TRUSTED AGENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

摘要

A trusted agent server provides a networked application that assists a customer in managing their online commercial affairs. A user contacts the server using a network access device, such as a browser on a personal computer. The trusted agent client component augments the user's network access device to perform business transactions on behalf of the user. The user controls these transactions through the trusted agent server. A trusted agent service is a trusted agent client component application which operates in conjunction with the trusted agent server. The trusted agent service is an Internet-based mechanism that makes single-click buying available on any commercial Web site. The trusted agent also provides customers with access to personal and credit card information used during single-click transactions, smart receipts used for ongoing customer support, merchant and product preference settings, and direct response product offerings keyed to these preferences. Because this information is all stored on the trusted agent server, it is available to any device connected to the Internet. The trusted agent service is implemented by operating the trusted agent server.