Method and system for using social networks to verify entity affiliations and identities
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, in a computing device, a request from a user purporting to act on behalf of an entity;
receiving, in the computing device from the user, login credentials of an account of the entity on one of one or more online communication sites;
obtaining, by the computing device using the login credentials and from one or more online communication sites, social data identifying a plurality of social connections between the entity and a plurality of respective third parties;
identifying, by the computing device, at least a subset of the social connections, wherein each third party in the subset of the social connections has a reliability rating;
determining, by the computing device, a reliability rating of the entity based on the subset of the social connections to third parties having reliability ratings in the plurality of social connections of the entity; and
determining, by the computing device, whether or not to accept the request based on the reliability rating of the entity.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Login credentials for at least one website, such as a social networking website, are received from a user purporting to act on behalf of an entity, for example, in the context of registering the entity with a system for electronic bill payment. Social data relating to the entity is retrieved from the websites using the login credentials. The social data comprises a plurality of social connections, each reflecting a respective relationship between the entity and a respective third party. A plurality of relevant social connections comprising at least a subset of the plurality of social connections is determined, each social connection of the plurality of relevant social connections reflecting a relationship to a respective third party that is deemed to be reliable. A reliability rating of the entity is then determined based on the plurality of relevant social connections.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, in a computing device, a request from a user purporting to act on behalf of an entity; receiving, in the computing device from the user, login credentials of an account of the entity on one of one or more online communication sites; obtaining, by the computing device using the login credentials and from one or more online communication sites, social data identifying a plurality of social connections between the entity and a plurality of respective third parties; identifying, by the computing device, at least a subset of the social connections, wherein each third party in the subset of the social connections has a reliability rating; determining, by the computing device, a reliability rating of the entity based on the subset of the social connections to third parties having reliability ratings in the plurality of social connections of the entity; and determining, by the computing device, whether or not to accept the request based on the reliability rating of the entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable storage media storing thereon computer readable instructions configured to instruct a computing device to at least:
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receive, in the computing device, a request from a user purporting to act on behalf of an entity; receive, in the computing device from the user, login credentials of an account of the entity on one of one or more online communication sites; obtain, by the computing device using the login credentials and from one or more online communication sites, social data identifying a plurality of social connections between the entity and a plurality of respective third parties; identify, by the computing device, at least a subset of the social connections, wherein each third party in the subset of the social connections has a reliability rating; determine, by the computing device, a reliability rating of the entity based on the subset of the social connections to third parties having reliability ratings in the plurality of social connections of the entity; and determine, by the computing device, whether or not to accept the request based on the reliability rating of the entity.
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18. A computing device, comprising:
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at least one processor; and memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to; receive, in the computing device, a request from a user purporting to act on behalf of an entity; receive, in the computing device from the user, login credentials of an account of the entity on one of one or more online communication sites; obtain, by the computing device using the login credentials and from one or more online communication sites, social data identifying a plurality of social connections between the entity and a plurality of respective third parties; identify, by the computing device, at least a subset of the social connections, wherein each third party in the subset of the social connections has a reliability rating; determine, by the computing device, a reliability rating of the entity based on the subset of the social connections to third parties having reliability ratings in the plurality of social connections of the entity; and determine, by the computing device, whether or not to accept the request based on the reliability rating of the entity.
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Specification