Patent ID: 7107269
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for use in a distributed data network wherein a user may request and receive content from one or more entities in the distributed data network, the method comprising the steps of: providing one or more mechanisms for enabling at least one of the user and one or more of the entities to control which entities in the distributed data network have access to information generated in association with the user's activity on the distributed data network, wherein the user specifies at least one role and, based on the created role, at least one profile for the user is maintained by one or more of the entities in the form of information inserted into the profile by one or more of the entities, the information representing the user's activity on the distributed data network with respect to the one or more entities that inserted the information, such that profile maintenance is substantially transparent to the user; and customizing content to be received by the user in accordance with at least a portion of the information in the user profile; wherein the step of providing the one or more control mechanisms for the user comprises the step of enabling the user to specify two or more roles within which the user may perform activities on the distributed data network, wherein the two or more roles have two or more profiles respectively associated therewith, and wherein the two or more profiles are substantially unlinkable.