WO2002007060A1 - Consumer-centric data handling and processing - Google Patents

Abstract

Data handling and processing technique is disclosed. The technique includes providing tools on the consumer side to enable consumers to selectively collect, use, and control consumers' personal information. In particular, the tools enable consumers to track behavior (216), review, audit, assess value, assign distribution traits, and/or assign distribution methods to personal information of the consumers as it relates to household, and people in the household, about their consumption habits. The technique may also include capturing and managing personal information of a consumer (200), providing the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information (206), and selectively providing the personal information to vendors and businesses. The technique may further include enabling the vendors to utilize the personal information provided by the consumers to improve customer acquisition and retention.

Description

CONSUMER-CENTRIC DATA HANDLING AND PROCESSING

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/218,285, filed July 14, 2000.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to data handling and processing, and more particularly, to data handling and processing for consumer-centric transactions.

[0003] Transactions involving vendors and consumers are often based on one-sided or biased information. Typically, this one-sided information is collected without much input from the targeted party. For example, vendors collect and analyze consumer data in a large number of ways from a disparate set of sources, often at significant cost. However, much of the data used in existing customer- relationship management (CRM) solutions may be misleading since it is often gathered as a series of snapshots with little or no input from consumers of the vendor's product. Thus, the data in existing CRM solution may also be biased.

[0004] The CRM data may include detailed profiles of existing customer activity with a given company while offering only limited data about how that customer interacts with other vendors. Moreover, the CRM data may offer limited information about infrequent or new customers. Further, many CRM data are unverified and taken out of context, and therefore, may not reflect the true/actual preferences or purchasing power of a customer. Thus, while the value of effective CRM in the form of customer retention and acquisition is substantial, the difficulty and cost of developing accurate detailed consumer profiles may provide challenges to improving CRM.

[0005] Many consumers identify personal privacy as a key issue limiting their willingness to exchange information with vendors. But the consumers are willing to share information if their needs for privacy and control of the use of their personal information are addressed. Thus, once the dissemination of personal information is at the consumer's control the privacy issue degenerates into a security issue. Moreover, the consumers are willing to share additional private information (above current levels) if they could be assured that the information is used exclusively to customize interactions between themselves and the vendors. However, the current levels of personalization and customization on the web may not satisfy these consumers. SUMMARY

[0006] In one aspect, a method for data handling and processing is disclosed. The method includes providing tools on the consumer side that enable consumers to selectively collect, use, and control consumers' personal information. In particular, the tools enable consumers to track, review, audit, assess value, assign distribution traits, and/or assign distribution methods to personal information of the consumers as it relates to household, and people in the household, about their consumption habits. The tools may be configured to reside on the consumer's computer. In an alternative embodiment, the tools may be accessed from a network site under the control of the consumer. The method may also include enabling the vendors to utilize the personal information provided by the consumers to improve customer acquisition and retention. The method may further include capturing and managing personal information of a consumer, providing the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information, and selectively providing the personal information to vendors and businesses.

[0007] In another aspect, a data handling and processing system is disclosed. The system includes a profile data manager, a plurality of data capture applications, a set of tools, and a data transmitter. The profile data manager captures and manages personal information of a consumer. The plurality of data capture applications provides the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information. The set of tools selectively provides the personal information to vendors and businesses. The data transmitter communicates the consumer's personal information, such as buying interest, to the vendors and businesses .

[0008] In a further aspect, a computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, causes the system to perform data handling and processing is described. The executable instructions cause the processing system to capture and manage personal information of a consumer, provide the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information, and selectively provide the personal information to vendors and businesses. In one embodiment, the computer readable medium includes a CD-ROM disk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a data handling and processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2A is a more detailed block diagram of the data handling and processing system of FIG. 1.

[0011] Figure 2B is a more detailed block diagram of external interface tools according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2C is a more detailed block diagram of a profile data manager according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2D is a more detailed block diagram of data extraction tools according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 illustrates a method for data handling and processing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In recognition of the above-stated difficulties with the prior methods and systems of data handling and processing for transactions, the present invention describes embodiments for providing customer-centric data handling and processing. Embodiments of the present invention address the rising level of consumer concern about privacy and control of their personal information. Moreover, the present embodiments address the consumers' need in business transactions for personalization, tailored access, and reward for their purchasing behavior. Further, the present embodiments provide vendors with enhanced solutions to the increasing need for the consumer insights required to improve customer-relationship management . In effect, the present embodiments produce a new paradigm in which a consumer is in control of the business transaction rather than the vendor. Thus, the present embodiments enable consumers and vendors to form strong and deep consumer-centric relationships in which consumers create, maintain, and control the use of their personal information profiles. Vendors may utilize these profiles to improve customer acquisition and retention by creating more fulfilling business transaction experiences and personalized offers for their customers. More fulfilling business transaction experiences may include experiences which enable consumers to find and experience goods and services that are particularly tailored to the consumers' needs. Consequently for purposes of illustration and not for purposes of limitation, the exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in a manner consistent with such use, though clearly the invention is not so limited.

Description of Embodiments

[0016] In one embodiment, the above-stated objectives may be implemented in a data handling and processing system 100. This system 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a block diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the data handling and processing system 100 includes a system manager 102, a system connection agent 104, and a system enterprise 106.

[0017] The system manager 102 may include a consumer software package that integrates individual consumer electronic commerce (e-commerce) tools. The system manager 102 may also include other tools that provide consumer commerce non-electronically. The tools may provide profile development and management, privacy protection, and consumer requests for proposals (RFPs) that enable consumers to communicate their personal information, including buying interest.

[0018] In particular embodiments, tools are provided on the consumer side to enable consumers to selectively collect, use, and control consumers' personal information. The tools also enable consumers to track, review, audit, assess value, assign distribution traits, and/or assign distribution methods to personal information of the consumers as it relates to household, and people in the household, about their consumption habits. In one embodiment, the personal information may relate to habits of viewing, content consumption, buying practices, business/leisure travel, procurement of goods and services, characteristics specific to methods of payment, behavior around payment, medical history, reconciliation of real and perceived value, and other related information. The tools further enable the vendors to utilize the personal information selectively provided by the consumers to improve customer acquisition and retention.

[0019] The system connection agent 104 may include an online hosted application service and web site. In a particular embodiment, the agent 104 hosts applications to facilitate the secure transmission of profiles, RFPs, and offers between consumers and vendors . In another particular embodiment, the agent 104 provides consumers with an on-line source for product information, upgrades, and technical support of the modules within the system manager 102.

[0020] The system enterprise 106 may include a software suite that provides retailers and service providers a consumer-centric, customer-relationship management (CRM) solution. In the illustrated embodiment, the system enterprise software manages and monitors the flow of interactions with consumers. Furthermore, the system enterprise software may enhance and utilize the vendor's CRM tools for data mining, campaign management, personalization, and behavioral tracking.

[0021] FIG. 2A provides a more detailed block diagram of the data handling and processing system 100 of FIG. 1. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the system manager 102 includes a profile data manager 200, data extraction tools 202, a consumer request-for-proposal (RFP) module 204, and a privacy protection module 206. The system manager 102 also includes a profile developer/manager 208 and external interface tools 209. FIG. 2A also illustrates the data handling and processing method.

[0022] In illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2B, the external interface tools 209 include a personal digital assistant (PDA) 220, a mobile phone 222, an mp3 audio player 224, a cable set-top box 226, and other related tools. Thus, the PDA 220 and the mobile phone 222 may contain personal information which may be selectively communicated to the destination using the Internet or other network. For example, a customer at vendor location may use the PDA 220 or the mobile phone 222 to send selected personal information to a vendor server to receive preferential treatment. The system manager 102 may also reside in the cable set-top box 226 so that a consumer viewing habit may be selectively transmitted to a cable company or to other vendors through the cable network.

[0023] The profile data manager 200 captures and manages private consumer data on behalf of the consumer. The manager 200 (shown in detail in FIG. 2C) may incorporate at least two consumer personal information databases 230 and a set of data maintenance applications. The first database

232 may store consumer preference and profile data. For example, the consumer preference and profile data includes demographic data, financial data, such as credit history, membership status in loyalty programs, color and size preferences, medical record, product types of interest, product types not of interest, privacy markers, and other related data. The second database 234 may include utilization information such as data about shopping activities, purchases, web searching activities, TV viewing habits, and other similar data. Both databases 232, 234 may be accessed through the profile data manager 200 that ensures maintenance of the consumer's privacy.

[0024] In particular embodiments, the profile data manager 200 includes data entry/validation program 236 that enables consumers to enter, edit, and manage profile contents. The manager 200 may also include a data security scheme 238 and a set of applets 240. The data security scheme 238 enables consumers to control access to profile and usage-log data. Moreover, the set of applets 240 permits Web-based applications to access, add, or alter profile information, in accordance with the security scheme 238. The manager 200 may further include an update facility 242 and an automatic construction application 244. The update facility 242 bootstraps new program functionality into a profile toolkit. The automatic construction application 244 performs an intelligent search of the Web to construct profile records during initial installation process.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2A, the data extraction tools 202 include a set of tools that make consumer data available to vendors and businesses. This set of tools substantially supports the sharing of consumer information in a manner that enables vendors to react to consumer information as individuals. Further, the data extraction tools 202 may read data from both Internet and offline sources, and may use the data to update the consumer profile database.

[0026] In one embodiment shown in FIG. 2D, these data extraction tools 202 may be able to read tagged data fields 250 as well as extract data from formatted records 252. The tools 202 may include the ability to issue access requests and the capability to construct these requests 254 from a combination of template request formats and existing profile data. In another embodiment, this feature permits periodic or event-based indicators to drive automatic update request .

[0027] In particular embodiments, the data extraction tools 202 include general data stream extraction program 256, including both fixed and tagged-format extraction capability. The tools 202 also include a web scraping module 258, data gathering request generator 260, general scheduler 262, and Java applets 264. The web scraping module 258 can extract information from visited web sites for population of historical data. In one embodiment, this module may be able to automatically capture purchase data from known commerce sites, or automatically capture essential information about searches performed on known search engines. The data gathering request generator 260 may initiate data capture requests. The general scheduler 262 supports dispatching of periodic and event-triggered processes. Java applets 264 interface with a trusted source for externally generated data capture.

[0028] Referring again to FIG. 2A, the consumer RFP module 204 enables communication of consumer's buying interest to vendors. The module 204 enables customer-centric commerce by allowing consumers to create an RFP for goods and services that enables the consumer to leverage their profile database. Thus, the RFP enables the consumer to receive tailored offers from multiple vendors.

[0029] The privacy protection module 206 allows the consumer control over the access of data contained in the profile. The module may be used to set privacy boundaries. In a particular embodiment, the module 206 includes a set of applications that help consumers populate and certify their profiles. These applications may assist in initial profile population, as well as automatic data updates. For example, the applications may be used by the consumer to download information from airline loyalty programs, banks, and other relationship-based sites, which may be used to populate the profile.

[0030] A special "certifier" module 207 may be included that can be used by the consumer to request generation of a "certificate" . This may permit third-party verification of a given piece of information as being valid at the time the certificate was created. For example, a "certificate" may be generated that verifies that the consumer had purchased $1,000 worth of product from BigSite.com. This might inspire NewSite.com to offer a "preferred customer discount" to the consumer. In an alternative, a consumer may publish the membership status in a specific airline loyalty group in order to be extended similar privileges by another airline.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, the consumers may use third party intermediaries or trusted agents, such as the system connection agent 104, to make recommendations to address their latent demand and to work out best deals for the consumers. The intermediaries may be used to send out RFPs for products or service. Vendors, in turn, may provide offers, and consumers may choose the product or service that best suits the consumers' needs. Thus, the intermediaries may aggregate consumer demand to command market power with respect to vendors.

[0032] The system connection agent 104, in a further embodiment, provides a platform to offer additional value- added functionality and services . Possible additional service may include secure storage of consumer profile data, enablement of non-PC based consumers, and enhanced RFP handling such as helping customers identify new vendors. Furthermore, the agent 104 may provide vendors additional analysis of consumer data.

[0033] The system connection agent 104 may also create portable consumer objects to be exchanged with vendors. In this embodiment, the agent 104 creates requests for services or products to be exported to vendors, and manages automated agents for gathering time-sensitive data on behalf of consumers. The agent 104 further creates notification packets to inform information providers of relevant consumer information.

[0034] The system enterprise 106 includes tools installed by vendors that interact directly with the profiles in the system connection agent 104. Functions of the system enterprise 106 are configured to provide enhancements to existing CRM tools of the vendors. However, as mentioned above, data gathered with these vendor tools provide only limited information about customer interaction with vendors. Moreover, the CRM data may offer limited information about infrequent or new customers. Further, many CRM data are unverified, and taken out of context, and therefore, may not reflect the true or actual preferences of a customer.

[0035] Accordingly, the system enterprise 106 includes CRM tools that enable enhanced data mining 210, campaign management 212, personalization 214, and behavioral tracking 216. The system enterprise 106 enhances data mining 210 by providing consumer-initiated data that reflect current preferences of a customer. This allows the vendor to better target customers using relevant profile data (enhancement to campaign management 212) , as well as broader profile content (enhancement to personalization 214) . Further, system enterprise 106 provides enhanced behavioral tracking 216 by using consumer-controlled historical data, which adds explanation to consumer behavior.

[0036] A process for data handling and processing is shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process includes capturing and managing personal information of a consumer, at 300. Capturing and managing personal information may include incorporating consumer preference and profile data, and utilizing the personal information to profile consumer's buying habits. The buying habits may include data about shopping activities or purchases and web-searching activities.

[0037] Further, the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information is provided at 302. This may include assisting in initial profile application and automatic updates of the personal information, such as downloading information from loyalty programs or other relationship-based sites to populate the personal information. In this configuration, the consumer may request generation of a certificate to verify that the consumer purchased a specific item of interest. The generation of this certificate may prod other vendors to offer a preferred customer discount to the consumer based on the certificate.

[0038] The personal information may then be selectively provided to the vendors and businesses at 304. Moreover, the consumer's buying interest may also be communicated to the vendors and businesses, at 306. The communication of the consumer's buying interest may include creating a request-for-proposal (RFP) for goods and services to leverage consumer-generated personal information. This may enable the consumer to receive tailored offer from multiple vendors .

[0039] At 308, the vendors are enabled to utilize the personal information provided by the consumers to improve customer acquisition and retention. Thus, the vendors are supplied with CRM tools that enable enhanced data mining, campaign management, personalization, and behavioral tracking. Moreover, the personal information provided directly by the consumer allows the vendor to better target customers using relevant profile data, as well as broader profile content. The information also provides enhanced behavioral tracking by using consumer-controlled historical data.

advantages

[0040] A data handling and processing of the present invention provides advantages over other consumer-to- business (C2B) , as well as business-to-consumer (B2C) , applications. The system 100 and method 300-308 of the present invention enable vendors to form stronger and deeper relationships with their customers through increased personalization and greater degrees of information sharing and use than currently available. The present embodiments act as an extension and enhancement of vendor's existing CRM tools for data mining, campaign management, personalization, and behavioral tracking. By allowing consumers to become the preferred source of personal information, the creation and distribution of consumer profiles may become more efficient. This enables one complete and updated consumer profile database to replace many partial and outdated records kept by vendors, telemarketers, and credit agencies.

[0041] The consumer value comes from consumer's ability to control and leverage the personal information, which may result in improved personalization of on-line experience. The vendor value comes from using consumer-supplied information to increase customer conversion and retention. This information enables the vendor to present personalized offers to pre-qualified customers, while respecting the customers' privacy.

Example Implementation

[0042] Applicant has implemented the above-described data handling and processing system 100 in a technology concept called Mindport. Thus, Mindport system provides Mindport manager, Mindport connection, and Mindport enterprise. Mindport system is enabled by providing consumers with free tools, such as software downloadable from a Web site or from distribution CD-ROMs. These tools provide automatic profile construction assist utilities and regional profile generators that are pre-loaded with distributing vendor profiles .

