Assigning trust levels to entities

Abstract

Trust levels are associated to each of a plurality of entities related to a first entity. S trust level is calculated for the first entity based on the associated trust levels to each of the plurality of entities related to the first entity. The trust level for the first entity is used to evaluate a potential transaction involving the first entity.

1 . A system comprising:
 an information server executable by a processor and configured to obtain information about a first entity; and   a rating component configured to:
 associate trust levels to each of a plurality of entities related to a first entity; 
 calculate a trust level for the first entity based on the associated trust levels to each of the plurality of entities related to the first entity; and 
 use the trust level for the first entity to evaluate a potential transaction involving the first entity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calculating is performed by a community rater. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the community rater comprises:
 a valuator configured to assign a rating to an entity; and   an aggregator configured to aggregate ratings of entities.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the aggregator is configured to perform a recursive routine to aggregate ratings of entities. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the valuator calculates a weighted average of ratings assigned to the one or more entities related to the first entity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of entities are represented by a linked list with links between entries in the linked list representing relationships among the one or more entities. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 associating trust levels to each of a plurality of entities related to a first entity;   calculating a trust level for the first entity based on the associated trust levels to each of the plurality of entities related to the first entity; and   using the trust level for the first entity to evaluate a potential transaction involving the first entity.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the trust levels are based on honesty. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the trust levels are based on prior transactions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality related to the first entity are related via the first entity recommending the plurality of entities. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein relationships between the first entity and the plurality of entities are represented as an n-ary tree. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first entity was accepted into a network without a recommendation from another entity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first entity is represented as a root of the n-ary tree. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:
 associating trust levels to each of a plurality of entities related to a first entity;   calculating a trust level for the first entity based on the associated trust levels to each of the plurality of entities related to the first entity; and   using the trust level for the first entity to evaluate a potential transaction involving the first entity.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the trust levels are based on honesty. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the trust levels are based on prior transactions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality related to the first entity are related via the first entity recommending the plurality of entities. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein relationships between the first entity and the plurality of entities are represented as an n-ary tree. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first entity was accepted into a network without a recommendation from another entity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first entity is represented as a root of the n-ary tree.