Method and system for receiving and providing access to information at a web site

• US 7,779,125 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Wyngarden, Amy Van
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET D
• Application Number:
  US12/110,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/227, 709/229, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer

Abstract

At a vendor-managed web site, purchasing information is received from a first terminal, including purchasing information that is customized for a customer. The customer includes first and second users having respective first and second levels of authorized access to the purchasing information. The first user is identified by a first identifier, and the second user is identified by a second identifier. To a second terminal, access at the vendor-managed web site is provided to: only a first portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the first identifier from the second terminal which identifies the first user; and at least a second portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the second identifier from the second terminal which identifies the second user. The second portion includes at least a part of the first portion and a third portion of the purchasing information. The part of the first portion includes at least a portion of the customized purchasing information.

Claims

1. An Internet information device comprising;

a web site;

a first user intranet point coupled for periodically providing multi-level managed information to the web site;

said web site having customized managed information for a user organization having a plurality of users;

a second user Internet point coupled for designating multi-level user access to the managed information amongst the plurality of users such that a first selected user ID and user password provides user access to a first set of the customized managed information, and a second selected user ID and user password provides user access to a second set of the customized managed information, which second set is more limited than said first set; and

said first set and second set of customized managed information being displayed at respective web pages accessible at Internet addresses, not purposefully made available for discovery, by the plurality of users at said second user Internet point provided with at least one of said first selected user ID and user password and said second selected user ID and user password.

2. An Internet information method comprising:

providing a web site including customized managed information for a user organization having a plurality of users;

periodically providing multi-level managed information to the web site from a first user intranet point; and

coupling second user Internet points for designating multi-level user access to the managed information amongst the plurality of users such that a first selected user ID and user password provides user access to a first set of the customized managed information, and a second selected user ID and user password provides user access to a second set of the customized managed information, which second set is more limited than the first set, wherein said first set and second set of customized managed information are displayed at respective web pages accessible at Internet addresses, not purposefully made available for discovery, by the plurality of users at said second user Internet points provided at least one of said first selected user ID and user password and said second selected user ID and user password.

3. An Internet information system comprising:

a vendor intranet point including an information handling system (IHS) coupled for periodically providing multi-level managed information to a web site;

said web site including customized managed information for a user organization having a plurality of users;

buyer Internet points, each including an IHS, coupled for designating multi-level user access to the managed information amongst the plurality of users such that a first selected user ID an user password provides user access to a first set of the customized managed information, and a second selected user ID and user password provides user access to a second set of the customized managed information, which second set is more limited than said first set; and

said first set and second set of customized managed information being displayed at respective web pages accessible at Internet addresses, not purposefully made available for discovery, by the plurality of users at said buyer Internet points provided with at least one of said first selected user ID and user password and said second selected user ID and user password.

4. An Internet information method comprising:

providing a web site;

coupling a first user intranet point for periodically providing multi-level managed information to the web site;

including, at said web site, customized managed information for a user organization having a plurality of users;

coupling a second user Internet point for designating multi-level user access to the managed information amongst the plurality of users such that a first selected user ID and user password provides user access to a first set of the customized managed information, and a second selected user ID and user password provides user access to a second set of the customized managed information, which second set is more limited than said first set; and

displaying said first set and second set of customized managed information at respective web pages accessible at Internet addresses, not purposefully made available for discovery, by the plurality of users at said second user Internet point provided with at least one of said first selected user ID and user password and said second selected user ID and user password.

5. An Internet information method comprising:

including, at a vendor intranet point, an information handling system (IHS) coupled for periodically providing multi-level managed information to a web site;

including, at said web site, customized managed information for a user organization having a plurality of users;

coupling buyer Internet points, each including an IHS, for designating multi-level user access to the managed information amongst the plurality of users such that a first selected user ID an user password provides user access to a first set of the customized managed information, and a second selected user ID and user password provides user access to a second set of the customized managed information, which second set is more limited than said first set; and

displaying said first set and second set of customized managed information at respective web pages accessible at Internet addresses, not purposefully made available for discovery, by the plurality of users at said buyer Internet points provided with at least one of said first selected user ID and user password and said second selected user ID and user password.

6. An information access system, comprising:

a first user intranet point coupled to a website, the first user intranet point for providing multi-level managed information to the website, wherein the multi-level managed information comprises customized information for a user organization having a plurality of users; and

a second user Internet point coupled to the website, the second user Internet point for designating multi-level access amongst the plurality of users to the customized information, wherein first access information provides access to a first set of the customized information, and second access information provides access to a second set of the customized information that is limited relative to the first set of the customized information;

wherein the first set of the customized information is made available, through at least one web page at the web site, to the plurality of users providing the first access information through the second user Internet point;

wherein the second set of the customized information is made available, through at least one web page at the web site, to the plurality of users providing the second access information through the second user Internet point; and

wherein the web pages are associated with Internet addresses that are not purposefully made available for discovery through a web search or otherwise.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first access information comprises a first site user identification and a first site user password.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second access information comprises a second site user identification and a second site user password.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the first user intranet point periodically provides the multi-level managed information to the website.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first user intranet point brings up to date the multi-level managed information as new multi-level managed information becomes available.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the site users comprise part of an organization, and the website comprises a indicator of the organization.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the website comprises contact information for the site users.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the website comprises pricing information.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the website comprises order status information.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the website comprises store information.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the website is operable to receive a system identifier from the second user Internet point.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the website generates a service code in response to receiving the system identifier.

18. The system of claim 6, wherein the website comprises a file library.

19. The system of claim 6, wherein the website comprises a purchasing report.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the purchasing report comprises an order status and delivery report.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the purchasing report comprises an order detail by enterprise report.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the purchasing report comprises a summary by enterprise report.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the purchasing report comprises summary by location report.

24. The system of claim 6, wherein the second set of customized information comprises the first set of customized information and additional customized information not included with the first set of customized information.

25. The system of claim 6, wherein the website comprises a nondisclosure agreement.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the nondisclosure agreement is presented to a site user terminal that comprises the second user Internet point in response to detecting an initial access of the website through the site user terminal.

27. The system of claim 6, wherein the second user Internet point is operable to submit purchasing information through the website.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first user intranet point is operable to receive the purchasing information and incorporate the purchasing information into the multi-level managed information.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the first user intranet point is operable to receive the purchasing information and incorporate the purchasing information into the customized information.

30. A method for providing information access, comprising:

providing, from a first user intranet point, multi-level managed information to a website that that is operable to include at least one web page associated with an Internet address that is not purposely made available for discovery through a web search or otherwise, the multi-level managed information comprising customized information for a user organization having a plurality of users;

designating, from a second user Internet point, access for at least one of the plurality of users to a first set of the customized information on the at least one web page in response to receiving first access information; and

designating, from the second user Internet point, access for at least one of the plurality of users to a second set of the customized information on the at least one web page in response to receiving second access information, wherein the second set of the customized information is limited relative to the first set of the customized information.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the providing multi-level managed information comprises periodically updating the multi-level managed information on the website.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the providing multi-level managed information comprises updating the multi-level managed information as new multi-level managed information becomes available.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the receiving first access information comprises receiving a first site user identification and a first site user password.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the receiving second access information comprises receiving a second site user identification and a second site user password.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing contact information for at least one of the plurality of site users on the website.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing pricing information on the website.

37. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing order status information on the website.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing store information on the website.

39. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving at least one system identifier through the website.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

generating at least one service code in response to receiving the at least one system identifier.

41. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing access to a file library through the website.

42. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing a purchasing report on the website.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the purchasing report comprises an order status and delivery report.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the purchasing report comprises an order detail by enterprise report.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the purchasing report comprises a summary by enterprise report.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the purchasing report comprises a summary by location report.

