user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the steps of:

receiving a bid from the end user and transmitting the bid to the selected expert.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the steps of:

receiving a bid from at least one expert and transmitting the bid to the end user.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions which when executed by the controller further causes the controller to perform the step of:

facilitating communication between at least one expert and the end user.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expert qualifications are selected from the group consisting of a subject matter designator, experience, education, licenses, location, availability criteria, representatives, rates, payment method, publications, prior work history, and a resume.