Systems and methods for verifying attributes of users of online systems

• US 10,212,148 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matthew Rappaport
• Original Assignee: MBR Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Rappaport, Matthew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Teng, Louis C
• Application Number:
  US15/987,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20180337908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

For sharing of information in a virtual or online environment, methods and systems are provided which enable verifying attributes of an individual. An individual registered for participation in a virtual or online environment may provide evidence of the attributes from a verification source that exists outside the virtual or online environment. An administrator associated with the virtual or online environment verifies the attributes by receipt of the evidence. Alternatively, the attribute for the individual may be verified after receipt of one or more signals indicating individuals registered for participation in the virtual or online environment have corroborated the attributes. A verification indication for an attribute may be shared with other individuals in the virtual or online environment.

Claims

1. A system that enables sharing of information in an online environment, comprising:

a plurality of user computers, wherein each of the plurality of user computers comprise a display, a wireless network interface, random access memory, nonvolatile memory, one or more processors, and computer programs, wherein each of the plurality of user computers exists as part of the online environment, wherein the online environment exists on one or more computers, wherein the one or more computers of the online environment includes the plurality of user computers and wherein the one or more computers of the online environment also includes one or more computers that are not included in the plurality of user computers, wherein at least one of the computers of the online environment that is not included in the plurality of user computers is a server computer, wherein the one or more computers of the online environment that are not included in the plurality of user computers include one or more merchant computers, wherein each of the one or more merchant computers is associated with one or more merchants, and wherein the one or more computers of the online environment are together configured to

register a user for participation in the online environment, wherein the user registered for participation in the online environment is associated with a user computer that is one of the plurality of user computers, wherein the online environment permits transactions within the online environment between the user and a plurality of merchants;

receive at one or more server computers a credit card attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified, wherein the credit card attribute value comprises a credit card number and other information pertaining to the credit card of the user, wherein the credit card attribute value of the user is received from the user computer that is associated with the user, and wherein the credit card attribute value is encrypted by the user computer;

receive at the one or more server computers a name attribute value that pertains to the user'"'"'s name, wherein the name attribute value is received from the user computer, and wherein the name attribute value is encrypted by the user computer;

send from the one or more server computers the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value that is authorized to be verified and the user'"'"'s name attribute value to one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user, wherein none of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user are the user for whom the credit card attribute value is to be verified, wherein none of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user are a user computer, wherein the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value and name attribute value are encrypted by the one or more server computers prior to being sent to the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user, and wherein each of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user performs verification of the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value in an automated fashion without human intervention;

receive at the one or more server computers a verification related to the credit card attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified and related to the evidence of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user, wherein the verification related to the credit card attribute value of the user is received from the one or more verification sources;

send from the one or more server computers to the user computer the verification related to the credit card attribute value, wherein the verification related to the credit card attribute value comprises virtual payment information;

send from the user computer to a merchant computer the virtual payment attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified, wherein the virtual payment attribute value comprises the virtual payment information, wherein the virtual payment attribute value is sent from the user computer to the merchant computer through a wireless connection in the form of an electromagnetic signal, and wherein the virtual payment attribute value of the user is sent only after the user provides authentication information in the form of one or more of fingerprint identification information, facial recognition information, iris recognition information, retina recognition information, and a password;

send the user'"'"'s virtual payment attribute value that is authorized to be verified from the merchant computer to one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user is not the user for whom the virtual payment attribute value is to be verified and is not a user computer;

receive at the merchant computer a verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user, wherein the verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user is received from the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user; and

receive at the user computer the verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user;

where the verification related to the virtual payment attribute of the user is received from the merchant computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user computer is a mobile phone associated with the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user is a banking entity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user is a banking entity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user and the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user are the same verification sources.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user and the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user are a same banking entity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user and the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user are different verification sources.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user is a single verification source and the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user is a single verification source.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user utilize a database that contains evidence pertaining to the user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user utilize a private database that contains evidence pertaining to the user.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user utilize a public database that contains evidence pertaining to the user.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more server computers determine the appropriate verification source to send the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value for authorization.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the user computer provides to the one or more server computers a location attribute value that comprises location information pertaining to the user;

and wherein the one or more server computers send the location attribute value to the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein information pertaining to the verification that is related to the credit card attribute value is stored in nonvolatile memory on the user computer.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein information pertaining to the verification related to the credit card attribute value is stored in nonvolatile memory on the user computer for use as a token based identifier in transactions with one or more merchants.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the user computer is configured to receive information pertaining to the user'"'"'s credit card number through the use of a camera.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is a customer of the merchant associated with the merchant computer, and wherein the user and the merchant associated with the merchant computer engage in a transaction through the use of the online environment.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein upon or after the user computer receives the verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user, the user computer displays an indication that the virtual payment attribute has been verified.

19. A system that enables sharing of information in an online environment, comprising:

a plurality of user computers, wherein each of the plurality of user computers comprise a display, a wireless network interface, random access memory, nonvolatile memory, one or more processors, and computer programs, wherein each of the plurality of user computers exists as part of the online environment, wherein the online environment exists on one or more computers, wherein the one or more computers of the online environment includes the plurality of user computers and wherein the one or more computers of the online environment also includes one or more computers that are not included in the plurality of user computers, wherein at least one of the computers of the online environment that are not included in the plurality of user computers is a server computer, wherein the one or more computers of the online environment that are not included in the plurality of user computers include one or more merchant computers, wherein each of the one or more merchant computers is associated with one or more merchants, and wherein the one or more computers of the online environment are together configured to

register a user for participation in the online environment, wherein the user registered for participation in the online environment is associated with a user computer that is one of the plurality of user computers, wherein the online environment permits transactions within the online environment between the user and one or more merchants;

receive at a server computer a credit card attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified, wherein the credit card attribute value comprises a credit card number and other information pertaining to the credit card of the user, wherein the credit card attribute value of the user is received from the user computer associated with the user, and wherein the credit card attribute value is encrypted by the user computer;

receive at the server computer that received the credit card attribute value of the user a name attribute value that pertains to the user'"'"'s name, wherein the name attribute value is received from the user computer, and wherein the name attribute value is encrypted by the user computer;

send from a server computer the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value that is authorized to be verified and the user'"'"'s name attribute value to one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user, wherein none of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user are the user for whom the credit card attribute value is to be verified, wherein none of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user are a user computer, wherein the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value and name attribute value are encrypted by a server computer prior to being sent to the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user, and wherein each of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user performs verification of the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value in an automated fashion without human intervention;

receive at a server computer a verification related to the credit card attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified and related to the evidence of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user, wherein the verification related to the credit card attribute value of the user is received from the one or more verification sources;

send from a server computer to the user computer the verification related to the credit card attribute value, wherein the verification related to the credit card attribute value comprises virtual payment information;

send from the user computer to a server computer the virtual payment attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified, wherein the virtual payment attribute value comprises the virtual payment information, and wherein the virtual payment attribute value of the user is sent only after the user inputs authentication information on the user computer as part of a transaction within an application, and wherein the authentication information is in the form of one or more of fingerprint identification information, facial recognition information, iris recognition information, retina recognition information, and a password;

receive at the user computer encrypted information comprising the virtual payment information and other information, wherein the encrypted information comprising the virtual payment information and other information is received from a server computer;

send the user'"'"'s virtual payment attribute value that is authorized to be verified from the user computer to one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user is not the user for whom the virtual payment attribute value is to be verified and is not a user computer; and

receive at the user computer a verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user, wherein the verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user is received from the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the user computer is a mobile phone associated with the user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the user computer is tablet computer associated with the user.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the user computer is not a mobile phone and is not a tablet computer.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user includes a merchant computer.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user includes a third-party computer associated with a merchant.

25. A system that enables sharing of information in an online environment, comprising:

a plurality of user computers, wherein each of the plurality of user computers comprise a display, a wireless network interface, random access memory, nonvolatile memory, one or more processors, and computer programs, wherein each of the plurality of user computers exists as part of the online environment, wherein the online environment exists on one or more computers, wherein the one or more computers of the online environment includes the plurality of user computers and wherein the one or more computers of the online environment also includes one or more computers that are not included in the plurality of user computers, wherein at least one or more of the computers of the online environment that are not included in the plurality of user computers are server computers, wherein the one or more computers of the online environment that are not included in the plurality of user computers include one or more merchant computers, wherein each of the one or more merchant computers is associated with one or more merchants, and wherein the one or more computers of the online environment are together configured to

register a plurality of users for participation in an online environment, wherein each of the plurality of users registered for participation in the online environment is associated with one or more user computer that is one of the plurality of user computers, wherein the online environment permits transactions within the online environment between one or more users and one or more merchants;

receive at one or more server computers a credit card attribute value of a user that is authorized to be verified, wherein the credit card attribute value comprises a credit card number and other information pertaining to the credit card of a user, wherein the credit card attribute value of the user is received from a user computer associated with the user, and wherein the credit card attribute value is encrypted by the user computer;

receive at the one or more server computers a name attribute value that pertains to the user'"'"'s name, wherein the name attribute value is received from the user computer, and wherein the name attribute value is encrypted by the user computer;

send from the one or more server computers the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value that is authorized to be verified and the user'"'"'s name attribute value to one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user, wherein none of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user are the user for whom the credit card attribute value is to be verified, wherein none of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute of the user are a user computer, wherein the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value and name attribute value are encrypted by the one or more server computers prior to being sent to the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user, and wherein each of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user performs verification of the user'"'"'s credit card attribute value in an automated fashion without human intervention;

receive at the one or more server computers a verification related to the credit card attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified and related to the evidence of the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the credit card attribute value of the user, wherein the verification related to the credit card attribute value of the user is received from the one or more verification sources;

send from the one or more server computers to the user computer the verification related to the credit card attribute value, wherein the verification related to the credit card attribute value comprises virtual payment information;

receive at one or more server computers a verification request that is associated with a merchant, where the verification request that is associated with a merchant is received from a web server associated with the merchant, wherein the web server associated with the merchant differs from the one or more server computers, and wherein the web server associated with the merchant is capable of communicating with the user computer through an encrypted internet connection, and wherein the verification request pertains to a transaction involving the user and the merchant to which the web server is associated;

send to a server computer a request for verification of the virtual payment attribute value of the user that is authorized to be verified, wherein the virtual payment attribute value comprises the virtual payment information, and wherein the virtual payment attribute value of the user is sent only after the user provides authentication information as part of a transaction on website, and wherein the authentication information is in the form of one or more of fingerprint identification information, facial recognition information, iris recognition information, retina recognition information, and a password;

receive at the user computer encrypted information comprising the virtual payment information and other information, wherein the encrypted information comprising the virtual payment information and other information is received from the server computer;

send the user'"'"'s virtual payment attribute value that is authorized to be verified from the user computer to one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute value of the user, wherein the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user is not the user for whom the virtual payment attribute value is to be verified and is not a user computer; and

receive at the user computer a verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user, wherein the verification related to the virtual payment attribute value of the user is received from the one or more verification sources having evidence to verify the virtual payment attribute of the user.