Centralized identity authentication for electronic communication networks
First Claim
1. A computer system operative to perform centralized identity authentication for transactions conducted over a public communications network, said system comprising:
- a centralized agent implemented via at least one hardware server connected with said network so as to maintain a presence thereon, said at least one hardware server being operative to;
receive user registration data so as to register a plurality of users with the centralized agent such that each registered user is associated with a created account holder record including at least one set of authentication data from which that user can be authenticated;
receive vendor registration data so as to register with the centralized agent a plurality of different vendors having hardware servers connected with said network so as to maintain a presence thereon;
receive a registered user redirected over the network thereto from a server of a registered vendor, said user employing a device running a browser thereon to connect to the at least one hardware server of the centralized agent via the network; and
,authenticate the received user'"'"'s identity over the network prior to completion of a transaction between the registered user and the registered vendor from which the registered user was redirected, wherein to authenticate the received user'"'"'s identity, said at least one hardware server of the centralized agent compares a provided authentication data from the received user to authentication data in the account holder records, such that the received user is identified as an account holder when there is a sufficient match resulting from the comparison;
wherein a given registered user employs the same authentication data to transact with multiple different registered vendors.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
76 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer system operative to perform centralized identity authentication for transactions conducted over a public communications network, said system comprising:
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a centralized agent implemented via at least one hardware server connected with said network so as to maintain a presence thereon, said at least one hardware server being operative to; receive user registration data so as to register a plurality of users with the centralized agent such that each registered user is associated with a created account holder record including at least one set of authentication data from which that user can be authenticated; receive vendor registration data so as to register with the centralized agent a plurality of different vendors having hardware servers connected with said network so as to maintain a presence thereon; receive a registered user redirected over the network thereto from a server of a registered vendor, said user employing a device running a browser thereon to connect to the at least one hardware server of the centralized agent via the network; and
,authenticate the received user'"'"'s identity over the network prior to completion of a transaction between the registered user and the registered vendor from which the registered user was redirected, wherein to authenticate the received user'"'"'s identity, said at least one hardware server of the centralized agent compares a provided authentication data from the received user to authentication data in the account holder records, such that the received user is identified as an account holder when there is a 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, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification