Achieving buyer-seller anonymity for unsophisticated users under collusion amongst intermediaries

US6873977B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Alok Aggarwal · Foster City, US
• Pradeep Kumar Dubey · New Delhi, IN
• Charanjit Singh Jutla · New York, US
• Vijay Kumar · New Delhi, IN
• Marco Martens · Chappaqua, US
• Michael Shub · New York, US
• Charles P. Tresser · Mamaroneck, US
• Chai Wah Wu · Poughquag, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 2000
• Grant date: Mar 29, 2005
• Expiry date: May 11, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/04
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system offer confidential purchase of electronic data which can be used without any need of knowledge in cryptography nor mastery of computer use beyond usual usage of the World Wide Web (WWW). The method and system which guarantee confidentiality as long as there is no collusion between agents working for a large number of reputable companies whose references can be easily checked on the Internet before proceeding to the order. In addition, the method and system allow for guaranteed payment and offer recourse in case of improper delivery.