# US 7,610,407 B2 · Method for exchanging information between at least two participants via at least one intermediary to limit disclosure between the participants

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,610,407 B2
- Document ID: US7610407B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/733,502
- Filed: 2003-12-11
- Published: 2005-06-16
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2003-12-11
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Alan H. Karp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610407B2

## CPC

- G06F 21/62: Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
- G06F 2221/2115: Third party
- G06F 2221/2123: Dummy operation
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to a method of exchanging information between at least one party and a plurality of intermediaries, the plurality of intermediaries including a selected intermediary. The method may comprise providing correct information to the selected intermediary, providing incorrect information to each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediary, receiving modified information based on the correct information from the selected intermediary, receiving modified information based on the incorrect information from each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediaries, and wherein the plurality of intermediaries do not know the identity of the selected intermediary.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of exchanging information between at least one party and a plurality of intermediaries via an anonymizing network such that misappropriation of the information is avoided, the plurality of intermediaries including a selected intermediary, the method comprising:
providing correct electronic data to the selected intermediary via the anonymizing network;
providing incorrect electronic data to each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediary via the anonymizing network;
receiving modified correct information based on the correct electronic data from the selected intermediary via the anonymizing network, wherein the selected intermediary interpreted the correct electronic data to yield the modified correct information with a data analysis program;
receiving modified incorrect information based on the incorrect electronic data from each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediary, wherein each of the plurality of intermediaries who are not the selected intermediary interpreted the incorrect electronic data to yield the modified incorrect information with one of a plurality of analysis programs; and
wherein the anonymizing network functions such that the plurality of intermediaries do not know which of the plurality of intermediaries is the selected intermediary.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, comprising creating the incorrect electronic data from the correct electronic data.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, comprising creating the incorrect electronic data as a plausible variation of the correct electronic data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing proprietary data as the correct electronic data.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing a proprietary program to the selected intermediary.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing the correct electronic data in encrypted form.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing the incorrect electronic data in encrypted form.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method set forth in claim 1, comprising receiving the modified correct electronic data based on the correct electronic data in encrypted form.

### Claim 9

A method of exchanging information among a first party, a second party, a selected intermediary and a non-selected intermediary via an anonymizing network such that misappropriation of the information is avoided, the method comprising:
using a computer programmed with a data exchange algorithm to facilitate:
providing, by the first party, correct first party information to the selected intermediary via the anonymizing network;
providing, by the second party, correct second party information to the selected intermediary via the anonymizing network;
providing, by the first party, incorrect first party information to the non-selected intermediary via the anonymizing network;
providing, by the second party, incorrect second party information to the non-selected intermediary via the anonymizing network;
processing, by the selected intermediary, the correct first party information in conjunction with the correct second party information to produce selected intermediary information via the anonymizing network;
processing, by the non-selected intermediary, the incorrect first party information in conjunction with the incorrect second party information to produce non-selected intermediary information;
providing, by the selected intermediary, the selected intermediary information to at least one of the first party and the second party via the anonymizing network; and
providing, by the non-selected intermediary, the non-selected intermediary information to the at least one of the first party and the second party via the anonymizing network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising selecting the selected intermediary.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising creating the incorrect first party information from the correct first party information.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising creating the incorrect first party information as a plausible variation of the correct first party information.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing proprietary data as the correct first party information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing a proprietary program as the correct first party information.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing the correct first party information in encrypted form.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing the incorrect first party information in encrypted form.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The method set forth in claim 9, comprising providing the selected intermediary information in encrypted form.

### Claim 18

A method of processing information, comprising:
using a computer programmed with a data exchange algorithm to facilitate:
receiving, by a selected intermediary, correct information from a first party via an anonymizing network;
receiving, by the selected intermediary, a correct program from a second party via the anonymizing network;
processing the correct information with the correct program to produce intermediary information;
providing the intermediary information to at least one of the first party and the second party via the anonymizing network; and
wherein a plurality of additional non-selected intermediaries receive and process incorrect first party information in conjunction with an incorrect program via the anonymizing network.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method set forth in claim 18, comprising receiving proprietary data as the correct information.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method set forth in claim 18, comprising receiving a proprietary program as the correct program.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method set forth in claim 18, comprising providing the intermediary information in encrypted form.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method set forth in claim 18, comprising receiving the correct information in encrypted form.

### Claim 23

A method of exchanging information between at least one party and an intermediary via an anonymizing network such that misappropriation of the information is avoided, the method comprising:
a party providing at least two sets of information to the intermediary using a data exchange algorithm in conjunction with the anonymizing network, wherein the at least two sets include a set of correct information and a set of incorrect information that is plausible;
the party receiving at least two sets of modified information from the intermediary using the data exchange algorithm in conjunction with the anonymizing network, wherein the at least two sets of modified information include modified information resulting from running a data analysis program on the correct information and on the incorrect information; and
wherein the anonymizing network functions such that the intermediary does not know which of the at least two sets of information is the correct information and does not know which of the at least two sets of modified information is based on the correct information.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method set forth in claim 23, comprising creating the incorrect information from the correct information.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method set forth in claim 23, comprising creating the incorrect information as a plausible variation of the correct information.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The method set forth in claim 23, comprising providing proprietary data as the correct information.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The method set forth in claim 23, comprising providing a proprietary program as the correct information.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The method set forth in claim 23, comprising providing the correct information in encrypted form.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The method set forth in claim 23, comprising providing the incorrect information in encrypted form.

### Claim 30 (depends on 23)

The method set forth in claim 23, comprising receiving the modified information based on the correct information in encrypted form.