System and method for an anonymous exchange of private data
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for exchanging private data, comprising the steps of:
- registering a plurality of data providers and a plurality of data buyers;
building, by the computer, a searchable index for each of the data buyers based on at least one index of private data for sale provided from one or more of the data providers;
for each searchable index of each of the data buyers, encrypting and decrypting the searchable index by a public key unique to a respective one of the data buyers, when building the searchable index;
receiving a query that identifies a data buyer of the plurality of data buyers and defines a purchase request for the private data;
retrieving the searchable index associated with the data buyer;
determining, by the computer, whether at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested by the data buyer by comparing the purchase request to the searchable index associated with the data buyer;
encrypting and decrypting the searchable index associated with the data buyer by a private key unique to the data buyer, when determining whether at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested; and
in response to determining that at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested, arranging an exchange of the private data requested with the data buyer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Facilitating the purchase and sale of private data between anonymous entities based on the use of encryption and a centralized on-line entity to exchange the private data in a secure environment. The seeker of private data, such as consumer information, transmits an encrypted query to the centralized exchange entity. The query submission includes legal representations stating the legally permissible purpose for seeking the information. The centralized exchange entity compares the encrypted query to an encrypted data index collected from at least one data provider, to determine if the query matches any private data held by a data provider. The comparison is conducted within a secure, search component to ensure the privacy of all data and all parties to the transaction. The exchange entity facilitates the anonymous exchange between the data purchaser and the data provider. A payment invoice can be generated and electronically presented by maintainer. The payment may be electronically debited from the designated account of a data purchaser and remitted to a data provider. In addition, a portion of such funds may be retained by the centralized exchange entity.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for exchanging private data, comprising the steps of:
- registering a plurality of data providers and a plurality of data buyers;
building, by the computer, a searchable index for each of the data buyers based on at least one index of private data for sale provided from one or more of the data providers;
for each searchable index of each of the data buyers, encrypting and decrypting the searchable index by a public key unique to a respective one of the data buyers, when building the searchable index;
receiving a query that identifies a data buyer of the plurality of data buyers and defines a purchase request for the private data;
retrieving the searchable index associated with the data buyer;
determining, by the computer, whether at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested by the data buyer by comparing the purchase request to the searchable index associated with the data buyer;
encrypting and decrypting the searchable index associated with the data buyer by a private key unique to the data buyer, when determining whether at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested; and
in response to determining that at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested, arranging an exchange of the private data requested with the data buyer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- registering a plurality of data providers and a plurality of data buyers;
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15. A computer-implemented method for exchanging consumer information, comprising the steps of:
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registering a plurality of data providers and a plurality of data buyers; building, by the computer, a searchable index for each of the data buyers based on at least one index of consumer information for sale provided from one or more of the data providers; for each searchable index of each of the data buyers, encrypting and decrypting the searchable index by a public key unique to a respective one of the data buyers, when building the searchable index; receiving a query and a legal representation from a data buyer of the plurality of data buyers, the query defining a purchase request for consumer information and the legal representation indicating that the data buyer will use the consumer information requested only in accordance with stated permissible uses; retrieving the searchable index associated with the data buyer; determining, by the computer, whether at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested by the data buyer by comparing the purchase request to the searchable index associated with the data buyer; encrypting and decrypting the searchable index associated with the data buyer by a private key unique to the data buyer, when determining whether at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested; in response to determining that at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested, arranging for an exchange of the consumer information requested with the data buyer; and arranging, by the computer, for delivery of a payment from the data buyer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 37)
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22. A computer-implemented method for exchanging private data, comprising the steps of:
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registering a plurality of data providers and a plurality of data buyers, the registration of each data buyer of the plurality of data buyers comprising receiving a legal representation from the data buyer that the data buyer will use any private data requested only in accordance with stated permissible uses; building, by the computer, a searchable index for each of the data buyers based on at least one index of private data for sale provided from one or more of the data providers; for each searchable index of each of the data buyers, encrypting and decrypting the searchable index by a public key unique to a respective one of the data buyers, when building the searchable indexes; receiving an encrypted query that identifies a data buyer of the plurality of data buyers and defines a purchase request for private data; retrieving the searchable index associated with the data buyer; determining, by the computer, whether at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested by the data buyer by comparing the purchase request to the searchable index associated with the data buyer; encrypting and decrypting the searchable index associated with the data buyer by a private key unique to the data buyer, when determining whether at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested; and in response to determining that at least one of the data providers maintains the private data requested, transmitting a message to the data buyer comprising information about the private data requested, the cost of purchasing the private data requested, and an anonymous exchange identifier code for uniquely identifying the private data requested. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 38, 39)
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27. A computer-implemented method for exchanging consumer information, comprising the steps of:
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registering a plurality of data providers and a plurality of data buyers, the registration of each data buyer of the plurality of data buyers comprising receiving a legal representation from the data buyer that the data buyer will use any consumer information requested only in accordance with stated permissible uses; building, by the computer, a searchable index for each of the data buyers based on at least one index of consumer information for sale provided from one or more of the data providers; for each searchable index of each of the data buyers, encrypting and decrypting the searchable index by a public key unique to a respective one of the data buyers, when building the searchable indexes; receiving an encrypted query that identifies a data buyer of the plurality of data buyers and defines a purchase request for consumer information; retrieving the searchable index associated with the data buyer; determining, by the computer, whether at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested by the data buyer by comparing the purchase request to the searchable index associated with the data buyer; encrypting and decrypting the searchable index associated with the data buyer by a private key unique to the data buyer, when determining whether at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested; and in response to determining that at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested, transmitting a message to the data buyer comprising information about the consumer information requested, the cost of purchasing the consumer information requested, and an anonymous exchange identifier code for uniquely identifying the consumer information requested. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 40, 41)
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Specification