System, method and program product for managing user account information

• US 7,496,760 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hewitt, Jonathan J., Galineau, Sylvain P., Banks-Binici, John, Wissmann, Joseph T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise; Emmanuel L
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLAHAN, PAUL E
• Application Number:
  US10/350,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: 713/155, 713/170, 713/182, 713/161, 705/64, 705/77, 705/26, 705/67, 726/2, 726/4
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

Under the present invention, a central system in communication with a central directory is provided. The central system also communicates with one or more ancillary systems that each communicate with an ancillary storage unit. User account information is initially stored in the central directory according to unique identifiers. When a triggering event occurs (e.g., when he/she attempts to access an ancillary system, or when he/she is listed as an intended recipient of an electronic mailing message), the user'"'"'s account information will be located within the central directory according to his/her unique identifier. Upon location, the account information is automatically communicated to the appropriate ancillary storage unit. Thus, the present invention provides “just in-time” synchronization of account information between the central directory and the ancillary storage unit.

Claims

1. A system for managing user account information, comprising:

an ancillary system in communication with an ancillary storage unit, wherein the ancillary storage unit is not a web browser;

a central system in communication with a central directory, wherein the central directory stores account information for authorized users of the ancillary system; and

an account system for identifying an entry within the central directory corresponding to a particular authorized user of the ancillary system, and for automatically communicating account information corresponding to the particular authorized user from the central directory to the ancillary storage unit upon identification of the entry, wherein the account system identifies the entry in the central directory pursuant to an authentication of the particular authorized user, and wherein the particular authorized user is authenticated upon an attempt to log-in to the ancillary system, wherein the authentication is selected from the group consisting of POP3 authentication and IMAP authentication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the entry includes a unique identifier corresponding to the particular authorized user, and wherein the account information corresponding to the particular authorized user is identified in the central directory based on the unique identifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ancillary storage unit is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic disk drive and optical disk drive.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the ancillary system is selected from the group consisting of electronic mailing system, payroll management system, and sales management system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the account system identifies the entry in the central directory pursuant to a transmission of an electronic mail message to the particular authorized user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the account system comprises:

a reference system for identifying the entry based on the particular authorized user;

an access system for locating the account information corresponding to the particular authorized user within the central directory based on a unique identifier within the entry; and

a synchronization system for communicating the account information corresponding to the particular authorized user from the central directory to the ancillary storage unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the account system further comprises an administrator system for administering the account information in the central directory.

8. A program product stored on a computer readable storage medium for managing user account information, which when executed, comprises:

program code for identifying an entry in a central directory that corresponds to an authorized user of an ancillary system, wherein the ancillary system communicates with an ancillary storage unit, wherein the ancillary storage unit is not a web browser;

program code for locating account information corresponding to the authorized user within a central directory based on a unique identifier in the entry, wherein the entry is identified pursuant to an authentication of the authorized user, wherein the authorized user is authenticated upon an attempt to log-in to the ancillary system, wherein the authentication is selected from the group consisting of a POP3 authentication and a IMAP authentication; and

program code for communicating the account information corresponding to the user from the central directory to the ancillary storage unit.

9. The program product of claim 8, further comprising program code for administering account information in the central directory.

10. The program product of claim 8, wherein the ancillary storage unit is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic disk drive and optical disk drive.

11. The program product of claim 8, wherein the ancillary system is selected from the group consisting of an electronic mailing system, payroll management system, and sales management system.

12. The program product of claim 8, wherein the account information corresponding to the authorized user is located in the central directory based on a unique identifier.

13. The program product of claim 8, wherein the account information corresponding to the new user is automatically communicated from the central directory to the ancillary storage unit upon identification of the entry.

14. The program product of claim 8, wherein the program product is loaded on a central system that communicates with the central directory.