Abstract: An information broker for use in an information distribution system permits users to receive information based on authentication from a second source. The information broker includes a memory, a network interface, and a processing unit. The memory contains at least one device characteristic and one user characteristic corresponding to a user device and user, respectively. The broker receives a request for information from a first user device, authenticates the request, provides the requested information for authenticated requests, and based on the request, updates the at least one characteristic contained in the memory that corresponds to the first user device. The broker transmits an authorization request to a second user device and only provides the requested information to the first user device when authorized by the second device. The broker determines if the first user device is capable of receiving the requested information based on the device characteristic stored in memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for permitting consumers to send messages to a trusted agent or agents, causing the trusted agent or agents to decipher the messages and send the messages to the appropriate provider(s,) causing the trusted agent or agents to receive a responsive informational or transactional message from the provider(s) and causes the trusted agent or agents to route the provider's messages to the consumer or otherwise communicating to the consumer as a result of or relative to the provider. The system functions independently and automatically, such that new offerings of goods and/or services can be searched for and located by, or otherwise brought to the attention of, the trusted agent and conveyed to the consumer, all based on profile data provided by the consumer to the trusted agent or agents and transactional data gathered by the trusted agent about potential goods, services or information filling the needs of the consumer.