System and method for the creation, management, and delivery of personal packets of information to be utilized as reverse cookies within network-based environments

Abstract

A method and system of daily or other periodic creation of a user-sponsored cookie-like packet of encoded and encrypted information containing personal identity details and information use rules which, when the packet is attached to a delivery mechanism such as a browser header record, it is delivered to network-based resource provider platforms. Upon receipt and recognition of the modified header record by a subscribing provider, the cookie-like information packet is decrypted and decoded by application programs revealing personal identity details as well as associated data rules. Data capture rules define how participating resource providers can utilize, share, or sell provided data including rules related to whether captured or acquired data can supplement provided data. Supplemental data may include, but is not limited to, additional personal identity details, online habits, preferences, and other personal information or behaviors which may be analyzed or utilized for commercial and/or non-commercial purposes.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling distribution and use of personal identity characteristics over a network comprising:
 a system computer with storage coupled to a network, said storage containing a plurality of identification records relating to a plurality of registered users, each identification record having an associated rule set, the information in each user identification record and rule set being supplied by a different registered user of the plurality of registered uses;   the system configured to generate, encrypt and store an encrypted cookie-like information packet for each user identification record and associated rule set;   a user application loadable and executable by at least one of the registered users on a network-enabled device, the user application configured to cause the encrypted cookie-like information packet to be added to a transmitted record when the at least one of the registered users accesses a network-based resource over the network;   the system also configured to transmit the encrypted cookie-like information packet over the network to the user application of the at least one of the registered users periodically or on demand;   a subscriber application loadable and executable by a subscribing internet-based resource, the subscriber application configured to decrypt and decode the encrypted cookie-like information packet in the transmitted record, accessing the associated user identification and the associated rule set; wherein, the subscribing network-based resource delivers an appropriate response to the at least one of the registered users based on the associated rule set.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the encrypted cookie-like information packet is stored on the registered user's personal computing device until it is replaced by the new cookie-like information packet. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the encrypted cookie-like information packet is replaced on the user's personal computing device every 24 hours. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the transmitted record is a browser header record, and the user application is configured to send the browser header record to a proxy server for addition of the cookie-like information packet to the browser header record producing a modified browser header record, and the proxy server is configured to forward the modified browser header record to the subscribing network-based resource. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the proxy server is located on the network enabled device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the user application is configured to add a remote proxy authorization to the browser header record. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the modified browser header record is forwarded to the subscribing network-based resource. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4  wherein a copy of the modified browser header record is stored in the system server as a historical record. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to transmit the encrypted cookie-like information packet over the network at a particular time each day. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the particular time each day is midnight. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the modified browser header record is constructed so that the cookie-like information packet is ignored by non-subscribing network-based resources. 
     
     
         12 . A system for controlling distribution and use of personal identity characteristics over a network comprising:
 a system computer with storage coupled to a network, said storage containing a plurality of identification records relating to a plurality of registered users, each identification record having an associated rule set, the information in each user identification record and rule set being supplied by a different registered user of the plurality of registered uses;   the system configured to generate, encrypt and store an encrypted cookie-like information packet for each user identification record and associated rule set;   a user application loadable and executable by at least one of the registered users on a network-enabled device, the user application configured to cause the encrypted cookie-like information packet to be added to a transmitted record when the at least one of the registered users accesses a network-based resource over the network;   the system also configured to transmit the encrypted cookie-like information packet over the network to the user application of the at least one of the registered users periodically every 24 hours;   a subscriber application loadable and executable by a subscribing internet-based resource, the subscriber application configured to decrypt and decode the encrypted cookie-like information packet in the transmitted record, accessing the associated user identification and the associated rule set; wherein, the subscribing network-based resource delivers an appropriate response to the at least one of the registered users based on the associated rule set.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the encrypted cookie-like information packet is stored on the registered user's personal computing device until it is replaced by the new cookie-like information packet. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the transmitted record is a browser header record, and the user application is configured to send the browser header record to a proxy server for addition of the cookie-like information packet to the browser header record producing a modified browser header record, and the proxy server is configured to forward the modified browser header record to the subscribing network-based resource. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the proxy server is located on the network enabled device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the user application is configured to add a remote proxy authorization to the browser header record. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the proxy server is located on the network enabled device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the user application is configured to add a remote proxy authorization to the browser header record. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the modified browser header record is forwarded to the subscribing network-based resource. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  wherein a copy of the modified browser header record is stored in the system server as a historical record.