Method and apparatus for simplified access to online services

• US 20020087545A1
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hall Aluminum LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bright, Walter G., Engstrom, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,028,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

An online service provider is equipped to receive a request from a client to access a subscribed online service of a subscriber at the online service provider. Comprising the request is a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the subscriber. Once the request is received, the online service provider, determines if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, and if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, the online service provider facilitates access to the subscribed online service of the subscriber. As a result, a user is able to access online services without having to manage several a logon Id and password pair. In one embodiment, the GUID is also caused to be stored in an email with an email service provider. The novel storage enables the subscriber to access his/her subscribed services from another location, or even after the subscriber has reconfigured the original location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to access a subscribed online service of a subscriber at an online service provider, said request comprising a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the subscriber;

determining if the GUID is associated with the subscriber; and

facilitating access to the subscribed online service of the subscriber if the GUID is associated with the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a request for roaming capability is received, said request for roaming capability includes an email address; and

facilitating the roaming capability utilizing the received email address upon so determining.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said facilitating comprises sending an email, including the GUID associated with the subscriber, to the email address.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises storing the GUID including email at an email service provider hosting said email address.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said facilitating comprises sending an email with an uniform resource locator (URL) of the online service provider to the email address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said GUID is stored in a cookie at the client.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises retrieving the GUID from an email stored at an email service provider.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said retrieval is performed from a subsequent location that is different from an original location where the subscriber caused said email to be stored at said email service provider or from the same original location after the subscriber reconfigured the original location.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving subscription data including the GUID; and

associating the GUID with the subscriber.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving of subscription data comprises the user filling out fields of a web site of the online service provider.

11. A storage medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions that are machine executable, wherein when executed, said executing instructions operate to receive a request from a client to access subscribed online services of a subscriber at an online service provider, said request comprising a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the subscriber, determine if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, and facilitate access to the subscribed online services of the subscriber if the GUID is determined to be associated with the subscriber.

12. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein said executing instructions further operate to determine if a request for roaming capability is received, said request for roaming capability includes an email address, and facilitate the roaming capability utilizing the received email address upon so determining.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein said executing instructions operate to send an email, including the GUID associated with the subscriber, to the email address.

14. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein said executing instructions operate to send an email with an uniform resource locator (URL) of the online service provider to the email address.

15. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein said executing instructions further operate to cause the GUID to be stored as a cookie at the client.

16. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein said executing instructions further operate to receive subscription data including the GUID, and associate the GUID with the subscriber.

17. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein said executing instructions operate to receive the subscription data as filled out fields of a web site of the online service provider.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said executing instructions further operate to determine if a request for roaming capability is received, said request for roaming capability includes an email address, and facilitate the roaming capability utilizing the received email address upon so determining.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said executing instructions operate to send an email, including the GUID associated with the subscriber, to the email address.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said executing instructions operate to send an email with an uniform resource locator (URL) of the online service provider to the email address.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said executing instructions further operate to cause the GUID to be stored in a cookie at the client.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said executing instructions further operate to receive subscription data including the GUID, and associate the GUID with the subscriber.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said executing instructions operate to receive the subscription data as filled out fields of a web site of the online service provider.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions that are machine executable, wherein when executed, said executing instructions operate to receive a request from a client to access subscribed online services of a subscriber at an online service provider, said request comprising a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the client, determine if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, and facilitate access to the subscribed online services of the subscriber if the GUID is determined to be associated with the subscriber; and

a processor coupled to said storage medium to execute said instructions.