Consumer-controlled limited and constrained access to a centrally stored information account
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for providing access to consumer information comprising:
- associating consumer authentication information with an information account comprising consumer information elements stored in a data repository using a server, the server conditioning access to the information account by the consumer upon receipt and verification of the consumer authentication information by the server;
associating a temporary authorization with the information account using an authentication module running on the server;
receiving the temporary authorization from an authorized party who is not the consumer, the temporary authorization having been provided to the authorized party by the consumer, the authorized party including at least one person, business, enterprise, and entity that makes products available for or provides services to consumers;
comparing the temporary authorization to data in an authentication table associated with the information account using the authentication module in order to determine at least one of;
whether the temporary authorization is being used by the authorized party who is not the consumer, whether the temporary authorization has expired, and what level of access to the information account is associated with the temporary authorization; and
granting the authorized party a level of access to the consumer information elements in the information account by the authentication module based on the temporary authorization.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Consumer authentication information is associated with an information account stored in a central database, such that access to the information account by the consumer is conditioned upon receipt and verification of the consumer authentication information. A temporary authorization may also be associated with the information account. The temporary authorization has consumer-defined attributes that define access privileges to be granted to a person who presents the temporary authorization along with a request for further access to the information account. The temporary authorization may be transmitted to the consumer for presentation to a third-party of the consumer'"'"'s choice. Alternately, the temporary authorization may be transmitted to a designated third-party or device on behalf of the consumer.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for providing access to consumer information comprising:
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associating consumer authentication information with an information account comprising consumer information elements stored in a data repository using a server, the server conditioning access to the information account by the consumer upon receipt and verification of the consumer authentication information by the server; associating a temporary authorization with the information account using an authentication module running on the server; receiving the temporary authorization from an authorized party who is not the consumer, the temporary authorization having been provided to the authorized party by the consumer, the authorized party including at least one person, business, enterprise, and entity that makes products available for or provides services to consumers; comparing the temporary authorization to data in an authentication table associated with the information account using the authentication module in order to determine at least one of;
whether the temporary authorization is being used by the authorized party who is not the consumer, whether the temporary authorization has expired, and what level of access to the information account is associated with the temporary authorization; andgranting the authorized party a level of access to the consumer information elements in the information account by the authentication module based on the temporary authorization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the following steps:
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associating consumer authentication information with an information account comprising consumer information elements stored in a data repository using a server, the server conditioning access to the information account by the consumer upon receipt and verification of the consumer authentication information by the server; associating a temporary authorization with the information account using an authentication module running on the server; receiving the temporary authorization from an authorized party who is not the consumer, the temporary authorization having been provided to the authorized party by the consumer, the authorized party including at least one person, business, enterprise, and entity that makes products available for or provides services to consumers; comparing the temporary authorization to data in an authentication table associated with the information account using the authentication module in order to determine at least one of;
whether the temporary authorization is being used by the authorized party who is not the consumer, whether the temporary authorization has expired, and what level of access to the information account is associated with the temporary authorization; andgranting the authorized party a level of access to the consumer information elements in the information account by the authentication module based on the temporary authorization.
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9. A computer-implemented method for providing access to consumer information comprising:
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presenting to a host server a request for access by a consumer to an information account and consumer authentication information, the information account comprising consumer information elements and being stored in a central data repository that is accessible by the host server via the distributed computer network; receiving from the host server an acknowledgment that the consumer has been authenticated based on the consumer authentication information; in response to the acknowledgment, transmitting to the host server from the consumer a request for generation of a temporary authorization that defines access privileges and that is shared with an entity different than the consumer who presents the temporary authorization along with a subsequent request for access to the information account, the entity different than the consumer including at least one person, business, enterprise, and entity that makes products available for or provides services to consumers; comparing the temporary authorization to data in an authentication table associated with the information account using an authentication module in order to determine at least one of;
whether the temporary authorization is being used by an authorized party who is not the consumer, whether the temporary authorization has expired, and what level of access to the information account is associated with the temporary authorization; andgranting to the entity different than the consumer a level of access to the consumer information elements in the information account with the authentication module based on the temporary authorization. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the following steps:
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presenting to a host server a request for access by a consumer to an information account and consumer authentication information, the information account comprising consumer information elements and being stored in a central data repository that is accessible by the host sewer via the distributed computer network; receiving from the host server an acknowledgment that the consumer has been authenticated based on the consumer authentication information; in response to the acknowledgment, transmitting to the host server from the consumer a request for generation of a temporary authorization that defines access privileges and that is shared with an entity different than the consumer who presents the temporary authorization along with a subsequent request for access to the information account, the entity different than the consumer including at least one person, business, enterprise, and entity that makes products available for or provides services to consumers; comparing the temporary authorization to data in an authentication table associated with the information account using an authentication module in order to determine at least one of;
whether the temporary authorization is being used by an authorized party who is not the consumer, whether the temporary authorization has expired, and what level of access to the information account is associated with the temporary authorization; andgranting to the entity different than the consumer a level of access to the consumer information elements in the information account with the authentication module based on the temporary authorization.
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14. A computer system for providing access to consumer information comprising:
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a communication device receiving consumer authentication information, and receiving from the consumer a request for a temporary authorization and consumer-defined attributes defining access privileges that are granted to an entity different from the consumer who presents the temporary authorization along with a request for access to an information account containing consumer information elements, the entity different than the consumer including at least one person, business, enterprise, and entity that makes products available for or provides services to consumers; and a processor programmed to execute computer-executable instructions that generate the temporary authorization having attributes defined by the consumer, programmed to receive the temporary authorization, programmed to compare the temporary authorization to data in the authentication table associated with the information account in order to determine at least one of;
whether the temporary authorization is being used by the entity, whether the temporary authorization has expired, and what level of access to the information account is associated with the temporary authorization, and programmed to grant to the entity different from the consumer a level of access to the consumer information elements in the information account based on the temporary authorization if the temporary authorization is found valid by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification