ACCESS PROVISIONING VIA COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS

• US 20090199269A1
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kunz, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,104,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

Described herein is technology for, among other things, provisioning access to shared resources. It involves various techniques for creating accounts for recipients of communications with shared resources. Further, the resources may available by an easy to find permanent location (e.g., URL). Such a provisioning process facilitates the growth of the network as recipients are given fully featured accounts. Therefore, the technology avoids the sign up process that users would otherwise have to go through in order to access the shared resource.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning access to shared resources comprising:

receiving a communication comprising a plurality of recipients and wherein said communication further comprises a shared resource to be accessed by said recipients;

verifying whether each of said recipients has an account for accessing said shared resource;

generating accounts for said recipients without an account for accessing said shared resource; and

modifying said communication corresponding to said recipients without an account for accessing said shared resource to include information for accessing said shared resource.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said communication comprises an initial password for recipients without an account.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said modifying comprises adding said initial password to said communication.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

prompting for a change of an initial password upon a recipient requesting access to said shared resource.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

flagging a communication wherein at least one of said plurality of recipients is without an account for accessing said shared resource.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a username for said generated account is based on an email address.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said generated account is a fully featured account.

8. An apparatus for facilitating access to shared resources comprising:

a communication interface module for initiating communications related to said shared resources;

a communication manager for receiving and sending communications related to said shared resources, wherein said communication manager alters communications for recipients without accounts for accessing said shared resources; and

an account manager for managing accounts for accessing said shared resources, wherein said account manager creates accounts for recipients of communications without accounts for accessing said shared resources.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said communication is an email.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said email is altered to comprise a link with login information.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said communication is an instant message.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said communication is a web log entry.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said communication is a social network communication.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said shared resource is located on a network share.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said shared resource is accessible via a web browser.

17. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

checking whether said addressees have accounts for accessing said resource as addressees are received.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said checking is invoked via an application programming interface (API).

19. The method of claim 8 wherein said communication interface is presented via a web browser.

20. The method of claim 8 wherein said resource is a service of a network or system.

16. A method in a computer system for displaying on a display device a communication interface, the method comprising:

receiving one or more addressees;

receiving a selection of a resource to be accessed by said one or more addressees; and

presenting a prompt for an initial password for access to said resource, wherein said initial password is to be used for addressees without an account to access said selected resource.