Control for inviting an unauthenticated user to gain access to display of content that is otherwise accessible with an authentication mechanism
First Claim
1. A method for enabling access to electronic content, comprising:
- associating the content with an authenticated user of an electronic service;
associating the content with a user relationship that indicates a relationship with the authenticated user that is required to access the content;
associating the content with a token;
providing the token to an unauthenticated user;
receiving the token as a request to access the content;
determining whether the token is valid; and
enabling access to the content associated with the token if the token is valid.
12 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Enabling an unauthenticated user to access content associated with an authenticated user as though the unauthenticated user had a selected user relationship with the authenticated user. The user relationship may comprise a relationship degree, a relationship category, a relationship rating, and/or the like. An invitation to join an electronic service, such as an online social network, is sent to the unauthenticated user at an address known to the authenticated user. The invitation includes a time-limited token, such as a URL, that includes an invitation identifier, which relates the invitation to the authenticated user content. The token may be encrypted in the invitation. The unauthenticated user returns the token as a request to preview the authenticated user content without first becoming an authenticated user of the electronic service. If the token is still valid, access is granted. The unauthenticated user may also request to establish a connection with the authenticated user.
269 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for enabling access to electronic content, comprising:
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associating the content with an authenticated user of an electronic service;
associating the content with a user relationship that indicates a relationship with the authenticated user that is required to access the content;
associating the content with a token;
providing the token to an unauthenticated user;
receiving the token as a request to access the content;
determining whether the token is valid; and
enabling access to the content associated with the token if the token is valid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A server for enabling access to electronic content of an electronic service, comprising:
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a communication interface in communication with an authenticated client and an unauthenticated client;
a memory for storing instructions; and
a processor in communication with the communication interface and with the memory, wherein the processor performs actions based at least in part on the stored instructions, including;
associating the content with the authenticated client;
associating the content with a user relationship that indicates a relationship with the authenticated client that is required to access the content;
associating the content with a token;
providing the token to the unauthenticated client;
receiving the token from the unauthenticated client;
determining whether the token is valid; and
enabling the unauthenticated client to access the content associated with the token if the token is valid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for accessing electronic content, comprising:
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receiving a token that is associated with the content, wherein the content is also associated with an authenticated user of an electronic service and the content is further associated with a user relationship that indicates a relationship with the authenticated user that is required to access the content;
communicating the token to the electronic service that determines whether the token is valid; and
receiving access to the content if the token is valid. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification