AD-HOC USER ACCOUNT CREATION

• US 20120278863A1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: WALLACE, Leland A., O'ROURKE, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,813,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]

Abstract

A mechanism that allows a user to easily configure a rules engine to apply rules to decide which requests for access to a user'"'"'s computer resources are to be granted and which are denied. A trusted token, such as a certificate of identity issued by a trusted third party authority that verifies identities of computer users, is included in a calling card object provided by the requesting user to the (server) computer that controls the resources desired by the requester. Additional conditions for access may be specified as desired by the user of the server computer.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method for a first computerized apparatus to control access to resources by a second computerized apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a resource request from the second computerized apparatus, the resource request at least comprising a trusted token from the second computerized apparatus, the trusted token containing identity data of a user of the first computerized apparatus;

determining when the request is authorized to access at least the requested resource; and

creating an ad-hoc user account configured to access the requested resource upon a determination of authorized access, the ad-hoc user account comprising at least the identity data;

wherein the ad-hoc user account creation is characterized by automatic creation in response to the resource request.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the trusted token comprises a token issued by an identity-verification authority.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the trusted token identifies the user by name.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the resource request further comprises a calling card, the calling card comprising information configurable by the user.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the user account is part of a user-account database configured to track access to the requested resource.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the resource request further comprises a calling card, and the determining comprises:

extracting information from the calling card as determined by a rules engine of the first computerized apparatus;

and applying one or more conditions of the rules engine on the extracted information as part of said determining.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein an authentication of the trusted token is performed prior to the creation of the ad-hoc user account.

30. A computerized apparatus, comprising:

a network interface;

a processor in data communication with the network interface; and

a storage apparatus in data communication with the processor, the storage apparatus having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which are configured to, when executed by the processor;

generate a data structure comprising at least a trusted token containing identity information of a user of the apparatus, the data structure generated via a rules engine configured according to one or more criteria;

establish a connection to a remote computerized apparatus using the network interface;

transmit a request via the connection to access at least one resource managed by the remote computerized apparatus, the request comprising at least the data structure; and

access the at least one resource, where the at least one resource is accessed based on an establishment of an ad-hoe user account comprising at least the identity information, the ad-hoc user account creation is characterized by automatic creation in response to the request to access the at least one resource;

wherein the transmitted data structure is configured to enable the establishment of the ad-hoc user account upon authentication of the trusted token.

31. The computerized apparatus of claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the one or more criteria of the rules engine are configurable by the user.

32. The computerized apparatus of claim 30, wherein the trusted token comprises an electronic certificate issued by an identity-verification authority.

33. The computerized apparatus of claim 32, wherein the identity-verification authority is a third-party.

34. The computerized apparatus of claim 30, wherein the generation of the data structure is triggered by a previously denied request to the at least one resource.

35. The computerized apparatus of claim 30, wherein portions of the data structure are configured to be editable by the user.

36. The computerized apparatus of claim 30, further comprising instructions configured to, when executed, cause display to the user at least one of the one or more criteria prior to the generation of the data structure.

37. A computer-readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the storage medium comprising a plurality of executable instructions configured to, when executed:

receive a resource request from a first computerized apparatus, the resource request comprising at least a user identifier and a digital certificate;

apply one or more access criteria against the request to determine an authorization to access the requested resource; and

create an ad-hoc user account to enable access to the requested resource upon a determination that the request is authorized, the ad-hoc user account containing at least the user identifier;

wherein the ad-hoc user account creation is characterized by automatic creation in response to the resource request without requiring additional user interaction.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the digital certificate comprises a token issued by a third-party entity.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein at least one of the one or more access criteria are configurable by a user.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein at least one of the one or more access criteria comprises a frequency of contact initiation condition.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the account is part of an access management database is further configured to track access to the requested resource.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein an authentication of the digital certificate is performed prior to the creation of the ad-hoc user account.