Secure data interchange

Abstract

A secure data interchange system enables information about bilateral and multilateral interactions between multiple persistent parties to be exchanged and leveraged within an environment that uses a combination of techniques to control access to information, release of information, and matching of information back to parties. Access to data records can be controlled using an associated price rule. A data owner can specify a price for different types and amounts of information access.

1 . A method of providing access to user profile information, the method comprising:
 storing in memory a profile for a user, the profile comprising personal information regarding the user;   establishing a policy for access to the user's personal information, the policy comprising an access rule that provides users with different levels of access to the user's personal information for different users, wherein the access rule is controlled by the owner of the personal information; and   providing online access to the user's personal information by the users in accordance with the policy.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 matching the users based on their profiles.   
   
   
       3 . A method of matching and introducing users, the method comprising:
 storing profiles for users, the profiles comprising information about the users' interests;   matching profiles of users with similar interests, wherein the matching is performed using a processor; and   introducing the users with similar interests.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the users are introduced using pseudonyms to maintain their anonymity. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the users are introduced online. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the users are matched based on their geographic proximity. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising establishing a policy for access to the users' personal information, the policy comprising at access rule that provides users with different levels of access to the users' personal information.