US6006200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of providing an identifier for transactions
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1998-05-22
•
Granted: 1999-12-21
•
Expires: 2018-05-22
Abstract
Abstract Transactions are conducted on the Internet, by telephone or directly with anonymity and privacy. A customer's shipping address is encoded by a multi-digit identifier which is stored in the database of a trusted third party, preferably the shipping company. A user of the system need only identify themselves to a vendor by this multi-digit identifier which prints the identifier in machine readable form on a package delivered to the shipper.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Joy Boies
- 👤 Susan Lynn Spraragen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F21/6218; G06F21/6245; G06F21/6254; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/385; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0613; G06Q30/0615
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of conducting transactions while preserving the anonymity and privacy of a user comprising the steps of: assigning to a user a multi-digit identifier which is stored in a master file database of a trusted third party; using by a customer the multi-digit identifier to order a product; printing by a vendor the multi-digit identifier on a package to be delivered to the customer; and accessing the master file database by a shipper to obtain the customer's shipping address.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of conducting transactions while preserving the anonymity and privacy of a user comprising the steps of: assigning to a user a multi-digit identifier which is stored in a master file database of a trusted third party; using by a customer the multi-digit identifier to order a product; printing by a vendor the multi-digit identifier on a package to be delivered to the customer; and accessing the master file database by a shipper to obtain the customer's shipping address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein the master file database is owned by the shipper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein the multi-digit identifier is printed in machine readable form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein the product is ordered on the Internet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method recited in claim 1 further comprising notifying by a customer a change of address to the trusted third party in order to effect a change of address.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |