Authenticating Linked Accounts
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- storing at an authentication service a link identifier corresponding to a plurality of account identifiers to form a set of linked accounts; and
managing authentication of a client to the set of linked accounts, such that the client, upon providing to the authentication service credentials corresponding to one account in the set of linked accounts, receives access to each account in the set of linked accounts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of authenticating linked accounts are presented herein. In an implementation, an authentication service provides functionality to form links between a plurality of user accounts. A client may then authenticate by providing credentials for one account in a group of linked accounts, and is permitted access to each account in the group of linked accounts based upon the linking. Thus, a single sign-in of a client to one account may permit the client to obtain services for service providers corresponding to multiple linked accounts, without an individual sign-in to each account.
165 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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storing at an authentication service a link identifier corresponding to a plurality of account identifiers to form a set of linked accounts; and managing authentication of a client to the set of linked accounts, such that the client, upon providing to the authentication service credentials corresponding to one account in the set of linked accounts, receives access to each account in the set of linked accounts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed, direct an authentication server to:
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expose an a interface accessible by a client over a network to define a link between a plurality of user accounts; store a link identifier to form a set of linked accounts defined by the client via the interface; and based upon a single sign-in of the client to one account of the set of linked accounts, form an authentication token for communication to the client which includes the link identifier to reference the set of linked accounts. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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receiving an authentication token via a network from a client, wherein the authentication token; includes a link identifier to reference a set of accounts linked via an authentication service; corresponds to a first account in the set of linked accounts; and is issued to the client by the authentication service upon verification of credentials for the first account provided by the client; utilizing the link identifier obtained from the authentication token to output, in a user interface to provide services corresponding to the first account, a portion to select a second one of the set of linked accounts; and when a second one of the set of linked accounts is selected via the portion; providing the selection to the authentication service to cause a switch between the first account and the second account, such that the authentication token after the switch corresponds to the second account; and based upon the switch, outputting a user interface to provide services corresponding to the second account. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification