Patent ID: 8301126

Claim:
A method for providing an incentive in exchange for anonymously provided information from a user, the method comprising: receiving from at least one of a plurality of broadcasting units via a respective transmitter, the anonymously provided information via a dedicated broadcast reception component including a computing device that is configured to interface with the broadcasting unit, wherein the plurality of broadcasting units are each configured with the respective transmitter and configured to receive and transmit information from the user, and further wherein the plurality of broadcasting units are configured to communicate over a communication network; receiving, from the at least one of the plurality of broadcasting units, information representing at least one physical characteristic of the user, wherein the at least one physical characteristic identifies the user; matching the information representing the at least one physical characteristic of the user with the anonymously provided information; and authorizing the incentive to be provided to the user or a third party associated with the user in exchange for the anonymously provided information.