[0043] Mindport concept creates a cycle of adoption of its C2B software by both on-line vendors and consumers. Success of the Mindport product requires both consumer adoption and vendor sales. These two conditions are mutually dependent as the value to consumers is contingent on, and grows with, vendor adoption and, in turn, the value to vendors grows with the number of consumers that have adopted Mindport Manager.

[0044] The adoption process may be jumpstarted by recruiting an initial set of partners to embrace the C2B paradigm and distribute Mindport Manager as a co-branded product to its customers. The Mindport Manager product is presented to these firms as a loyalty reward or value-added promotional offering to their existing customers, and as an added source of distinctiveness to their fundamental value proposition.

[0045] Mindport may custom build initial profiles pre- populated with information relevant to the specific vendor.

Further, in one embodiment, Mindport works with initial distributing partners to find ways to customize and enhance the intrinsic value of the Manager product's privacy functions in order to increase initial consumer value . [0046] Distributing partners may be expected to offer Mindport Manager to their customers at no cost. Thus, in this embodiment, the Mindport product is available for download on the web. But alternate distribution mechanisms, for example, CD-ROM distribution or delivery through cable set-top box, may be considered.

[0047] Initial partner adopters may also be offered a no- cost trial of the Mindport Enterprise interface software. Thus, Mindport may work with these vendors to deploy the Enterprise product and to assist in integrating it with the distributing vendors' overall CRM strategies. This strategy both increases customer loyalty rewards at low cost to the distributing partner, and also provides the Mindport functionality value to these vendors at no cost .

[0048] Types of vendors particularly suited as distributing partners are: Internet service providers (ISPs), retail banks, on-line brokerages, and credit card issuers. These target segments were selected on the basis of four key characteristics: 1) relatively high customer lifetime value; 2) high average customer income; 3) high degree of current Internet usage; and 4) existing software distribution channel to their consumer base.

[0049] Within these industries, distributing vendors may be chosen based on their willingness to distribute the Mindport Manager product, their customers' willingness to receive Internet-related software, the size of their consumer base and its attractiveness to other potential Mindport vendors .

[0050] Embodiments of the present invention are suited for use by three key Internet-consumer psychographic groups: simplifiers, connectors, and routiners. These groups are identified by their concern in regard to privacy issues, their expressed desires for increased vendor content personalization, and their on-line surfing and transactional behavior.

[0051] Simplifiers, who represent approximately 29% of the online population, use the Internet as a convenience tool. They consolidate accounts, engage in online banking and shop at their favorite sites. Simplifiers are easily discouraged by processes that complicate, but are likely to seek personalization as long as it requires relatively small amount of time to implement. Simplifiers avoid unsolicited mail, but may be inclined to buy on impulse if the purchase is made particularly easily and constitutes a quick solution to a need. Simplifiers may also be attracted to the time savings of the more personalized interactions online that Mindport provides. This group is the most attractive segment as they are responsible for nearly 34% of all online transactions and constitute approximately 37% of online users with annual household income above $75,000.

[0052] Connectors are generally inexperienced web users who are not aware of all of the Internet ' s potential functionality. They use the Internet to keep in touch with friends and to visit sites of vendors to which they are loyal. Connectors are generally responsive to relationship building efforts, especially by established brick and mortar brands which they know and trust . > They constitute about 36% of the online population and almost 27% of users with annual household income above $75,000. But they rarely shop on-line as they are wary of security issues. This segment is likely to be very attracted to Mindport Manager both for its functionality and as a result of its adoption model . Not only does Mindport Manager address their security concerns by putting them in control, but Mindport Manager is distributed by a vendor they trust as a mechanism for furthering that relationship.

[0053] Routiners, who represent approximately 15 percent of the online population, explicitly seek personalization of their online interactions. Their loyalty to the sites that accommodate their need for personalization is manifested by the fact that they visit significantly smaller number of sites per month than the average user though they use the Internet every day. The Routiners are content-seekers who are willing to pay for timely and insightful information. This segment may be most likely to adopt the Mindport product from an online source for its potential to easily and efficiently personalize their online experience throughout the Internet. They represent about 12 percent of users with annual household income above $75,000.

