Method and apparatus for establishing peer-to-peer karma and trust
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDavid George, Raymond Jennings, Martin Kienzle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for establishing peer-to-peer karma and trust by a first user in a network includes engaging in a transaction with at least a second user in the network and exchanging feedback with the second network user regarding the transaction, where a copy of the feedback is maintained locally by at least one of the first user and the second user. The party or parties maintaining the feedback can then provide the feedback in response to inquiries by third parties. In this manner, third parties can investigate the trustworthiness (or lack thereof) of the first and/or second user.
Claims20
A method for establishing user trustworthiness by a first user in a network, said method comprising:
- engaging in a transaction with at least a second user in said network;
- and
- exchanging feedback with said second network user regarding said transaction, a copy of said feedback being maintained locally by at least one of said first user and said second user.
A computer readable medium containing an executable program for establishing user trustworthiness by a first user in a network, where the program performs the steps of:
- engaging in a transaction with at least a second user in said network;
- and
- exchanging feedback with said second network user regarding said transaction, a copy of said feedback being maintained locally by at least one of said first user and said second user.
Apparatus for establishing user trustworthiness by a first user in a network, the apparatus comprising:
- means for engaging in a transaction with at least a second user in said network;
- and
- means for exchanging feedback with said second network user regarding said transaction, a copy of said feedback being maintained locally by at least one of said first user and said second user.
A method for investigating, by a first user in a network, the trustworthiness of a second user in the network, the method comprising:
- querying said second user for feedback about said second user, said feedback being given by one or more other users;
- querying a third user in said network for feedback on said second user;
- and
- assessing said trustworthiness of said second user in accordance with said feedback.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.