Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for context based access control, privacy control, and data protection for an online social network are disclosed. In some embodiments, upon receipt of a request for access to a requested context, access is granted when access control information for the requested context associates the requesting party with the context owner of the requested context. Access control information for the requested context associated to a first party is accessible to the requesting party when there exists a context owned by the first party in which the relationship information associates the first party with the requesting party and the first party with the context owner of the requested context and there exists a context owned by the requesting party in which relationship information associates the requesting party with the first party and the requesting party with the context owner of the requested context.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for context based access control, privacy control, and data protection for an online social network are disclosed. In some embodiments, upon receipt of a request for access to a requested context, access is granted when access control information for the requested context associates the requesting party with the context owner of the requested context. Access control information for the requested context is stored in a corresponding context record and retrieved from its corresponding context record upon receipt of a request for access to the requested context. Access to the requested context is granted based on an access control rule applied to the retrieved access control information. Access control with context structures provides privacy control of content associated with each context. Context based access control and privacy control are maintained for each content in a chain of dependent contents. Both hierarchical and non-hierarchical context structures are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer program product for providing a system for selling shipping services online. The system comprises data recording medium, product selector, shipping service information collector, shipping parameter collector, shipping option computing module, shipping service selector, shipping service notifying module and transaction concluding module. The product selector is for selecting a product by a buyer. The shipping service information collector is for obtaining information about shipping services from carriers. The shipping parameter collector is for obtaining information to specify shipping parameters. The shipping option computing module is for computing available shipping services. The shipping service selector is for selecting a shipping service related to a given carrier. The shipping service notifying module is for generating a shipping service request and transmitting the request to the carrier.

Abstract: There is provided a method for customizing a relationship between members of a social network based on a multi-facet member profile, the method comprising: receiving profile data associated with a member; segregating at least a part of the profile data into a plurality of identifiable profile facets, and storing data records associated therewith in a multi-facet profile database; receiving from the member relationship parameters comprising: an identification of at least one other member of the social network, an identification of at least one profile facet among the identifiable profile facets, and sharing parameters defining access privileges to the at least one profile facet by the at least one other member; and based on the relationship parameters, storing in a relationship database data records allowing for determining, for each one of the at least one other member, access privileges associated with each one of the at least one profile facet.

Abstract: There is provided a method for building a digital identity of a user over a social network comprising: receiving profile attributes associated with a user; generating a plurality of digital booklets comprising digital information associated with the attributes; updating the booklets over time; and tracking and cataloguing the booklets over time. There is further provided a method for sharing an identity of a user over a social network comprising: receiving from a first user a request to create at least one digital subset-identity, where each one of the at least one subset-identity is associated with at least one digital booklet containing digital information associated with attributes of the user; for each one of the at least one subset-identity, setting corresponding privacy rules; and controlling other users' access to the at least one subset-identity in accordance with the privacy rules. There is also provided a method for generating a biography associated with a user.

Abstract: There is provided a method a method for controlling listing of a given item on an electronic market database, the method comprising (1) receiving a listing request originated from a prospective provider for listing said given item on said electronic market database; (2) authenticating at least one of said given item and of said prospective provider; and (3) if a successful authentication, listing said given item on said electronic database. There is further provided a system as well as a unit for controlling listing of a given item on an electronic market database.

Abstract: There is provided a method for centralizing electronic activities associated with a good of interest over a data network, the method comprising providing a user interface connected to the data network; enabling a participant to locate over the data network a good of interest in accordance with good search criteria defined thereby using the user interface; enabling the participant to authenticate the good of interest; enabling the participant to remotely and interactively communicate with at least one other participant over the data network and to remotely and interactively share information therewith about the selected good of interest using the user interface; and enabling the participant to carry out trading activities in connection with the good of interest. There is further provided a system for centralizing electronic activities associated with a good of interest over a data network and a method for concluding a commercial transaction over a data network.

Abstract: There is provided a method for securing and authenticating a message transmitted by a sending party to a receiving party, the method comprising: before transmission, inserting, in the message, security information comprising a secure message identifier allowing for uniquely identifying the message with respect to the communicating parties; storing, in a secure message database, secure message identification information comprising the secure message identifier, where the information asserts that a message having the secure message identifier is sent to the receiving party; providing the receiving party access to the secure message database for authenticating a suspect secure message identifier received in association with a suspect message, where the authenticating comprises accessing and inquiring the secure message database for comparing the suspect secure message identifier with secure message identifiers stored in connection with authentic messages transmitted from the sending party to the receiving party,

Abstract: There is provided a method for managing a user related accounts, the method comprising: receiving user account information for use in connection with at least one application service associated with the user for which a user account management is required; receiving node identification information allowing for identifying at least one application node distributed over a data network, where the at least one application node stores the at least one application service; using the received node identification information for delivering to the at least one application node, through the data network, the user account information; and instead of requiring from the user any manual procedures, automatically processing, at the at least one application node, the delivered user account information, where the processing comprises, in connection with each one of the at least one application service, creating or accessing and updating a corresponding user account using the received user account information.

Abstract: There is provided a method for concluding an electronic commercial transaction based on a conditional offer, the method comprising receiving a conditional offer associated with a trading product, said conditional offer being originated from a first trading party; receiving a conditional offer acceptance in response to the conditional offer, where the offer acceptance is conditioned on the satisfaction of at least one condition, the conditional offer acceptance being originated from a second trading party; determining if the at least one condition is satisfied; and concluding or declining the electronic commercial transaction between the first trading party and the second trading party as a function of the determining. There is further provided a system for concluding an electronic commercial transaction based on a conditional offer.

Abstract: There is provided a method for facilitating an electronic barter transaction between bartering parties, the method comprising (1) initiating a barter request associated with a first bartering party, said barter request comprising a first data identifying a first set of items to be provided within said barter transaction, said first set of items comprising at least one item, (2) receiving a first barter offer associated with a second bartering party, said first barter offer comprising an offer to acquire said first set of items in exchange of a second set of items, said second set of items comprising at least one item, (3) accepting or refusing said first barter offer, and (4) concluding or declining said electronic barter transaction between said first bartering party and said second bartering party as a function of said accepting or refusing, said concluding or said declining being carried out without negotiation between said parties in connection with said transaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for enabling buyers, sellers and shipping companies (or carriers) to exchange goods, services and communications, through a system provided by a third party entity, referred to herein as the “mediator”. Particular to the present invention is to enable buyers to openly select their shipping method from an independent carrier to deliver goods purchased from sellers. This invention also enables sellers to relinquish their shipping operations to independent carriers to focus more on their core business. Finally, this invention enables carriers to bypass a seller of goods, as middleman, to openly promote their services to buyers. The system allows all these parties to interact using computing devices with Web browsing capability. The mediator provides an electronic trading platform wherein sellers register their goods for sale, and carriers publish their shipping methods and rate charts, for buyers to choose from.