Method and System for Creation and Validation of Anonymous Digital Credentials

• US 20090178125A1
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kount Incorporated (Equifax, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CredMe Inc.
• Inventors: De Payne, Lewis, Barber, Timothy P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A method and system for providing an online reputation of a client participating in one or more online forums. The method includes providing a unique client identifier associated with the client. In addition, a plurality of forum identifiers is provided for a plurality of online forums within which the client is participating, wherein each online forum is associated with a corresponding user profile. A plurality of unique verification codes is provided that is based on the plurality of forum identifiers and the client identifier. A plurality of verification sequences is provided for purposes of verifying a plurality of user profiles of the client associated with the plurality of online forums, wherein each of the plurality of verification sequences includes a corresponding verification code. Verification of a plurality of credentials associated with the plurality of user profiles is performed. A request is received that includes a corresponding verification sequence from a verifying entity for an online reputation of the client. The request is made in association with a first online forum within which the client is participating. A verified credential of a user profile that is associated with a second online forum is provided without revealing a user identity of the client that is associated with the second online forum.

Claims

1. A method for providing online verification, comprising:

providing a client identifier that is unique and associated with a client;

providing a plurality of forum identifiers, each of which is unique, for a plurality of online forums within which said client is participating, wherein a plurality of user profiles of said client is associated with said plurality of online forums;

providing a plurality of verification codes, each of which is unique, based on said plurality of forum identifiers and said client identifier for purposes of verifying said plurality of user profiles; and

verifying a plurality of credentials associated with said plurality of user profiles using said plurality of verification codes to establish an online reputation of said client.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of verification sequences, each of said plurality of verification sequences including a corresponding verification code uniquely associated with a corresponding online forum;

receiving a request including a corresponding verification sequence from a verifying user for said online reputation of said client, said requests received in association with a first online forum within which said client is participating; and

providing a verified credential of a user profile associated with a second online forum without revealing a user identity of said client that is associated with said second online forum.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a verified credential of a first user profile that is associated with said first online forum.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said verifying a plurality of credentials further comprises:

verifying a corresponding user profile by verifying that a corresponding verification sequence is included in said corresponding user profile; and

providing verified credentials for said plurality of user profiles without revealing user identities of said client that are associated with online forums other than said first online forum.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing information associated with a first user profile that is associated with said first online forum.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing a plurality of verification codes comprises:

concatenating said client identifier with a corresponding online forum identifier to create a corresponding verification code.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

concatenating said client identifier with a corresponding online forum identifier as a first part;

generating a second part that is based on said client identifier and said corresponding forum identifier; and

concatenating said first part and said second part to generate said corresponding verification code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said verifying a plurality of credentials further comprises:

verifying a corresponding user profile by verifying that a corresponding verification sequence is included in said corresponding user profile with authorization from said client; and

capturing information from said corresponding user profile as a corresponding verified credential.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said verifying a plurality of credentials further comprises:

recognizing when said client is interfacing with said corresponding online forum; and

prompting said client to provide said authorization to capture information from said user profile for verification purposes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing a plurality of verification sequences, further comprises:

embedding a corresponding verification code, a corresponding forum name, and a corresponding user identifier for said corresponding online forum that is associated with said client in a URL.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating tag information known to said client with said client identifier for use in associating said client with said client identifier.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a request further comprises:

verifying said corresponding verification sequence is associated with said client identifier.

13. A method for providing online verification, comprising:

receiving a request including a unique verification sequence from a verifying entity for an online reputation of a client, said request associated with a first online forum within which said client is participating;

capturing said verification sequence;

discovering a client identifier based on said verification sequence, wherein said client identifier is associated with said client;

discovering a forum identifier associated with said first online forum based on said verification sequence; and

providing a reputation profile of said client including verified credentials of a plurality of user profiles associated with a plurality of online forums within which said client is participating without revealing user identities of said client that are associated with online forums other than said first online forum.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing an online reputation further comprises:

providing a first verified credential of a first user profile associated with said first online forum.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing a reputation profile further comprises:

providing a second verified credential of a second user profile associated with a second online forum without revealing a user identity of said client that is associated with said second online forum.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

validating said verification sequence by validating said client identifier and validating said forum identifier.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said receiving a request comprises:

receiving an HTTP request including said verification sequence.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing a reputation profile comprises:

providing corresponding longevity of verification of a corresponding user profile that is associated with a corresponding online forum.

19. A system for providing online verification, comprising:

a client manager for providing a client identifier that is unique and associated with a client;

a forum manager for providing a plurality of forum identifiers, each of which is unique, for a plurality of online forums within which said client is participating, wherein a plurality of user profiles of said client is associated with said plurality of online forums;

a code generator for providing a plurality of verification codes, each of which is unique, based on said plurality of forum identifiers and said client identifier;

a sequence generator for providing a plurality of verification sequences for purposes of verifying said plurality of user profiles of said client in said plurality of online forums, each of said plurality of verification sequences including a corresponding verification code; and

a reputation manager for verifying a plurality of credentials associated with said plurality of user profiles.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a request processor for receiving a request including a corresponding verification sequence from a verifying entity for an online reputation of said client, said request associated with a first online forum within which said client is participating; and

wherein said reputation manager provides an online reputation of said client including verified credentials of said plurality of user profiles without revealing user identities of said client that are associated with online forums other than said first online forum.