Method of establishing identity validation based on an individual's ability to access multiple secure accounts

• US 8,332,322 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Idco Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Idco Ltd.
• Inventors: Varga, James Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US12/775,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 705 10- 44
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A system and methods that enables and utilizes the conversion of an individual'"'"'s ability to access multiple secure accounts to establish and validate the individual'"'"'s digital primary identity. The control for the digital primary identity validation is user-centric so that the individual controls the amount of information supplied and therefore the level of assurance achievable. The level of assurance can be added to the digital primary identity. An identity card for digital primary identity validation can be used online or in-person. Validation and level of assurance is reviewed regularly or continuously. Levels of assurance can be increased by validating primary sources of identification.

Claims

1. A method for transforming an ability to access multiple secure accounts into a validated digital primary source identity, comprising the steps of:

utilizing a computerized system comprising one or more computers each having a processor to register a plurality of access rights for multiple secure accounts, wherein the multiple secure accounts are accessible by an entity, the entity being an individual, wherein account security information is received for registering the access rights to the secure accounts;

utilizing said computerized system to verify each of the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts, wherein the account security information is validated against records stored by the providers of the multiple secure accounts;

utilizing said computerized system to aggregate the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts;

utilizing said computerized system to establish a validated digital primary source identity based on the aggregated plurality of access rights, wherein the validated digital primary source identity is at least as valid as at least one of the identities validated as a precursor to one of the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts being established; and

,

utilizing said computerized system to associate the validated digital primary source identity with the entity,

wherein the validated digital primary source identity satisfies validation requirements for future transactions between the entity and third parties;

whereby control of the identity of the entity is retained by the entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming that the validated identity belongs to the entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said validated digital primary source identity comprises a prevalidated identity for use in a future transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said secure accounts comprise online accounts.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

managing the validated digital primary source identity, wherein a level of assurance is determined based on at least one assurance factor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one assurance factor is selected from a group consisting of:

the number of the registered access rights for the multiple secure accounts;

the length of time since establishing the validated digital primary source identity;

the number of transactions involving the validated digital primary source identity;

the frequency of the transactions;

the account types of the multiple secure accounts;

financial details associated with the secure accounts;

or personal details such as name.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the validated digital primary source identity is stored as a unique token.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique token is stored on an identity card, the identity card being usable online or in-person.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity card storing the token is a virtual identity card.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity card is an information card.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the identity card is a smart card.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique token is stored in a mobile phone.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique token is stored in a computer.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique token is stored in a smart card.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique token is associated with a single sign-on device based on credentials.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a required level of assurance for a transaction, wherein the level of assurance varies based on a plurality of factors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said plurality of factors include the value of the transaction.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the third parties are the providers of the multiple secure accounts.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the third parties are entities other than the providers of the multiple secure accounts.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising regularly reviewing validation of the validated digital primary source identity.

21. The method of claim 5, further comprising reviewing the level of assurance based on the at least one assurance factor.

22. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of recalculating the level of assurance based on aggregation of the plurality of access rights.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving account security information for an additional secure account; and

verifying access rights for the additional secure account, wherein the account security information is validated against records stored by a provider of the additional secure account.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the entity for account security information in response to a requested transaction that requires a higher level of assurance.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving additional account security information;

verifying the additional account security information; and

adjusting a level of assurance rating of the validated digital primary source identity.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the additional information comprises account security information.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the additional information comprises an approval from a government authority.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the approval comprises a post office verification of an identity card.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the approval comprises an augmentation of an identity card using a computer or swipe card device.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the likelihood of the validated digital primary source identity qualifying for a plurality of future transactions based on levels of assurance; and

providing the determination via a product comparison website.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium for converting the ability to access multiple secure accounts to establish a validated digital primary source identity, comprising data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

registering a plurality of access rights for multiple secure accounts, wherein the multiple secure accounts are accessible by an entity, wherein the entity is an individual, wherein account security information is received for registering the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts;

verifying each of the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts, wherein the account security information is validated against records stored by providers of the multiple secure accounts;

aggregating the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts;

establishing a validated digital primary source identity based on the aggregated plurality of access rights, wherein the validated digital primary identity is at least as valid as at least one of the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts;

associating the validated digital primary identity with the entity; and

wherein the validated digital primary identity satisfies validation requirements for future transactions between the entity and third parties;

whereby control of the identity of the entity is retained by the entity.

32. A validated digital primary source identity system, comprising:

a processor for executing program code and memory combined with the processor for storing the program code;

a user interface for registering a plurality of access rights for multiple secure accounts, wherein the multiple secure accounts are accessible by an entity, wherein the entity is a individual, wherein account security information is received for registering the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts;

a verification module to validate the account security information against records stored by operating organizations of the multiple secure accounts;

an identity module that tracks and aggregates the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts and establishes a validated digital primary source identity based on the aggregated plurality of access rights, wherein the validated digital primary source identity is at least as valid as at least one of the plurality of access rights for the multiple secure accounts;

computer storage that associates the validated digital primary source identity with the entity;

whereby control of the identity of the entity is retained by the entity.

33. The identity system according to claim 32, wherein the computer storage comprises an ownership database.

34. The identity system according to claim 32, wherein the validated digital primary source identity satisfies validation requirements for future transactions between the entity and third parties.

35. The identity system according to claim 32, wherein the system operates in real time or near real time to confirm the identity of the entity during a transaction.