[0054] Together these groups account for roughly 68 percent of the commerce transactions conducted over the web, and capture approximately 76 percent of the web population with annual income exceeding $75,000.

[0055] Five vendor segments are targeted for sales of Mindport enterprise: banks, personal credit institutions, on-line brokerages, e-tailers, and web content sites/portals. These targets are based on the lifetime value of their customers and their current utilization of CRM software. These vendors may best exploit the capability of the Mindport product to interface with their existing CRM tools. Further, these firms have already demonstrated willingness to spend money for this type of product, which implies that they have a clear understanding of the value of CRM tools such as Mindport.

[0056] The target customer base for Mindport Enterprise contains many potential customers, including priority target companies within the target industry segments. Furthermore, as CRM applications become more widely adopted, the number of target industries will greatly expand, likely including the airline, automotive, and health industries among others .

[0057] Retail banks can gain a competitive advantage by providing their customers with the present invention. Retail bank customers typically have multiple accounts and the competition between banks for customers has been fierce. The top retail banks may likely be the best segments within the banking industry because these banks have the information technology (IT) infrastructure necessary to implement Mindport Enterprise and are actively developing their Internet strategies .

[0058] Personal credit institutions including credit card companies have been extremely active in developing their

Internet strategies. Like banks, credit card companies have a uniquely robust database of consumer data, but unlike banks, credit card companies have been much more active in using this data to cross-sell and up-sell their customers and are very experienced in using this data. Thus, the top large credit card issuers are extremely well positioned to immediately utilize the information contained in a consumer's Mindport Manager database.

[0059] The e-tail segment with many potential customers is a ripe target segment. Top e-tailers, such as Amazon, have openly stated that their Internet strategy is to leverage their size to spend more than their competition on data- capturing and personalization software and thereby give their customers the most tailored experience on the web. Mindport Enterprise offers challengers the ability to leverage a consumer's data from multiple vendors and negate the scale advantages of the very top e-tailers .

[0060] Finally, a large number of web portals and Internet content providers are some of the top customers of CRM applications. Mindport Enterprise may provide them with a much more robust data source for their personalization software. Within this segment, Mindport may target the top domain operators of which most are content and directory sites . Conclusion

[0061] There has been disclosed herein embodiments for providing customer-centric data handling and processing. Embodiments of the present invention have addressed the rising level of consumer concern about privacy and control of their personal information. The embodiments have also addressed the consumers' need for personalization, tailored access, and reward for their purchasing behavior. The present embodiments have been shown to further provide vendors with a new solution to the increasing need for the consumer insights required to improve customer-relationship management. Accordingly, the present embodiments have been shown to enable consumers and vendors to form strong and deep consumer-centric relationships in which consumers create, maintain, and control the use of their personal information profiles. Vendors may utilize these profiles to improve customer acquisition and retention by creating more fulfilling business transaction experiences and personalized offers for their customers.

[0062] While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, such descriptions have been for purposes of illustration only and ^"not by way of limitation. Accordingly, throughout this detailed description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the system and method may be practiced without some of these specific details. For example, the system manager 102 and the system enterprise 106 in the data handling and processing system 100 may be practiced separately. That is, the present embodiments may provide the consumer with personal information gathering tools of the system manager 102 and allow the consumer to decide whether to supply that information to the vendors or to other groups for purposes other than business transaction. Accordingly, the present embodiments may provide the vendors with consumer information in the system enterprise 106. The vendors may decide to utilize these consumer-supplied information for internal studies without involving the system manager 102. In other instances, well-known structures and functions were not described in elaborate detail in order to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope and spirit of the invention should be judged in terms of the claims which follow.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is

1. A process in a network having a consumer side and a vendor side, comprising: providing tools on the consumer side that enable consumers to selectively collect, use, and control consumers' personal information.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein said tools enable consumers to track, review, audit, assess value, assign distribution traits, and/or assign distribution methods to personal information of the consumers as it relates to household, and people in the household, about their consumption habits .

