Cross platform social networking authentication system

• US 9,774,606 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Nathan, Sommer, Henry Joseph, Haugsnes, Andreas Seip
• Primary Examiner(s): ABYANEH, ALI S
• Application Number:
  US15/064,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20160191538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Disclosed in one example is a method of authenticating with multiple social network services. The method may include storing first authentication information associated with a user for a first social networking service using at least one computer processor, receiving second authentication information associated with the user for a second social networking service from a social networking application, and sending to the social networking application the first authentication information. The first authentication information may enable the social networking application to utilize a protected application programming interface call for the first social networking service and the second authentication information may enable the social networking application to utilize a protected application programming interface call for the second social networking service.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating with multiple network services comprising:

using one or more computer processors;

sending, over a network, a networking service application to a computing device corresponding to a user;

receiving, over the network, first authentication information associated with the user for a first networking service, the first authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated a second networking service application with the first networking service,

receiving, over the network, second authentication information associated with the user for a second networking service from the networking service application, the second authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated the networking service application with the second networking service, the second authentication information enabling the networking service application to utilize a protected application programming interface call on the second networking service; and

sending, over the network, to the networking service application the first authentication information, the first authentication information enabling the networking service application to utilize a protected application programming interface call on the first networking service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first networking service is a social networking service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first authentication information from a second networking service application, the second networking service application obtaining the first authentication information by authenticating with the first networking service, and the networking service application obtaining the second authentication information by authenticating with the second networking service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the networking service application uses the first and second authentication information to communicate with both of the first and second networking services, the communicating with the first and second networking services using different application programming interfaces.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the first and second authentication information with the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving identification information for the user along with the second authentication information, wherein the associating the first and second authentication information with the user comprises associating the first and second authentication information based upon the identification information.

7. A system for authenticating with multiple networks comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and comprising instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations to;

send, over a network, a networking service application to a computing device corresponding to a user;

receive, over the network, first authentication information associated with the user for a first networking service, the first authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated a second networking service application with the first networking service,

receive, over the network, second authentication information associated with the user for a second networking service from the networking service application, the second authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated the networking service application with the second networking service, the second authentication information enabling the networking service application to utilize a protected application programming interface call on the second networking service; and

send, over the network, to the networking service application the first authentication information, the first authentication information enabling the networking service application to utilize a protected application programming interface call on the first networking service.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first networking service is a social networking service.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first authentication information is received from a second networking service application, wherein the second networking service application obtains the first authentication information by authenticating with the first networking service, and the networking service application obtains the second authentication information by authenticating with the second networking service.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the networking service application is configured to use the first and second authentication information to communicate with both of the first and second networking services, communicating with the first and second networking services using different application programming interfaces.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to cause the system to perform operations to:

associate the first and second authentication information with the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to cause the system to perform operations to:

receive identification information for the user along with the second authentication information and associate the first and second authentication information with the user based upon the identification information.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the second authentication information is indicative of an authorization by the user to allow the networking service application access to one of functions and data of the second networking service.

14. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium that stores instructions, which when performed by a machine, causes the machine to perform operations comprising:

sending, over a network, a networking service application to a computing device corresponding to a user;

receiving, over the network, first authentication information associated with the user for a first networking service, the first authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated a second networking service application with the first networking service,

receiving, over the network, second authentication information associated with the user for a second networking service from the networking service application, the second authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated the networking service application with the second networking service, the second authentication information enabling the networking service application to utilize a protected application programming interface call on the second networking service; and

sending, over the network, to the networking service application the first authentication information, the first authentication information enabling the networking service application to utilize a protected application programming interface call on the first networking service.

15. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the first networking service is a social networking service.

16. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first authentication information is received from a second networking service application, the second networking service application obtaining the first authentication information by authenticating with the first networking service, and the networking service application obtaining the second authentication information by authenticating with the second networking service.

17. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the networking service application uses the first and second authentication information to communicate with both of the first and second networking services, communicating with the first and second networking services using different application programming interfaces.

18. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the operations comprise:

associating the first and second authentication information with the user.

19. The machine readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving identification information for the user along with the second authentication information and associating the first and second authentication information with the user comprises associating the first and second authentication information based upon the identification information.

20. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the second authentication information is indicative of an authorization by the user to allow the networking service application access to one of functions and data of the second networking service.