Account linking with privacy keys

• US 20070203848A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cameron, Kim, Nanda, Arun
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction

Abstract

A computer system includes a security module programmed to generate a first privacy key for use with secure communications with a first web site, and a second privacy key for use with secure communications with a second web site, the first and second keys being different. The computer system also includes an identity module programmed to receive a request from the first web site for linking a first user account associated with the first web site with a second user account associated with the second web site, and the identity module being programmed to present a user with an option to link the first and second user accounts.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a security module programmed to generate a first privacy key for use with secure communications with a first web site, and a second privacy key for use with secure communications with a second web site, the first and second keys being different; and

an identity module programmed to receive a request from the first web site for linking a first user account associated with the first web site with a second user account associated with the second web site, and the identity module being programmed to present a user with an option to link the first and second user accounts.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the security module is further programmed to generate and forward a coupon to the first web site in response to the user approving of the linking, the coupon facilitating the linking of the first and second user accounts.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the coupon includes a linking agreement including the first and second privacy keys.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the request for the linking of the first and second user accounts from the first web site includes a policy defining how information in the first and second user accounts will be shared between the first and second web sites.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the request from the first web site includes requests for linking accounts from a plurality of web sites, and the identity module is further programmed to search for digital identities on the computer system that match one or more of the plurality of web sites.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the identity module is further programmed to present the user with options for linking user accounts associated with matching digital identities.

7. A method for communicating with a plurality of web sites, the method comprising:

generating a first privacy key to communicate securely with a first web site;

generating a second privacy key to communicate securely with a second web site;

receiving a request for account linking from the first web site to share user information with the second web site; and

presenting a user with an option to approve or disapprove of the account linking.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a coupon in response to the user approving of the account linking, the coupon facilitating the account linking; and

forwarding the coupon to the first web site.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the request from the first web site includes requests for accounts linking for a plurality of web sites, and the method further comprises:

searching for digital identities associated with the user that match one or more of the plurality of web sites; and

presenting the user with options to approve or disapprove of the account linking for web sites with matching digital identities.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 7.

11. A method for a first web site to link user accounts with a second web site, the method comprising:

sending a request for account linking from the first web site to share user information with the second web site;

receiving a response from the user approving of the account linking; and

forwarding a coupon to the second web site to initiate the account linking, the coupon including a linking agreement including a first privacy key associated with the first web site and a second privacy key associated with the second web site, the first and second privacy keys being different.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving the coupon from the user.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising verifying the coupon.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the request further comprises sending the request for the account linking during a registration process of the first web site for the user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the request further comprising sending a policy to the user, the policy defining how the user information is shared with the second web site.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 11.