INTERNET SERVICE LOGIN USING PREEXISTING SERVICES

• US 20080134343A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: PENNINGTON, Havoc, Clark, Bryan, Fischer, Donald, Taylor, Owen, Walters, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/335 for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0815 providing single-sign-on or federations

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for logging a client into an internet service using a preexisting service. In order to login, the user may select a link that triggers the service to send login information to the user via a preexisting service, such as instant messaging or email. In some embodiments, the user is sent a link via their preexisting service. The user then logs into the service by selecting the link.

Claims

1. A method of logging a client into an Internet service using a preexisting service of a user, said method comprising:

receiving a login request from the user;

sending a message to the user that comprises a link authorizing the user to access the Internet service; and

receiving a response from the user that indicates selection of the link; and

logging in the user to the Internet service based on the selection of the link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the user that comprises the link comprises sending the user an instant message that comprises the link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the user that comprises the link comprises sending the user an email that comprises the link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the user that comprises the link comprises sending the user a message that comprises a uniform resource locator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the user that comprises the link comprises sending the user a message that comprises a one-time uniform resource locator.

6. An apparatus comprising means configured to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable program code for performing the method of claim 1.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the preexisting service is an instant messaging service.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the user comprises sending the user a message that comprises a uniform resource locator having a unique key.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the message to the user that comprises the link comprises sending the user a message that comprises a uniform resource locator having a unique key, which expires after a predetermined amount of time.

17. An apparatus comprising means configured to perform the method of claim 1.

18. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable program code for performing the method of claim 1.

8. A system configured to login users via preexisting services of the user, said system comprising:

a database comprising information that indicates account information of preexisting services of the user;

a web server configured to provide a login page to the user;

a messaging agent configured to receive a login request from the user, and send a message to the user that comprises a link authorizing the user to access the Internet service; and

a web server configured to receive the response from the user that indicates selection of the link, check the database based on the response, and log in the user to the Internet service based on the check of the database.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the messaging agent is configured to send the user an instant message that comprises the link.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the messaging agent is configured to send the user an email that comprises the link.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the messaging agent is configured to send the user a message that comprises a uniform resource locator.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the messaging agent is configured to send the user a message that comprises a one-time uniform resource locator.

13. A method of logging a client into an Internet service using a preexisting service of a user, said method comprising:

receiving a message from the user via the preexisting service;

sending a message to the user via the preexisting that comprises a link authorizing the user to access the Internet service; and

receiving a response from the user that indicates selection of the link; and

logging in the user to the Internet service based on the selection of the link.