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said personal information may relate to habits of viewing, content consumption, buying practices, business/leisure travel, procurement of goods and services, characteristics specific to methods of payment, behavior around payment, and reconciliation of real and perceived value.

4. The process of claim 3, further comprising: enabling the vendors to utilize the personal information selectively provided by the consumers to improve customer acquisition and retention.

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein said enabling includes creating more fulfilling business transaction experiences and personalized offers for the consumers.

6. A process for data handling and processing, comprising: capturing and managing personal information of a consumer; providing the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information; and selectively providing the personal information to vendors and businesses .

7. The process of claim 6, further comprising: communicating the consumer ' s buying interest to the vendors and businesses.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein said capturing and managing personal information includes incorporating consumer preference data.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein said consumer preference data includes consumer demographic data.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein said consumer preference data includes consumer financial data.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein said consumer preference data includes consumer ' s membership status in loyalty programs .

12. The process of claim 6, wherein said capturing and managing personal information includes incorporating consumer profile data.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein said consumer profile data includes color and size preferences.

14. The process of claim 12, wherein said consumer profile data includes product types of interest or not of interest.

15. The process of claim 12 , wherein said consumer profile data includes consumer privacy markers.

16. The process of claim 6, wherein said capturing and managing personal information includes utilizing the personal information to profile consumer's buying habits.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein said buying habits include data about shopping activities or purchases.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein said buying habits include web-searching activities.

19. The process of claim 6, wherein said providing the consumer control over access of data includes assisting in initial profile application and automatic updates of the personal information.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein said assisting includes downloading information from loyalty programs or other relationship-based sites to populate the personal information.

21. The process of claim 6, wherein said providing consumer control over access of data includes requesting generation of certificate which verifies that the consumer purchased a specific item of interest.

22. The process of claim 21, wherein said certificate includes a purchase price of the specific item of interest.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein said certificate includes from which vendor the specific item of interest was purchased.

24. The process of claim 22, wherein said requesting includes prodding other vendors to offer a preferred customer discount to the consumer based on said certificate.

25. The process of claim 7, wherein said communicating the consumer's buying interest to the vendors and businesses includes creating a request-for-proposal for goods and services to leverage said selectively providing the personal information.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein said creating includes enabling the consumer to receive tailored offer from multiple vendors.

27. A data handling and processing system, comprising: a profile data manager to capture and manage personal information of a consumer; a plurality of data capture applications to provide the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information; a set of tools to selectively provide the personal information to vendors and businesses; and a data transmitter to communicate the consumer's buying interest to the vendors and businesses .

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said profile data manager includes at least first and second consumer personal information databases .

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said first consumer personal information database includes consumer preference and profile data.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said consumer profile data includes consumer demographic data, financial data, and membership status in loyalty program.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein said consumer preference data includes color and size preference, product types of interest, privacy markers, and other related data.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein said profile data manager includes utilization information.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said utilization information includes data about shopping activities such as purchases .

34. The system of claim 32, wherein said utilization information includes data about web searching activities.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein said profile data manager includes a set of data maintenance applications to ensure maintenance of the consumer's privacy.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein said plurality of data capture applications includes a certifier module to enable generation of certificates to validate purchases made by the consumer.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein said plurality of data capture applications includes a set of web-scraping modules to extract information from visited web sites.

38. A data handling and processing system, comprising: a system manager to integrate individual consumer tools, said tools enabling consumers to communicate their personal information; a system connection agent to host applications that facilitate secure transmission of profiles, RFPs, and offers between consumers and vendors, said agent providing consumers with an on-line source for product information, upgrades, or technical support of modules within said system manager; and a system enterprise having a software suite that provides retailers and service providers a consumer- centric, customer-relationship management (CRM) that manages and monitors flow of interactions with consumers by interacting with said system connection agent .

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said tools that enable consumers to communicate their personal information include a profile developer and manager that provides profile development and management.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said tools that enable consumers to communicate their personal information include a privacy protection element that provides protection of privacy.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein said tools that enable consumers to communicate their personal information include consumer requests for proposals (RFPs) module that enable the consumers to submit RFPs to the vendors .

42. The system of claim 38, wherein said system manager includes external interface tools.

43. The system of claim 42 , wherein said external interface tools include a personal digital assistant (PDA) .

44. The system of claim 42, wherein said external interface tools include a mobile phone.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein said external interface tools include an mp3 audio player.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein said external interface tools include a cable set-top box, and other related tools.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein said system manager includes

48. The system of claim 38, wherein said system manager includes a profile data manager to capture and manage private consumer data on behalf of the consumer.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said profile data manager includes at least first and second consumer personal information databases .

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said first consumer personal information databases include consumer preference and profile database.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said consumer preference and profile database includes demographic data, financial data, membership status in loyalty programs, color and size preferences, product types of interest, product types not of interest, and privacy markers.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein said second consumer personal information databases include a utilization information database.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein said utilization information database includes data about shopping activities, purchases, and web searching activities.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein said profile data manager includes data entry/validation programs that enables consumers to enter, edit, and manage profile contents .

55. The system of claim 48, wherein said profile data manager includes a data security scheme that enables consumers to control access to profile and usage-log data.

56. The system of claim 55, further comprising: a set of applets that permits Web-based applications to access, add, or alter profile information, in accordance with said data security scheme.

57. The system of claim 48, wherein said profile data manager includes an update facility that bootstraps new program functionality into a profile toolkit.

58. The system of claim 48, wherein said profile data manager includes an automatic construction application that performs an intelligent search of the Web to construct profile records during initial installation process.

59. The system of claim 48, further comprising: a plurality of data extraction tools to substantially support sharing of consumer information in a manner that enables vendors to react to consumer information as individuals .

60. The system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of data extraction tools includes tools that can read tagged data fields as well as extract data from formatted records.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of data extraction tools includes tools that can issue access requests and construct these requests from a combination of template request formats and existing profile data.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of data extraction tools includes a general data stream extraction program.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein said general data stream extraction program includes fixed-format extraction program.

64. The system of claim 62 , wherein said general data stream extraction program includes tagged-format extraction program.

65. The system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of data extraction tools includes a web scraping browser extension.

66. The system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of data extraction tools includes data gathering request generator that initiates data capture requests.

67. The system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of data extraction tools includes general scheduler that supports dispatching of periodic and event-triggered processes .

68. The system of claim 59, wherein said plurality of data extraction tools includes Java applets that interfaces with a trusted source for externally generated data capture .

69. The system of claim 59, further comprising: a consumer request-for-proposal (RFP) module to enable communication of consumer's buying interest to vendors.

70. The system of claim 69, further comprising: a privacy protection module to allow the consumer control over access of data contained in the profile data manager .

71. The system of claim 70, wherein said privacy protection module includes a set of applications that help consumers populate and certify their profiles.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein said privacy protection module includes a certifier module that can be used by the consumer to request generation of a certificate.

73. The system of claim 38, wherein said system enterprise includes a plurality of tools that enable enhanced data mining which provides consumer initiated data that reflect current preference of a customer.

74. The system of claim 38, wherein said system enterprise includes a plurality of tools that enable enhanced campaign management which allows vendors to better target customers using relevant profile data.

75. The system of claim 38, wherein said system enterprise includes a plurality of tools that enable enhanced personalization which allow vendors to better target customers using broader profile content.

76. The system of claim 38, wherein said system enterprise includes a plurality of tools that enable enhanced behavioral tracking by using consumer controlled historical data.

77. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, causes the system to perform data handling and processing, comprising: capturing and managing personal information of a consumer; providing the consumer control over access of data included in the personal information; and selectively providing the personal information to vendors and businesses.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein said computer readable medium includes a CD-ROM disk.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein said processing system is a personal computer, such that said executable instructions on said CD-ROM are loaded onto the personal computer .

80. The system of claim 77, wherein said computer readable medium includes the Internet .

81. The system of claim 80, wherein said executable instructions are downloaded onto a personal computer from the Internet site of a system interconnection agent.