Managing and sharing identities on a network

A computerized method comprising:

• receiving, by a computer from an initial device, a request for digital content, the initial device corresponding to a true identity of an initial user and an alias name of the initial user;
• attaching initial user history information to a digital content file, the initial user history information identifying a source of the digital content;
• sending the digital content file to the initial device with the attached initial user history information;
• receiving a notification from a subsequent device, the notification indicating that the subsequent device has acquired the digital content file with subsequent user history information attached to the digital content file,
• wherein the subsequent user history information includes
• the alias name of the first user,
• an encrypted version of the true identity of the first user, and
• the initial user history information identifying the digital content provider and used by the subsequent device to provide the notification;
• and
• forwarding, in response to the notification, a reward to the initial user based on the acquisition of the digital content file by the subsequent device from the initial device.

A machine-readable storage medium storing executable instructions to cause a device to perform a method comprising:

• sending, by a data processing system, a request for digital content;
• receiving a digital content file with initial user history information attached to the digital content file, the initial user history information identifying a source of the digital content file;
• generating subsequent user history information comprising an alias name of an initial user, an encrypted version of a true identity of the initial user, and the initial user history information;
• sending the digital content file with the subsequent history information attached to the digital content file to a subsequent device;
• and
• receiving a reward based on sending the digital content file to the subsequent device, wherein the reward is received in response to the subsequent device sending a notification to the source of the digital content file, the notification indicating that the subsequent device received the digital content file from the initial device.

A machine-readable storage medium storing executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

• receiving, from an initial device, a request for digital content, the initial device corresponding to a true identity of an initial user and an alias name of the initial user;
• attaching initial user history information to a digital content file, the initial user history information identifying a source of the digital content;
• sending the digital content file to the initial device with the attached initial user history information;
• receiving a notification from a subsequent device, the notification indicating that the subsequent device has acquired the digital content file with subsequent user history information attached to the digital content file,
• wherein the subsequent user history information includes
• the alias name of the first user,
• an encrypted version of the true identity of the first user, and
• the initial user history information identifying the digital content provider and used by the subsequent device to provide the notification;
• and
• forwarding, in response to the notification, a reward to the initial user based on the acquisition of the digital content file by the subsequent device from the initial device.

A device comprising:

• a processor coupled to a memory through a bus;
• and
• a process executed by the processor from the memory to cause the processor to send a request for digital content, to receive a digital content file having with initial user history information attached to the digital content file, the initial user history information identifying a source of the digital content file, to generate subsequent user history information comprising an alias name of an initial user, an encrypted version of a true identity of the initial user, and the initial user history information;
• to send the digital content file with the subsequent history information attached to the digital content file to a subsequent device;
• and
• to receive a reward based on sending the digital content file to the subsequent device, wherein the reward is received in response to the subsequent device sending a notification to the source of the digital content file, the notification indicating that the subsequent device received the digital content file from the initial device.

A data processing system comprising:

• a processor coupled to a memory through a bus;
• and
• a process executed by the processor from the memory to cause the processor
• to receive, from an initial device, a request for digital content, the initial device corresponding to a true identity of an initial user and an alias name of the initial user,
• to attach initial user history information to a digital content file, the initial user history information identifying a source of the digital content
• to send the digital content file to the initial device with the attached initial user history information;
• to receive a notification from a subsequent device, the notification indicating that the subsequent device has acquired the digital content file with subsequent user history information attached to the digital content file,
• wherein the subsequent user history information includes
• the alias name of the first user,
• an encrypted version of the true identity of the first user, and
• the initial user history information identifying the digital content provider and used by the subsequent device to provide the notification;
• and
• to forward, in response to the notification, a reward to the initial user based on the acquisition of the digital content file by the subsequent device from the initial device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a means for sending, by a hardware device, a request for digital content;
• a means for receiving a digital content file with initial user history information attached to the digital content file, the initial user history information identifying a source of the digital content file;
• means for generating subsequent user history information comprising an alias name of an initial user, an encrypted version of a true identity of the initial user, and the initial user history information;
• means for sending the digital content file with the subsequent history information attached to the digital content file to a subsequent device;
• and
• means for receiving a reward based on sending the digital content file to the subsequent device, wherein the reward is received in response to the subsequent device sending a notification to the source of the digital content file, the notification indicating that the subsequent device received the digital content file from the initial device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a means for receiving, by a computer from an initial device, a request for digital content, the initial device corresponding to a true identity of an initial user and an alias name of the initial user;
• a means for attaching initial user history information to a digital content file, the initial user history information identifying a source of the digital content;
• a means for sending the digital content file to the initial device with the attached initial user history information;
• a means for receiving a notification from a subsequent device, the notification indicating that the subsequent device has acquired the digital content file with subsequent user history information attached to the digital content file,
• wherein the subsequent user history information includes
• the alias name of the first user,
• an encrypted version of the true identity of the first user, and
• the initial user history information identifying the digital content provider and used by the subsequent device to provide the notification;
• and
• a means for forwarding, in response to the notification, a reward to the initial user based on the acquisition of the digital content file by the subsequent device from the initial device.