Method and system to facilitate distribution of services and resources through a network
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating access by a plurality of consumers to services hosted on more than one originator, said system comprising:
- in each originator, a host record storing host access information HAI for each consumer authorized to access a service hosted by the originator;
in a reseller for reselling services hosted by more than one originator, said reseller containing a reseller record storing host access information for each originator from which the reseller is authorized to access services, and, consumer access information for each consumer authorized to access services provided through the reseller;
wherein, in response to the reseller receiving information from an authorized consumer corresponding to the consumer access information for the authorized consumer, the reseller provides host access information from its reseller records to each originator hosting services the authorized consumer is authorized to access; and
wherein each originator receiving the host access information permits the authorized consumer access to the services for which the host access information received from the reseller corresponds with host access information stored in the host record of the originator.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Services and resources hosted by more than one originator are distributed to a plurality of consumers. To facilitate the distribution of the services and resources, the reseller contains host access information for each originator to which the reseller is authorized to access resources. Upon receipt of consumer access information to an authorized consumer, the reseller provides host access information to each originator hosting resources the authorized consumer is authorized to access. Each originator receiving host access information from the reseller will permit the authorized consumer access to the resources and services. In this way, a reseller provides a “virtual host” to consumers by reselling services and resources from different originators. An originator may also be a reseller of those services and resources of other originators. The originators and resellers are identified by unique randomly created identifiers to maintain their identities confidential. Each originator stores information correlating the consumers with the resellers through which the consumer obtains the services of the originator. In this way, the originator can deny access to a reseller, as well as all consumers accessing services through the unauthorized reseller.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating access by a plurality of consumers to services hosted on more than one originator, said system comprising:
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in each originator, a host record storing host access information HAI for each consumer authorized to access a service hosted by the originator;
in a reseller for reselling services hosted by more than one originator, said reseller containing a reseller record storing host access information for each originator from which the reseller is authorized to access services, and, consumer access information for each consumer authorized to access services provided through the reseller;
wherein, in response to the reseller receiving information from an authorized consumer corresponding to the consumer access information for the authorized consumer, the reseller provides host access information from its reseller records to each originator hosting services the authorized consumer is authorized to access; and
wherein each originator receiving the host access information permits the authorized consumer access to the services for which the host access information received from the reseller corresponds with host access information stored in the host record of the originator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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14. A method for facilitating access by a plurality of consumers to services hosted on more than one originator, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) for each originator, providing a host record storing host access information for each consumer authorized to access a service hosted by the originator;
(b) at a reseller, determining which services an authorized consumer is authorized to access; and
(c) sending host access information from the reseller to each originator hosting services the authorized consumer is authorized to access.
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18. A virtual originator for providing consumers with access to services hosted by host machines contained in more than one actual originator, said virtual originator comprising:
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reseller records storing host access information for each authorized consumer associated with the virtual originator;
a network interface connected to said reseller record sending and receiving information to said actual originator;
wherein, upon authorization of a consumer, host access information for said authorized consumer is located in said reseller record and sent through the network interface to said actual originators; and
wherein, upon receipt of the host access information, said actual originators permit the authorized consumer access to the services.
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Specification