Process for protecting sensitive price information from internet based data collection systems

• US 6,460,022 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plotkin, Joel Fredric
• Original Assignee: Plotkin, Joel Fredric
• Inventors: Plotkin, Joel Fredric
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E.
• Application Number:
  US09/376,955
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 705/400, 705/26, 705/51, 705/27, 705/1, 708/172, 707/535, 707/5, 707/10, 707/3, 382/174, 382/178, 382/179, 382/182, 382/180, 382/185, 345/116
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A process for protecting sensitive price information from Internet based data collection systems with the steps of: analyzing specific price information and breaking each price down into a sequence of numbers, instead of representing the pricing numbers as a string of text characters on a Web page (in a specific font, etc.), represent them as a sequence of image files, set up the image files to represent each digit of the price, and display the image files sequentially to reflect a continuous pattern of numbers reflecting the actual price. The unique use of image files reflecting digits of a price make it extremely difficult for an automated Internet based data collecting system to mine price or sensitive information from the web page while still permitting users access to this information in a transparent manor. The system includes further comprising the step of randomly assigning the image file names to reduce any discernable patterns. The system includes further comprising the step of randomly changing the file names from time to time or from content to content to reduce any discernable patterns. The system includes further comprising the step of having a random quantity of digits reflected by each image file to reduce the existence of a discernable pattern. The system includes further comprising the step of having a random number of empty or dummy image files to add complexity and reduce the existence of a discernable pattern which an electronic data gather device could deduce.

Claims

1. A process for protecting sensitive price information from Internet based data collection systems comprising the steps of:

analyzing specific price information and breaking each price down into a sequence of numbers;

representing the pricing numbers on a Web page as a sequence of image files;

setting up the image files to represent each digit of the price; and

displaying the image files sequentially to reflect a continuous pattern of numbers reflecting the actual price.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of randomly assigning names to the image files to reduce the existence of a discernable pattern.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the step of randomly changing the image file names from time to time or from content to content to reduce the existence of a discernable pattern.

4. A process as claimed in claim 3 further comprising the step of having a random quantity of digits reflected by each image file to reduce the existence of a discernable pattern.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the step of having a random number of empty or dummy image files to add complexity and reduce the existence of a discernable pattern which an electronic data gather device could deduce.