Centralized identity authentication for electronic communication networks
First Claim
1. A method operative to perform centralized identity authentication for transactions conducted over the Internet, said method comprising:
- registering a plurality of users with a centralized agent such that each registered user is associated with an account holder record including at least one set of authentication data from which that user can be authenticated;
registering a plurality of different vendors having a presence on the Internet, said registered vendors selectively transacting with registered users;
receiving a registered user directed thereto from a registered vendor over the Internet; and
,authenticating via a computer the received user'"'"'s identity over the Internet prior to completion of a transaction between the registered vendor and the registered user, wherein said authenticating includes comparing a provided authentication data to data in the account holder records, said provided authentication data including at least one of a user name, a password, a personal identification number and a dynamically changing non-predictable code, wherein the received user is identified as an account holder when there is a sufficient match resulting from the comparison, and is not identified as an account holder when there is no sufficient match resulting from the comparison;
wherein a given registered user employs the same authentication data to transact with multiple different registered vendors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of centralized identity authentication for use in connection with a communications network includes registering users of the communications network such that each registered user'"'"'s identity is uniquely defined and determinable, and registering a plurality of vendors having a presence on the communications network. The registered vendors selectively transact with registered users, wherein the transactions include: (i) the registered vendor selling goods and/or services to the registered user; (ii) the registered vendor granting the registered user access to personal records maintained by the registered vendor; and/or (iii) the registered vendor communicating to the registered user personal information maintained by the registered vendor. The method also includes each user'"'"'s identity being authenticated over the communications network prior to completion of transactions between registered vendors and registered users.
75 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method operative to perform centralized identity authentication for transactions conducted over the Internet, said method comprising:
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registering a plurality of users with a centralized agent such that each registered user is associated with an account holder record including at least one set of authentication data from which that user can be authenticated; registering a plurality of different vendors having a presence on the Internet, said registered vendors selectively transacting with registered users; receiving a registered user directed thereto from a registered vendor over the Internet; and
,authenticating via a computer the received user'"'"'s identity over the Internet prior to completion of a transaction between the registered vendor and the registered user, wherein said authenticating includes comparing a provided authentication data to data in the account holder records, said provided authentication data including at least one of a user name, a password, a personal identification number and a dynamically changing non-predictable code, wherein the received user is identified as an account holder when there is a sufficient match resulting from the comparison, and is not identified as an account holder when there is no sufficient match resulting from the comparison; wherein a given registered user employs the same authentication data to transact with multiple different registered vendors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 23)
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11. A system operative to perform centralized identity authentication for transactions conducted over the Internet, said system comprising:
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a centralized agent, operative to; register a plurality of users therewith such that each registered user is associated with an account holder record including at least one set of authentication data from which that user can be authenticated; register a plurality of different vendors having a presence on the Internet, said registered vendors selectively transacting with registered users; receive a registered user directed thereto from a registered vendor over the Internet; and
,authenticate via a computer the received user'"'"'s identity over the Internet prior to completion of a transaction between the registered vendor and the registered user, wherein said authenticating includes comparing a provided authentication data to data in the account holder records, said provided authentication data including at least one of a user name, a password, a personal identification number and a dynamically changing non-predictable code, wherein the received user is identified as an account holder when there is a sufficient match resulting from the comparison, and is not identified as an account holder when there is no sufficient match resulting from the comparison; wherein a given registered user employs the same authentication data to transact with multiple different registered vendors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification