The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 26, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 25, 1989
Peter M Winkler, Madison, NJ (US);
Other;
Abstract
A portable electronic device for comparing and then destroying information, comprising a keyboard for input of information by two or more users, a microprocessor for comparing the information and then destroying it, and a visual display for revealing the results of the comparison; whereby each user may enjoy the results of the comparison and still be assured that his or her own information remains private, and cannot be extracted from the device either during use or at any later time. In its preferred embodiment the device looks rather like a hand calculator with alphanumeric keyboard, but has a cover with a shield attached, permitting privacy in use of the keyboard. Among the tasks which the device can perform are matching, that is, testing to see if two or more users have input identical information; ranking of users according to numerical input; and tallying of votes. Applications envisioned include password exchange, gossiping, secret ballot voting, boardroom polling, bidding, secret comparison, overcoming shyness, police interrogation and adult games.