47. The method of claim 30, wherein the second set of customized information comprises the first set of customized information and additional customized information not included with the first set of customized information.

48. The method of claim 30, wherein the Internet addresses comprise unlisted universal resource locators.

49. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing a non-disclosure agreement to at least one of the site users through the website.

50. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

presenting a nondisclosure agreement through the website in response to detecting an initial access of the website through a site user terminal.

51. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving purchasing information.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

incorporating the purchasing information into the multi-level managed information.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

incorporating the purchasing information into the customized information.

54. A multi-level access website, comprising:

at least one site provider terminal that is coupled to at least one server through an intranet connection and that provides multi-level managed information to a website on the at least one server, wherein the multi-level managed information comprises customized information for a user organization having a plurality of users that is available at a secure area at the website; and

a managed access area at the website, the managed access area for providing multi-level access to the secure area, wherein at least one user terminal is coupled to the at least one server for designating multi-level user access amongst the plurality of users to the managed access area such that first access information provides access to a first set of the customized information, and second access information provides access to a second set of the customized information that is limited relative to the first set of the customized information;

wherein the first set of the customized information is made available, through at least one web page at the website, in response to the at least one server receiving the first access information through an Internet connection;

wherein the second set of the customized information is made available, through at least one web page at the website, in response to the at least one server receiving the second access information through an Internet connection; and

wherein the web pages are associated with Internet addresses that are not purposefully made available for discovery through a web search or otherwise.

55. The website of claim 54, wherein the first access information comprises a first identification and a first password.

56. The website of claim 54, wherein the second access information comprises a second identification and a second password.

57. The website of claim 54, wherein the at least one site provider terminal periodically provides the multi-level managed information to the website.

58. The website of claim 54, wherein the at least one site provider terminal brings up to date the multi-level managed information as new multi-level managed information becomes available.

59. The website of claim 54, wherein the website comprises contact information for users of the customized information.

60. The website of claim 54, wherein the website comprises pricing information.

61. The website of claim 54, wherein the website comprises order status information.

62. The website of claim 54, wherein the website comprises store information.

63. The website of claim 54, wherein the website is operable to receive a system identifier.

64. The website of claim 63, wherein the website generates a service code in response to receiving the system identifier.

65. The website of claim 54, wherein the website comprises a file library.

66. The website of claim 54, wherein the website comprises a purchasing report.

67. The website of claim 54, wherein the second set of customized information comprises the first set of customized information and additional customized information not included with the first set of customized information.

68. The website of claim 54, wherein the website comprises a nondisclosure agreement.

69. The website of claim 54, wherein the at least one site provider terminal is operable to receive purchasing information through the Internet connection.

70. The website of claim 69, wherein the at least one site provider terminal is operable to incorporate the purchasing information into the multi-level managed information.

71. The website of claim 69, wherein the at least one site provider terminal is operable to incorporate the purchasing information into the customized information.

72. A method for providing a multi-level access website, comprising:

receiving, from a first user point through an intranet connection, multi-level managed information at a website that that is operable to include at least one web page associated with an Internet address that is not purposely made available for discovery through a web search or otherwise, the multi-level managed information comprising customized information for a user organization having a plurality of users, wherein multi-level user access to the multi-level managed information is designated amongst the plurality of users at a second user point;

receiving, from the second user point through an Internet connection, first access information and, in response to receiving the first access information, making available, through the Internet connection, a first set of the customized information on the at least one web page; and

receiving, from the second user point through an Internet connection, second access information and, in response to receiving the second access information, making available, through the Internet connection, a second set of the customized information on the at least one web page, wherein the second set of the customized information is limited relative to the first set of the customized information.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the receiving multi-level managed information comprises periodically receiving the multi-level managed information on the website.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the receiving multi-level managed information comprises receiving the multi-level managed information as new multi-level managed information becomes available.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein the receiving first access information comprises receiving a first site user identification and a first site user password.

76. The method of claim 72, wherein the receiving second access information comprises receiving a second site user identification and a second site user password.

77. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

receiving, through the Internet connection, at least one system identifier.

78. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

generating at least one service code in response to receiving the at least one system identifier.

79. The method of claim 72, wherein the second set of customized information comprises the first set of customized information and additional customized information not included with the first set of customized information.

80. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

displaying a nondisclosure agreement on the website in response to detecting an initial access of the website by a site user terminal.

81. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

receiving, through an Internet connection, purchasing information.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

displaying the purchasing information as part of the first set of customized information.

83. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

displaying the purchasing information as part of the second set of customized information.

84. A method for obtaining access to a multi-level access website, comprising:

receiving, at a first user Internet point, first access information and second access information;

designating, at the first user Internet point, at least one site user for using the first access information and at least one site user for using the second access information;

accessing, from the first user Internet point, at least one web page associated with Internet addresses that are not purposely made available for discovery through a web search or otherwise, the at least one web page comprising customized information for user organization that includes the site users and that is provided from a second user intranet point;

obtaining a first set of the customized information, by the at least one site user on the at least one web page, in response to providing the first access information; and

obtaining a second set of the customized information, by the at least one site user on the at least one web page, in response to providing the second access information, wherein the second set of the customized information is limited relative to the first set of the customized information.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the customized information is periodically updated.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein the customized information is updated as new customized information becomes available.

87. The method of claim 84, wherein the first access information comprises a first identification and a first password.

88. The method of claim 84, wherein the second access information comprises a second identification and a second password.

89. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

providing at least one system identifier to at least one of the web pages.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

receiving at least one service code in response to providing the at least one system identifier.

91. The method of claim 84, wherein the second set of customized information comprises the first set of customized information and additional customized information not included with the first set of customized information.

92. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

obtaining a nondisclosure agreement in response to initially accessing at least one of the web pages using a site user terminal.

93. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

providing purchasing information.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the first set of customized information comprises the purchasing information.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein the second set of customized information comprises the purchasing information.

96. A method for managing customized information, comprising:

accessing, from a first user point through the Internet, at least one web page associated with an Internet address that is not purposely made available for discovery through a web search or otherwise, the at least one web page comprising customized information that is provided from a second user point and that includes purchase orders for a user organization that includes a plurality of users;

designating, from the first user point, multi-level access to the customized information by providing a first of the plurality of users first access information and providing a second of the plurality of users second access information;

providing, from the first user point, the first access information to access, through the Internet, a first set of the customized information on the at least one web page;

providing, from the first user point, the second access information to access, through the Internet, a second set of the customized information on the at least one web page, wherein the second set of the customized information is limited relative to the first set of the customized information; and

placing, from the first user point through the Internet, at least one purchase order after accessing the at least one web page.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the customized information is periodically updated.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the customized information is updated as new customized information becomes available.

99. The method of claim 96, wherein the first access information comprises a first identification and a first password.

100. The method of claim 96, wherein the second access information comprises a second identification and a second password.

101. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

providing at least one system identifier to at least one of the web pages.

102. The method of claim 101, further comprising:

receiving at least one service code in response to providing the at least one system identifier.

103. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

wherein the customized information related to the at least one purchase order comprises a purchasing report.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the purchasing report comprises an order status and delivery report.

105. The method of claim 103, wherein the purchasing report comprises an order detail by enterprise report.

106. The method of claim 103, wherein the purchasing report comprises a summary by enterprise report.

107. The method of claim 103, wherein the purchasing report comprises a summary by location report.

108. The method of claim 96, wherein the second set of customized information comprises the first set of customized information and additional customized information not included with the first set of customized information.

109. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

obtaining a nondisclosure agreement through the web pages in response to initially accessing at least one of the web pages using a site user terminal.