Abstract:
The invention discloses a system and method for providing a centralized repository for reputation, ratings, and identification data of any participating user. The user earns a reputation or other ratings information by interacting with outside organizations or Internet participation communities. The reputation or other ratings information is then preferably categorized and stored in the inventive clearinghouse database. The user and/or the participation communities may access the clearinghouse after proper verification to upload, update, or download any of the user&#39;s reputation information when authorized to do so by the user. The centralized format preferably allows the user to transport any ratings or reputation data from one community to another while preserving the integrity and reliability of the information.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    Over the last five to ten years, the Internet has spawned a variety of website communities in which accessing users may participate in any number of different activities, such as auctions, bartering, buying and selling, giving and receiving general advice, or giving and receiving specialized or professional advice. Because of its inherent anonymity, the security of transactions, as well as the reliability of any advice over the Internet, becomes questionable without some form of built-in protection.  
           [0002]    Unlike some commercial Internet transactions with well-known web service providers, which may be secured using standard encryption and secure sockets layering technologies, transactions or advice occurring between Internet users may not typically be secured or guaranteed using the same technologies. In order to increase the reliability of such Internet transactions, web service providers have generally developed user rating processes for building site-specific user reputations for users participating in the offered services.  
           [0003]    In one example, eBay, Inc., an on-line auction service, maintains an extensive user-“reputation” database that generally allows one user to check the “reputation” of a potential buyer or seller. Users typically “earn” the reputation by participating in auctions, either as a buyer or seller, on the website. If one user generally does not timely pay winning bids or send auctioned items, that user will typically build a negative reputation. Other users accessing eBay would then generally be able to see that the one user would not typically be a good party to get involved in a transaction with. Conversely, users may build up a good reputation by routinely offering good items, paying or sending the goods promptly, etc.  
           [0004]    Other web services may include exchanging technical information or advice between users. Advice or information received from a junior high school student posing as a registered professional engineer, certified network administrator, or even an attorney will typically not be as credible or reliable as it would from an actual engineer, certified network administrator, or attorney. Some such advice websites may also utilize user reliability ratings based from a point system in which points are awarded by users or the web service provider for correct information or advice given. Thus, participating users with a high number of rating points may generally be seen by other uses as reliable, while participating users with a low number may generally be seen either as unreliable or as not having extensive interaction with the particular website service.  
           [0005]    One of the problems with the current methods used to provide a user reputation information on Internet communities is that there are typically no means for users to verify certifications, registrations, or degrees that other users hold themselves out as having.  
           [0006]    Another problem with the current methods is that a user may not generally transport his or her reputation from one service community to another. For example, if a user spends a few years building a good reputation on eBay, he or she will usually not be able to transport that reputation or persona identity information to another auction website such as Yahoo! Auction or Amazon.com Auctions. This user may then have his or her bids rejected because of the lack of a reputation. Similarly, in an advice community, a user with a good advice reputation may not generally be perceived as reliable if he or she tries a new advice community.  
           [0007]    It would therefore be desirable to have a reputation clearinghouse for gathering user reputation or identity reliability information. Users would then be capable of “transporting” their reputation information between different communities.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing a centralized repository of reputation or reliability information which may preferably be shared or transported between different subscribing user participation communities. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a reputation authority for electronically storing reputation information relating to a participating user. The reputation authority would preferably have a database, for storing the reputation information, security measures, for verifying the identities of any user or subscribing community organization attempting to establish a connection with the authority, and a communication system, for receiving the reputation information and then transmitting the information to a subscribing community organization after receiving authorization from a participating user, either directly or indirectly. The reputation authority would also preferably have a certification engine, for certifying the authenticity of the transmitted reputation information.  
           [0009]    The preferred method for providing such a centralized repository of reputation or persona rating information would preferably include verifying the identity of an associated member-user and/or accessing third party in response to a request to access the repository. After verifying the identity of the member-user or accessing third party, the repository preferably receives persona rating information from the member-user and/or the accessing third party. The repository would then preferably store the persona rating information in a database indexed according to an identifying characteristic of the member-user, such as a user ID, a name, number, or the like. The repository would then preferably deliver selected portions of the persona rating information to the accessing third party in response to the member-user&#39;s authorization. As the information is being delivered or sent, the repository would preferably attach a certification of the authenticity of the transferred information. This certification would advantageously provide verification that the persona information is related to a particular member-user, and that it is being transmitted by the repository.  
           [0010]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a typical configuration of the prior art system for Internet participation communities;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured to provide centralized information to a single participation community;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured to provide centralized information to multiple participation communities; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Community participation websites generally attempt to increase security reliability at their sites by establishing a database of reputation, identity, or reliability information associated with each user of the service. FIG. 1 illustrates such a system. For purposes of this example, Communities A and B will be considered both auction sites. Community A is centered around server  100  and database  101 , while Community B is centered around server  102  and database  103 . As users  10 - 12  access Community A, they each build a reputation based on the transactions that each completes. This reputation information is then stored by Community A in database  101  for access by the community system. If user  12  is considering a transaction with subscribing user  10 , user  12  may view subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation by accessing the reputation data in database  101 .  
         [0017]    If subscribing user  10  desires to participate in auctions at Community B, subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation data remains on Community A&#39;s database  101 . As subscribing user  10  accesses Community B through server  102 , Community B users  13  and  14  may not typically view subscribing user  10 &#39;s full reputation as developed in Community A. Users  13  and  14  may generally only access subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation rating resident on database  103 . If subscribing user  10  had not participated in many auctions or other activities on Community B, and thus had little reputation information stored on database  103 , users  13  and/or  14  may be disinclined to deal with subscribing user  10 .  
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, subscribing user  10  subscribes to reputation authority  20  for centralizing all of subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation or identity attributes. Subscribing user  10  may belong to or participate in many different community organizations. These community organizations may also typically subscribe or register with reputation authority  20  to participate in the present invention. Any reliability or reputation data that subscribing user  10  builds in these different registered community organizations is preferably stored in reputation authority  20  in one or more of databases  201 -l- 201 -N. Server  200  preferably categorizes all of the reputation information earned by subscribing user  10  into predefined categories and/or classifications. Server  200  stores the reliability information according to those predefined categories and indexes the information according to the particular associated user (i.e., subscribing user  10 ). These categories or classifications correspond to the reliability or reputation information that would typically go along with any class of community organization. For example, in auction sites, the quality of goods subscribing user  10  typically places up for auction in addition to subscribing user  10 &#39;s payment or shipping history would provide useful background concerning subscribing user  10 &#39;s auction reputation. However, this information may generally be unimportant to a participation community that deals with technical advice or match-making. Other categories of information regarding subscribing user  10  would be more beneficial for those other communities.  
         [0019]    It should be noted that the reputation or reliability information is not limited to a simple numeric “score” or rating. Alternative embodiments of the present invention would incorporate the storage and processing capabilities to handle both freeform textual comments and even audio or video clips of user feedback. In such alternative embodiments, a user may be able to write a detailed assessment of the participating user&#39;s reliability or reputation. Furthermore, users would also be able to give verbal assessments, comments, or feedback on the target participating user. The user may also be able to record video comments on the target participating user. The participating user could also respond to comments or reliability and reputation information with freeform text or audio clips. The persona identity or reputation data is not limited to only be compiled by other users or the subscribing participation community.  
         [0020]    Server  200  would then preferably use an information classifier to group the class of rating information into related groups relevant to the particular community activity. Participation communities, such as registered community organization  202 , would then preferably access reputation authority  20  to receive subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation data connected to the activity of registered community organization  202 . Thus, if registered community organization  202  were an auction site, the quality of goods, payment, and shipping history of subscribing user  10  in the “auction” category on databases  201 -l- 201 -N would preferably be accessible to registered community organization  202 . Conversely, if registered community organization  202  were a technical advice website, subscribing user  10 &#39;s identity attributes in the “tech” category would preferably be accessible to registered community organization  202 .  
         [0021]    It should be noted that reputation authority  20  may also preferably define several general categories of reputation data accessible by all participation communities. Items such as geographic location, educational background, and the like, may be useful for a participating community to calculate additional ratings or reputation qualities according to some proprietary algorithms.  
         [0022]    In order to protect the integrity of subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation, reputation authority  20  preferably includes identification verification measures to verify that subscribing user  10  is subscribing user  10  and/or that registered community organization  202  is registered community organization  202 . Therefore, before server  200  stores, sends, or allows access to any category of persona or reputation information, the identity of each subscribing community or user is preferably verified. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, digital certificates, passwords, handshake sequences, or the like.  
         [0023]    Moreover, subscribing user  10  is preferably given the authority to control the dissemination of his or her reputation or persona identity information in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thus, server  200  will preferably not allow access to any of subscribing user  10 &#39;s identity attributes unless it first has an authorization from subscribing user  10 . Such authorization may preferably be given directly by subscribing user  10  to reputation authority  20 , or may preferably be given by subscribing user  10  to registered community organization  202 , which then advantageously uses the authorization to gain access to server  200  and databases  201 -l- 201 -N. Once registered community organization  202  has been granted access to the appropriate class(es) of reputation or persona identity information, server  100  preferably processes the information and stores it in local database  101 . Now, users  11  and  12  may preferably view subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation information from database  101  even if subscribing user  10  had never participated in any activities with registered community organization  202 .  
         [0024]    In order to assure that the reputation information is kept accurate, registered community organization  202  may independently access reputation authority  20  in order to age or update the reputation information in databases  201 -l- 201 -N. As registered community organization  202  accumulates new reputation information from interactions with subscribing user  10 , the new reputation information may be delivered back to reputation authority  20 . The process may preferably be triggered either by a polling mechanism from reputation authority  20 , by update periods controlled by registered community organization  202 , or by update periods controlled by subscribing user  10 .  
         [0025]    Alternative embodiments of the present invention are preferably not limited only to Internet applications. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention configured to provide rating or reputation information to multiple participation communities regardless of the communities existence or connection to the Internet. In FIG. 3, users  10 - 12  interact in the same manner with registered community organization  202  as described with respect to FIG. 2. Ratings information from reputation clearinghouse  20  is preferably shared and processed by server  100  for storage in database  101 . However, FIG. 3 includes three additional participating communities  300 - 302 . Participating community  300  maintains Internet access through a general purpose computer, but does not provide a web-based service community. Participating community  301  either chooses not to have Internet access or does not use the Internet for obtaining information on members of users of its services, relying instead on U.S. mail or overnight delivery service. Participating community  302  may be a small community which relies on facsimile communication for gathering information or ratings on prospective customers or users.  
         [0026]    In operation of the alternative embodiment of the present invention, subscribing user  10  participates in activities with each of participating communities  300 - 302 . Because the communities do not necessarily have to be connected to the Internet, subscribing user  10  may preferably participate using a telephone, facsimile, or even participate in person. As subscribing user  10  desires to have reputation information delivered to participating communities  300 - 302 , he or she may preferably initiate delivery of selected persona identity rating information from databases  201 -l- 201 -N. Furthermore, as participating communities  300 - 302  compile continuing reputation information, each of communities  300 - 302  may preferably deliver updates of reputation information to reputation management clearinghouse  20  to age the reputation information stored in databases  201 -l- 201 -N.  
         [0027]    In a first alternative embodiment, subscribing user  10  may preferably establish a connection with reputation management clearinghouse  20  to give direct authorization for sending the selected persona identity information. As a part of this authorization, subscribing user  10  may preferably supply reputation management clearinghouse  20  with an e-mail or other electronic address for participating community  300 . Subscribing user  10  may also preferably supply clearinghouse  20  with a postal address for participating community  301 . Finally, subscribing user  10  may preferably provide a facsimile number for participating community  302 . Subscribing user  10  would also preferably provide clearinghouse  20  with the selections of ratings categories to provide to each of participating communities  300 - 302 .  
         [0028]    Server  200  would then preferably use the information provided by subscribing user  10  to compile the necessary identity attributes and place the data in the appropriate format for delivery. Server  200 , thus, preferably generates an e-mail for participating community  300 . It preferably produces letter  301  a using a letter printer (not shown), which is then automatically mailed through a selected delivery means. Server  200  would then preferably fax the appropriate reputation or ratings information to the facsimile number supplied by subscribing user  10 . Server  200  would advantageously incorporate a verification symbol or digital certificate on each of the selected forms of ratings information in order to authenticate the information delivered to participating communities  300 - 302 .  
         [0029]    In this first alternative embodiment, identity verification is preferably completed by subscribing user  10 . Clearinghouse  20  may preferably verify subscribing user  10 &#39;s identity through digital certificate. The delivery information provided by subscribing user  10  may be presumed to be correct, as it comes directly from subscribing user  10 .  
         [0030]    In a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, the subscribing communities may preferably directly contact clearinghouse  20  using an authorization code provided by subscribing user  10 . In such an embodiment, subscribing user  10  could preferably supply participating community  300  with a specialized web address, which is associated with the selected category of subscribing user  10 &#39;s reputation information desired for delivery. As participating community  300  accesses the special web address, subscribing user  10 &#39;s authentication code may preferably be entered. This code would preferably initiate the automatic generation of an e-mail to the accessing computer&#39;s e-mail address of participating community  300 .  
         [0031]    It should be noted that in an alternative embodiment a user could provide authentication to the clearinghouse prior to the registered third party community attempting access. In such an embodiment, as the registered third party requests access to the clearinghouse, the reputation management clearinghouse searches its own records for the user&#39;s authorization.  
         [0032]    For participating community  301 , subscribing user  10  could preferably either supply another specialized web address which would require participating community  301  to enter the appropriate mailing address, or supply a special phone number to call for access to an interactive voice response (IVR) unit (not shown) connected to server  200 . The IVR could preferably elicit the necessary subscribing user  10  authentication code and mailing address of participating community  301 . Using this information, server  200  would preferably generate letter  301   a  using an automatic letter printer (not shown).  
         [0033]    For participating community  302 , subscribing user  10  could preferably supply either the specialized web address or phone number to the clearinghouse IVR (not shown). The IVR or website could then preferably elicit subscribing user  10 &#39;s authentication code and participating community  302 &#39;s facsimile number. Alternatively, participating community  302  could preferably dial a specialized fax number which uses the dialed number identification service (DNIS) to cross-reference subscribing user  10 &#39;s authentication rating information or selected reputation categories. Once this information was secured, server  200  could then preferably use participating community  302 &#39;s facsimile number obtained from the automatic number identification (ANI) service to initiate a facsimile of the appropriate ratings information from databases  201 -l- 201 -N.  
         [0034]    In practice, subscribing user  10  may preferably be able to e-mail, fax, or mail certified records of everything from degrees, certifications, licenses, and professional registrations to payment histories, dating preferences, and even golf handicaps. Clearinghouse  20  would then preferably become a central information management system for subscribing user  10  to manage any identity attributes, reliability, or reputation information gathered through almost every aspect of life.  
         [0035]    Participating communities  300 - 302  may also update and age the reputation information stored in databases  201 -l- 201 -N. The reputation information gathered by communities  300 - 302  may preferably be delivered to reputation management clearinghouse  20  using various different methods such as mail, e-mail, or facsimile. This update information may then preferably be entered, scanned, or recorded by clearinghouse  20  for storage into databases  201 -l- 201 -N to age the reputation therein.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 provides a flow chart of the basic steps executed in typical sessions with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Of course, prior to any sessions as illustrated in FIG. 4, the user and any accessing third party may typically register or subscribe to the reputation clearinghouse for the inventive service. At step  400 , a request is made to access the reputation clearinghouse. This request may come from a participating user or some other subscribing third party. Security measures are preferably activated at step  401  to verify the identification of the party requesting access to the system. If the reputation clearinghouse cannot verify the requesting party&#39;s identification, access is preferably denied in step  402 . If, however, the identification is valid, reputation clearinghouse preferably receives any persona or reputation information or updates in step  403 . Such information may preferably be exchanged or, at least prompted for, with every access to the reputation clearinghouse. Therefore, if a subscribing third party is connecting to the clearinghouse, any new reliability information accumulated by the subscribing third party would preferably be downloaded into the clearinghouse database. The downloaded reliability information would then preferably be categorized by the clearinghouse in step  404 , and stored in the databases in step  405 .  
         [0037]    Step  406  preferably determines whether the accessing party desires to obtain any ratings information from the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse would not necessarily be accessed every time to obtain ratings information. For example, a participating user may preferably access the clearinghouse to directly provide authorization to send reputation or persona information to a registered third party or participation community. However, a participating user would not typically need to access his or her own information. Similarly, a registered third party community may have been directed by the subscribing user to update the ratings information at the clearinghouse. The subscribing community would, therefore, preferably access the clearinghouse only to download the latest reputation information earned by the user on that community. If access to the rating information is not desired, the session is preferably ended at step  407 .  
         [0038]    If the accessing party wishes to obtain rating information, the reputation clearinghouse will first preferably verify if there is a valid authorization from the subscribing user at step  408 . If no valid authorization has been presented, the session is preferably ended at step  409 . A subscribing user&#39;s authorization may preferably be provided by the user directly to the reputation clearinghouse, or may alternatively be given to the registered third party, which would then preferably present the subscribing user&#39;s authorization to the clearinghouse. If a valid user authorization does exist, then the reputation clearinghouse preferably makes the reputation information available to the registered third party at step  410 . The information may preferably be made available by allowing the third party to “read” the information, or alternatively, it may be made available by downloading the electronic information from the clearinghouse databases to the registered third party. After the information has been exchanged, the session is preferably ended at step  411 .  
         [0039]    It should be noted that although the examples of preferred and alternative embodiments herein have described a reputation authority providing information or access to identification or reputation information only on the authorization of a user, the present invention is not so limited. Alternative embodiments may comprise a relationship between the reputation authority and subscribing participation communities directly. The users rating information would preferably be freely exchanged between the subscribing communities and the centralized ratings authority. The authority and subscribing participating communities could then preferably decide how much access to the reputation information to allow the user.  
         [0040]    It should also be noted that alternative embodiments of the present invention do not add the step of categorizing the information into topical groups. Such alternative embodiments would preferably store the whole of raw ratings information into a database indexed by the users identification.  
         [0041]    It should also be noted that although the embodiments described herein have indicated that an accessing community would only have access to limited reputation information, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the present invention would allow all participating communities access to all available persona identity or reputation data stored within the reputation authority.  
         [0042]    It should further be noted that the subscribing “users” of the present invention may include individuals as well as organizations or companies. Organizations could preferably build reputation information which could then be advantageously shared among different communities in which the organization participates.  
         [0043]    It should further be noted that subscribing users may build reputations by purchasing bonds with the reputation authority. In applications involving buying or selling, such bonds may act as insurance against losses.  
         [0044]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.