System and method for identifying users in a distributed network
First Claim
1. A method of maintaining a user identification database that indicates when users are in communication with a network, the method comprising the acts of:
- associating in a computer accessible storage medium electronic mail addresses, processor-embedded identifiers and status information;
receiving a first electronic message from a first computer, the first electronic message containing an electronic mail address and a copy of the processor-embedded identifier existing in the first computer;
using the first electronic mail address to access the corresponding processor-embedded identifier stored in the storage medium;
comparing the processor-embedded identifier from the first computer with the processor-embedded identifiers of the storage medium; and
modifying the status information in the storage medium to indicate that the first electronic mail address is authentic when the processor-embedded identifier from the first computer matches a processor-embedded identifier of storage medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications network includes several computers connected to a communications medium. In one embodiment, a client computer has a unique identification number that is embedded within a processor. The client computer includes a client module which generates a message that includes the identification number and sends the message over the communications medium. Another computer receives the message and retrieves the identification number from the message. In addition, the computer processes the identification number and updates an identification database. The processing of the identification number and the updating of the identification database is triggered when the message is received.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining a user identification database that indicates when users are in communication with a network, the method comprising the acts of:
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associating in a computer accessible storage medium electronic mail addresses, processor-embedded identifiers and status information;
receiving a first electronic message from a first computer, the first electronic message containing an electronic mail address and a copy of the processor-embedded identifier existing in the first computer;
using the first electronic mail address to access the corresponding processor-embedded identifier stored in the storage medium;
comparing the processor-embedded identifier from the first computer with the processor-embedded identifiers of the storage medium; and
modifying the status information in the storage medium to indicate that the first electronic mail address is authentic when the processor-embedded identifier from the first computer matches a processor-embedded identifier of storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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13. A method of establishing a conferencing connection comprising the acts of:
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receiving a first processor-specific identifier embedded within a first computer when the first computer is in communication with a communications medium;
receiving a second processor-specific identifier embedded within a second computer when the second computer is in communication with the communications medium; and
providing to the first computer indication that the second computer is in communication with the communications medium in response to a request from the first computer to initiate a conferencing connection with the second computer.
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21. A method of identifying computer users by using processor-specific identifiers, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving a first processor-specific identifier that is embedded within a computer processor;
accessing a database that associates processor-specific identifiers with information about users of computer processors; and
obtaining the information of a computer processor user that corresponds to the first processor-specific identifier. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30)
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25. A method of identifying users by using manufacturer-embedded identifiers, the method comprising the acts of:
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associating a database of manufacturer-embedded identifiers with information about users, wherein each manufacturer-embedded identifier is associated with information about a user; and
using the manufacturer-embedded identifier to access the user information that corresponds to the manufacturer-embedded identifier.
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28. A method of monitoring when a processor accesses a communications medium by using a processor-specific identifier that is embedded within the processor, the method comprising the acts of:
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receiving from a first processor a processor-specific identifier embedded therein when the first processor is in communication with a communications medium; and
updating a database to indicate that the first processor is in communication with the communications medium.
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31. A method of identifying a computer user comprising the act of associating user information with a processor-embedded identifier.
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32. A computer system, comprising:
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a first computer connectable to a communications medium and comprising an identification module which provides a computer-specific identification number, the first computer configured to enclose the identification number to a message for sending over the communications medium; and
a second computer connectable to the communications medium to receive the message and to retrieve the identification number from the message, the second computer comprising a database configured to process the identification number of the first computer to identify the first computer.
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33. A communications network, comprising:
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a first computer connectable to a communications medium and comprising a first identification module which provides a first identification number, the first computer configured to generate a first message including the first identification number for sending over the communications medium;
a second computer connectable to the communications medium;
a computer server connectable to the communications medium and comprising an identification database, the computer server configured to receive the first message and to retrieve the first identification number from the first message, the computer server further configured to process the first identification and to update the identification database. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 37)
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36. A computer, comprising:
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a communications module configured to receive and send electronic messages; and
a database storing electronic message addresses and corresponding processor-specific identifiers, the database configured to be updated through a first electronic message containing a first electronic message address and a first processor-specific identifier.
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Specification