System and method for creating a secure trusted social network

Abstract

A system for a plurality of users to share resources with access, control and configuration based on pre-defined relationships of trust between the users of the system. A computer-based authority provides the services of authentication, identification and verification of each user within network. Processes are described that leads to the formation of an electronic community, which facilitates electronic communication and transactions in a defined manner.

1 . A system for a plurality of users to share resources comprising: 
 one or more software clients, each of said software clients installed on a computing device; one or more trusted servers; one or more communication means allowing communication between said one or more trusted servers and said one or more software clients,    wherein said trusted servers comprise: a network interface operable to receive data packets from the software clients and further operable to send processed data packets to the software clients; a processing engine in communication with the network interface, said engine operable to associate each data packet with an identifier and to thereby provide said processed data packets; a database containing an identifier associated with each software client in said system, and    wherein each identifier in said database is related to each other identifier by means of a criterion, wherein said criterion is the degree of separation between one user of a software client and a second user of a software client based on a pre-existing relationship of trust, as defined by said users.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the resources can be any of the following: 
 information, data, computer files, software, hard drive space, or processing power.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein a user can access the system remotely by communicating with the software client via a communication protocol which can include HTTP, telnet, or custom protocols.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the communication means allows communication between the software clients.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein each user grants access to resources on their computing device to other users within the system who fall within one or more criteria.  
     
     
         6 . A system for a plurality of users to share resources, said system produced by the following process: 
 a. providing a software client to a first user for installation on a first computing device;    b. receiving a first set of data packets relating to said first user from said software client to one or more trusted servers via one or more communication means;    c. compiling a database of said first data packets;    d. receiving a second set of data packets relating to at least one second user with whom said first user has a pre-existing relationship defined by a criterion, wherein said criterion is trust, as defined by said first and second user;    e. adding said second set of data packets to the database and relating said second set of data packets to said first set of identifying data by means of said criterion;    f. providing the software client to the second user for installation on a second computing device;    wherein, said first, second, or new user can repeat steps b to f resulting in additional users being added to said system.    
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein the resources can be any of the following: 
 information, data, computer files, software, hard drive space, or processing power.    
     
     
         8 . A method of searching for information, resources or services contained on a computing device connected to the system of  claim 1 , based on the properties of the object as well as criteria as specified by the user wherein the search can be conducted either by said software client or be the trusted server.  
     
     
         9 . A method for creating a market on a system for a plurality of users to share resources, said method comprising the following steps: 
 establishing a network of computing devices used by two or more users wherein each of said users possesses a unique network identifier and wherein each unique identifier can be related to each other unique identifier based on a criterion, wherein said criterion is the degree of separation between one user and another user based on a pre-existing relationship of trust, as defined by said users; and    providing a market server connected to said network wherein said computing devices can exchange processed data packets with said market server;    wherein said processed data packets relate to the buying and selling of goods and wherein said market server coordinates interactions between said users of said computing devices.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said goods comprises electronic or non-electronic goods.  
     
     
         11 . A method for creating an auction on a system for a plurality of users to share resources, said method comprising the following steps: 
 establishing a network of computing devices used by two or more users wherein each of said users possesses a unique network identifier and wherein each unique identifier can be related to each other unique identifier based on a criterion, wherein said criterion is the degree of separation between one user and another based on a pre-existing relationship of trust, as defined by said users; and    providing an auction server connected to said network wherein said computing devices can exchange processed data packets with said auction server;    wherein said processed data packets contain information relating to the designation of objects that are available to be auctioned, and bids for said by one or more of said users; and wherein said auction server manages said processed data packets to manage and regulate auctions on said network according to pre-set rules.    
     
     
         12 . A method for playing games via a system for a plurality of users to share resources, said method comprising the following steps: 
 establishing a network of computing devices used by two or more users wherein each of said users possesses a unique network identifier and wherein each unique identifier can be related to each other unique identifier based on a criterion, wherein said criterion is the degree of separation between one user and another based on a pre-existing relationship of trust, as defined by said users; and    providing a game server connected to said network wherein said computing devices can exchange processed data packets with said game server; wherein said processed data packets contain information relating to a game in which the users are participants; and    wherein said game server coordinates and manages the interactions between the users according to pre-set rules.    
     
     
         13 . A method for distributing one or more objects to members of a system for a plurality of users to share resources, said method comprising the following steps: 
 establishing a network of computing devices used by two or more users wherein each of said users possesses a unique network identifier and wherein each unique identifier can be related to each other unique identifier based on a criterion, wherein said criterion is the degree of separation between one user and another based on a pre-existing relationship of trust, as defined by said users; providing one or more trusted servers connected to said network wherein said computing devices can exchange processed data packets with said one or more trusted servers;    establishing a list of unique network identifiers corresponding to users who wish to receive the object and the location of a folder on said computing devices of said users designated to receive said one or more objects, said list located on said trusted servers;    transmitting said one or more objects to said one or more trusted servers with instructions to distribute said object to the members on said list; and    transmitting said one or more objects from said one or more trusted servers to the members of said list;    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  where said one or more objects comprise data, digital information, or one or more electronic files or folders.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said users on said list can edit said object and transmit the resulting edited object to said one or more trusted servers with instructions to transmit said edited object to the members of said list as well as to the user who originally distributed said object; and wherein said edited object is then transmitted from said trusted servers to the members of said list as well as to the user who originally distributed said object.  
     
     
         16 . A method for banking via a system for a plurality of users to share resources, said method comprising the following steps: 
 establishing a network of computing devices used by two or more users wherein each of said users possesses a unique network identifier and wherein each unique identifier can be related to each other unique identifier based on a criterion, wherein said criterion is the degree of separation between one user and another based on a pre-existing relationship of trust, as defined by said users; and    providing a banking server connected to said network wherein said computing devices can exchange processed data packets with said banking server; wherein said processed data packets contain information relating to communication between said two or more users relating to borrowing or loaning money from one of said two or more users to another of said two or more users; and    wherein said banking server coordinates and manages the interactions between said users according to pre-set rules.