Trust metrics, models and protocols for electronic commerce transactions

Abstract

The paper introduces the notion of quantifiable trust for electronic commerce. It describes metrics and models for the measurement of trust variables and fuzzy verification of transactions. Trust metrics help preserve system availability by determining risk on transactions. Furthermore, when several entities are involved in electronic transactions, previously know techniques are applied for trust propagation. Malicious transacting entities may try to illegitimately gain access to private trust information. Suitable protocols are developed to minimize breach of privacy and incorporate a non repudiable context using cryptographic techniques.