Information transactions over a network

Abstract

In one example, a method for managing information in an environment that includes a client device includes accessing, at the client device, an electronic input interface. Next, the client device transmits a signal to a host system associated with the electronic input interface by entering consumer profile information into the electronic input interface. A request is then made for creation of an information account for storage of the consumer profile information. The client device then receives authentication information from the host system. Finally, the client device enables the vendor to access some of the consumer profile information stored in the information account.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A computer database configured to store consumer account information, the computer database comprising:
 a consumer information account record for storing consumer information elements, the consumer information account record comprising:
 a primary record configured to store a plurality of general consumer information elements about a consumer; and 
 one or more secondary records that each store consumer information elements that are specific to a particular product or service associated with a vendor; 
   
       wherein the computer database is further configured to be accessible by a database management system. 
     
     
         30 . The computer database of  claim 29 , wherein each of the one or more secondary records is stored in a tagged data format. 
     
     
         31 . The computer database of  claim 29 , wherein each of the one or more secondary records is represented by a data aggregate. 
     
     
         32 . The computer database of  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the one or more secondary records is arc implemented as a discrete XML aggregate. 
     
     
         33 . The computer database of  claim 29 , wherein data aggregates representing the one or more secondary records include one or more of: Home Loan, Auto Loan, Student Loan, Home Insurance, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Online Banking, Credit Card, Government Services, Education, Career, Travel, Retail, and-Relocation, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The computer database of  claim 29 , wherein the consumer information account is modifiable to include additional records. 
     
     
         35 - 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . The computer database of  claim 29 ,
 wherein at least one of the vendors hosts a website with a web-enabled form or one or more input fields, and   wherein the consumer information in at least one of the secondary records is associated with the at least one of the vendors; and   wherein the consumer information in the at least one of the secondary records is configured to be automatically entered into the web-enabled form or one or more input fields of the website.   
     
     
         92 . The computer database of  claim 29 , wherein the database management system is configured to request, from a client device, authentication prior to transmitting the consumer information in a secondary record to a vendor associated with that secondary record. 
     
     
         93 . A method for storing consumer information elements in a consumer information account record, the method comprising:
 storing a primary record of the consumer information account in a computer memory, the primary record including a plurality of general consumer information elements about a consumer; and   storing one or more secondary records of the consumer information account in the computer memory, the one or more secondary records each storing consumer information elements that are specific to a particular product or service associated with a vendor,   wherein the one or more secondary records and the primary record are stored in a data repository accessible by a database management system.   
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein each of the one or more secondary records is stored in a tagged data format. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein each of the one or more secondary records is represented by a data aggregate. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein at least one of the one or more secondary records is implemented as a discrete XML aggregate. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein data aggregates representing the one or more secondary records include one or more of: Home Loan, Auto Loan, Student Loan, Home Insurance, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Online Banking, Credit Card, Government Services, Education, Career, Travel, Retail, Relocation, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 93  further comprising modifying the consumer information account to include additional records. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 93  further comprising:
 requesting, from a client device, authentication of a client; 
 receiving, from the client device, the authentication prior to transmitting the consumer information in a secondary record to a vendor associated with that secondary record; and 
 in response to receiving the authentication, transmitting the consumer information in the secondary record to the vendor associated with that secondary record. 
 
     
     
         100 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for storing consumer information elements in a consumer information account, the operations comprising:
 storing a primary record of the consumer information account, the primary record including a plurality of general consumer information elements about a consumer; and   storing one or more secondary records of the consumer information account, the one or more secondary records each storing consumer information elements that are specific to a particular product type or service type associated with a vendor,   wherein the one or more secondary records and the primary record are stored in a data repository accessible by a database management system.   
     
     
         101 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 100 , wherein each of the one or more secondary records is stored in a tagged data format. 
     
     
         102 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 100 , wherein each of the one or more secondary records is represented by a data aggregate. 
     
     
         103 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 100 , wherein the consumer information account is modifiable to include additional records. 
     
     
         104 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 100 , wherein the database management system is configured to request, from a client device, authentication prior to transmitting the consumer information In a secondary record to a vendor associated with that secondary record.