Patent ID: 6073117
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A mutual credit server apparatus for sending credit information about at least one seller to an inquiring buyer computer, wherein an inquiring buyer is one of a plurality of buyers each having a buyer computer, said server comprising:first memory means for storing a direct confidence degree about the at least one seller from a point of view of each of the plurality of buyers, the direct confidence degree being determined by each buyer based on direct trade history between each buyer and the seller;second memory means for storing a buyer confidence degree about each of the other buyers from a view point of each buyer, the buyer confidence degree being determined by each buyer based on trade information from the other buyers;processing means for, when a confidence inquiry about the seller is received from the inquiring buyer computer, calculating a total confidence degree about the seller from a viewpoint of the inquiring buyer based on the direct confidence degree about the seller from a viewpoint of the each buyer and the buyer confidence degree about each of the other buyers from a viewpoint of the inquiring buyer.