Method and system for authenticating users when conducting commercial transactions using a computer
First Claim
1. A method in an auction system comprising a server computer for bidding on an item being auctioned in a designated auction, the method comprising:
- receiving from a client computer a submit bid request including a designated bid amount for a bid for the item and including information identifying the client computer;
determining by the server computer accessing a field in a user database that stores a setting whether automatic authentication has been previously enabled or disabled by a user associated with the information identifying the client computer;
in response to a determination that automatic authentication is enabled for the user;
automatically authenticating the user; and
placing the bid on behalf of the user; and
in response to a determination that automatic authentication is not enabled for the user;
determining whether the designated bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction;
in response to a determination that the bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction, manually authenticating the user; and
placing the bid on behalf of the user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for authenticating users while conducting an auction via a computer system. The system can automatically authenticate users who have previously registered with the auction system and who have enabled automatic authentication. When a user is registered, the system may store authentication information in a cookie on the user'"'"'s computer. When the user decides to perform a transaction (e.g., list item auction or place a bid for an item) that requires authentication, the system retrieves the stored authentication information. If automatic authentication is enabled, then the system allows the transaction to proceed without manual authentication. If, however, automatic authentication is not enabled or the system does not recognize the stored authentication information, then the system requests manual authentication. The use of automatic authentication allows a user to enter information relating to a transaction without manually entering any identification information. The system also defers manual authentication until a transaction is ready to proceed.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method in an auction system comprising a server computer for bidding on an item being auctioned in a designated auction, the method comprising:
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receiving from a client computer a submit bid request including a designated bid amount for a bid for the item and including information identifying the client computer; determining by the server computer accessing a field in a user database that stores a setting whether automatic authentication has been previously enabled or disabled by a user associated with the information identifying the client computer; in response to a determination that automatic authentication is enabled for the user; automatically authenticating the user; and placing the bid on behalf of the user; and in response to a determination that automatic authentication is not enabled for the user; determining whether the designated bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction; in response to a determination that the bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction, manually authenticating the user; and placing the bid on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 36)
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13. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable program code comprising instructions for controlling a computer system to place a bid on an item being auctioned in a designated auction, the instructions comprising:
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receiving from a client computer a submit bid request including a designated bid amount for a bid for the item and including information identifying the client computer; determining by the server computer accessing a field in a user database that stores a setting whether automatic authentication has been previously enabled or disabled by a user associated with the information identifying the client computer; in response to a determination that automatic authentication is enabled for the user, automatically authenticating the user; in response to a determination that automatic authentication is not enabled for the user; determining whether the designated bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction; in response to a determination that the bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction, manually authenticating the user; and after automatically or manually authenticating the user, placing the bid on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method in an auction system comprising a server computer for bidding on an item being auctioned in a designated auction, the method comprising:
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receiving from a client computer a submit bid request including a designated bid amount for a bid for the item and including information identifying the client computer; determining by the server computer accessing a field in a user database that stores a setting whether automatic authentication has been previously enabled or disabled by a user associated with the information identifying the client computer; in response to a determination that automatic authentication is enabled for the user; automatically authenticating the user; and placing the bid on behalf of the user; and in response to a determination that automatic authentication is not enabled for the user; determining whether the designated bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction; in response to a determination that the bid amount is acceptable for the designated auction, manually authenticating the user, comprising; sending a request to client computer to provide authentication information; receiving the authentication information provided by the client computer; determining whether the user associated with the information identifying the client computer can be authenticated based on the received authentication information; and placing the bid on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification