Electronic commerce using personal preferences

Abstract

A system to enable a person to interact in both a physical world and an electronic world is described. The system includes a server that delivers news and information. The server includes a matching process that matches information from a client with information from other hosts that are also sending information to the server. The matching process includes matching wrapper information from a received capsule, the wrapper information including information that determines the use of the information content of the capsule. The system also includes a client user device. The client user device includes a database of personal interests and a process that either offers and/or requests services and information based on the personal interests. The process includes a process to wrap content with control information designating ownership of the content, the time span the content is valid, and rules specifying how content is to be matched.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . A method for conducting commerce where information and services are provided to customers comprises: 
 selectively activating shareable database capsules from information contained in personalized, shared databases, the shareable database capsules comprising fields that have property characteristics of the shareable capsule, including visibility and sharing settings, and a content field that includes information to be shared or match with other shareable database capsules;    distributing the shareable capsules over a network communications medium as matchable capsules;    matching the matchable capsules with other complementary matchable capsules; and    distributing an indication of the existence of and results of a match of a pair of matchable capsules according to visibility settings for the matched capsules.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the shareable capsules include information in the content field pertaining to offers or requests for information or services.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the visibility settings include a setting of IN, OUT, BOTH, IN+, OUT+ and the method further comprises: 
 determining allowable combinations of visibility settings of the matched capsules.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the activation of shared items is based upon a geographic location of the customer.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the activation of shared items is based upon the time of transmission of the shareable capsule.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the activation of shared items is based upon personal and environmental conditions.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the distribution of shared items is directly between local wireless or wired devices.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the distribution of shared items is over the Internet.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the property characteristics of the capsules have transmittal sections.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the property characteristics of the capsules include ownership, location, life span, binding and transmittal details.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29  wherein matching compares transmittal and contents between capsules.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 29  wherein matching screens visibility of the existence of a request or offer.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29  wherein matching screens visibility of the results of a request or offer.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the capsule specifies the allowable audience and hosts to conduct a match with.  
     
     
         43 - 54 . (canceled)  
     
     
         55 . A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, for conducting commerce where information and services are provided to customers, the computer program product comprises instructions to cause a computing device to: 
 selectively activate shareable database capsules from information contained in personalized, shared databases, the shareable database capsules comprising fields that have property characteristics of the shareable capsule, including visibility and sharing settings, and a content field that includes information to be shared or match with other shareable database capsules;    distribute the shareable capsules over a network communications medium as matchable capsules;    match the matchable capsules with other complementary matchable capsules; and    distribute an indication of the existence of and results of a match of a pair of matchable capsules according to visibility settings in the matched capsules.    
     
     
         56 . The computer program product of  claim 55  wherein the visibility settings include a setting of IN, OUT, BOTH, IN+, OUT+ and the computer program product further comprises instructions to: 
 determining allowable combinations of visibility settings of the matched capsules.    
     
     
         57 . The computer program product of  claim 55  further comprising instructions to activate shared items based upon a geographic location of the customer or the time of transmission of the shareable capsule or upon personal and environmental conditions.  
     
     
         58 . The computer program product of  claim 55  further comprising instructions to match the property characteristics of the capsules where the property characteristics of the capsules include ownership, location, life span, binding and transmittal details.  
     
     
         59 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a computing processing device;    a memory for executing a computer program product; and    the computer program product, for conducting commerce where information and services are provided to customers, the computer program product comprises instructions to cause the computing device to: 
 selectively activate shareable database capsules from information contained in personalized, shared databases, the shareable database capsules comprising fields that have property characteristics of the shareable capsule, including visibility and sharing settings, and a content field that includes information to be shared or match with other shareable database capsules;  
 distribute the shareable capsules over a network communications medium as matchable capsules;  
 match the matchable capsules with other complementary matchable capsules; and  
 distribute an indication of the existence of and results of a match of a pair of matchable capsules according to visibility settings in the matched capsules.  
   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59  wherein capsules include the visibility settings of IN, OUT, BOTH, IN+, OUT+ and the computer program product comprises instructions to: 
 determine allowable combinations of visibility settings of the matched capsules.    
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 59  wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to activate shared items based upon a geographic location of the customer or the time of transmission of the shareable capsule or upon personal and environmental conditions.  
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 59  wherein the computer program product further comprises instructions to match the property characteristics of the capsules where the property characteristics of the capsules include ownership, location, life span, binding and transmittal details.  
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 59  wherein the computer program product wherein instructions to match further comprise instructions to: 
 compare transmittal and content fields between capsules.