Method and system for creation and validation of anonymous digital credentials

• US 8,296,245 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kount Incorporated (Equifax, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kount Incorporated (Equifax, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barber, Timothy P., De Payne, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Laforgia, Christian
• Application Number:
  US12/245,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 705/325, 709/203, 709223-225, 713/151
• US Class Current: 705/325
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A method and system for providing an online reputation of a client participating in one or more online forums. The method includes providing a unique client identifier associated with the client. In addition, a plurality of forum identifiers is provided for a plurality of online forums within which the client is participating, wherein each online forum is associated with a corresponding user profile. A plurality of unique verification codes is provided that is based on the plurality of forum identifiers and the client identifier. A plurality of verification sequences is provided for purposes of verifying a plurality of user profiles of the client associated with the plurality of online forums, wherein each of the plurality of verification sequences includes a corresponding verification code. Verification of a plurality of credentials associated with the plurality of user profiles is performed. A request is received that includes a corresponding verification sequence from a verifying entity for an online reputation of the client. The request is made in association with a first online forum within which the client is participating. A verified credential of a user profile that is associated with a second online forum is provided without revealing a user identity of the client that is associated with the second online forum.

Claims

1. A method for providing online verification, comprising:

receiving real-world identification information for a client that participates in a plurality of online forums;

assigning a unique client identifier to the client based at least in part on the received real-world identification information;

generating, by a processor, a unique verification code associated with each forum in the plurality of online forums for the client based on the client identifier and a unique forum identifier associated with each forum;

receiving a verification request including a verification code;

determining a client identifier and a forum identifier from the verification code; and

providing a reputation report for a client associated with the client identifier in a forum associated with the forum identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the client identifier to the client comprises:

acquiring a unique tag from the client including the real-world identification information;

associating the tag with a unique client identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a verification code associated with a forum comprises:

concatenating the client identifier with the forum identifier to create a verification code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a verification code associated with a forum comprises:

concatenating the client identifier with a forum identifier as a first portion of the verification code;

generating a second portion of the verification code based on the client identifier and the forum identifier; and

concatenating the first portion and the second portion to form the verification code.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting for authorization from the client to access a user profile associated with the forum for verification.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying a user profile of the client associated with a forum with the client'"'"'s authorization; and

storing information in the user profile including public and private information to the user reputation report.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein verifying the user profile of the client associated with the forum comprises:

verifying that the verification code is included in the user profile; and

presenting public information in the user profile of the client.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a unique verification sequence associated with each forum for the client, wherein each verification sequence includes the verification code for the corresponding forum;

receiving a verification request to verify a user profile of the client associated with a first forum, the verification request containing a verification sequence associated with the first forum; and

presenting information in the user profile of the client associated with the first forum.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating a verification sequence associated with a forum comprises:

embedding in a URL, the verification code, a name of the forum, and the user identifier of the client.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

verifying that the verification code included in the received verification sequence is associated with the client identifier.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

presenting public information in a user profile of the client associated with a second forum based on the verification code included in the verification sequence.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising,

presenting public information in a plurality of user profiles of the client associated with the corresponding forums based on the verification code included in the verification sequence.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-world identification information of the client includes at least one of:

cell phone number, home phone number, and biometric data.

14. A method for providing online verification, comprising:

receiving, from a verifying entity, a verification request to verify an online reputation of a client associated with a first forum, the verification request containing a verification sequence associated with the first forum;

determining, by a processor, a client identifier associated with the client and a forum identifier associated with the first forum from the received verification sequence, wherein the client identifier being generated based at least in part on received real-world identification information of the client; and

presenting a reputation report on the client including information in the client'"'"'s user profile associated with the first forum.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the received verification request including the verification sequence is an HTTP request.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

validating the determined client identifier and forum identifier.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

presenting the reputation report on the client including public information in a user profile associated with a second forum in which the client participates based on the determined client identifier.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

presenting the reputation report on the client including public information in a plurality of user profiles associated with a plurality of forums other than the first forum in which the client participates based on the determined client identifier.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

presenting the reputation report on the client including information on the time lapse since a user profile of the client associated with a corresponding forum was first verified.

20. A system for providing online verification, comprising:

a processor;

a client manager for assigning a unique client identifier to a client that participates in a plurality of online forums, the client identifier being generated based at least in part on received real-world identification information of the client;

a code generator for generating a unique verification code associated with each forum in the plurality of online forums based on the client identifier and a unique forum identifier associated with each forum;

a request processor for receiving a verification request including a verification code;

wherein the request processor determines a client identifier and a forum identifier from the verification code; and

a reputation manager for providing a reputation report on the client associated with the client identifier in the forum associated with the forum identifier.