Privacy protection through restrictions on usernames and other online identifiers
First Claim
1. A computerized method for use by an online service provider to help maintain the privacy of offline identities of online users, the method comprising:
- a computer system testing a proposed online identifier which is a username or an avatar, by comparing at least a portion of said proposed online identifier'"'"'s content to a set of personal identification information tokens; and
the computer system accepting the proposed online identifier, which satisfies a predetermined privacy criterion, the privacy criterion being defined in terms of matches to personal identification information tokens to prevent said proposed online identifier from disclosing information about the online user'"'"'s offline identity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Restrictions are placed on the content of usernames and other online identifiers to help maintain the privacy of offline identities of online users. A proposed username is tested by comparing at least a portion of its content to a set of personal identification information tokens that reflect aspects of an offline identity. The username is accepted if it satisfies a predetermined privacy criterion, which is defined in terms of matches to the personal identification information tokens. The user may receive questions regarding a proposed username and its relation, if any, to the online user'"'"'s offline identity. Answers to the questions can be used to create personal identification information tokens which are compared to the proposed username.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computerized method for use by an online service provider to help maintain the privacy of offline identities of online users, the method comprising:
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a computer system testing a proposed online identifier which is a username or an avatar, by comparing at least a portion of said proposed online identifier'"'"'s content to a set of personal identification information tokens; and the computer system accepting the proposed online identifier, which satisfies a predetermined privacy criterion, the privacy criterion being defined in terms of matches to personal identification information tokens to prevent said proposed online identifier from disclosing information about the online user'"'"'s offline identity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computerized method which reduces the risk that an online identifier will disclose information about an online user'"'"'s offline identity, the method comprising:
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a computer system receiving electronically a question regarding a proposed online identifier, which is a username or an avatar, said question causing an inquiry whether at least a portion of said proposed online identifier'"'"'s content coincides with a set of the online user'"'"'s offline identity; and the computer system answering the question to help maintain the privacy of offline identities of online users. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification