Method and system for providing status indication and control to a computer network user

• US 6,812,938 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinnell, Nigel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US09/815,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 345/733, 345/736, 345/742, 345/744, 345/745, 345/772, 345/780, 345/741, 345/749, 345/808, 345/809, 705/64, 705/67, 705/70, 705/73, 709/203, 709/219, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 715/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227

Abstract

A method and system for providing status indication to a control panel displayed on a user'"'"'s computer screen at all times which allows the user to sign on and off independently of any specific secure function, and utilizes both graphics and text to clearly indicate the current status of a secure connection. Additionally, entitlements or privileges associated with the secure connection and a count down of the remaining period of time during which the status of the secure connection will be in effect, are also displayed. A user may extend the effective time of the secure connection, or cancel the secure session and unequivocally sign off from all related services with a single click of the button.

Claims

1. A method for providing status indication and control to a user of a computing device with a secure network connection, comprising:

allowing the user at the computing device to establish the secure network connection between the computing device and a website server via a global network using public key certificates identifying the computing device to the website server;

providing a graphical user interface displaying a control panel at the computing device with an icon on the control panel that indicates to the user that the secure network connection to the website server is established and with a current status of the secure network connection to the website server;

displaying on the control panel a time out period during which the current status and at least one user privilege associated with the current status will remain in effect, an option for the user to extend the time out period, and an option for the user to view the information about the associated user privilege; and

allowing the user to cancel the secure network connection and sign off independently of a specific secure function by clicking on a sign off option displayed on the control panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user at the computing device to establish the secure network connection further comprises allowing the user at a personal computer with a browser to establish the secure network connection between the personal computer and the website server via the global network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user at the computing device to establish the secure network connection further comprises allowing the user to establish the secure network connection between the computing device and at least one website server in a federation of web servers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the graphical user interface further comprises providing the graphical user interface by an application running on the computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing the graphical user interface further comprises downloading the application to the computing device via a host system.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein providing the graphical user interface further comprises downloading the application to the computing device via the website server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the graphical user interface further comprises downloading the application to the computing device via the website server when the secure network connection is established.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the graphical user interface further comprises downloading the application to the computing device automatically by the website server when the secure network connection is established.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein providing the graphical user interface by the application further comprises providing the graphical user interface by a stand-alone utility that adopts formal protocols and can work on at least one secure server other than the website server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the graphical user interface by the application further comprises downloading the stand-alone utility on the computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the graphical user interface displaying the control panel further comprises continuously displaying the control panel at all times the computing device is activated.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the graphical user interface displaying the control panel further comprises providing an attribute to the control panel causing the control panel to be continuously visible on a front of a display screen of the computing device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying on the control panel the time out period further comprises displaying on the control panel the time out period during which the user privilege will remain in effect in the form of a count-down timer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying on the control panel the time out period further comprises displaying on the control panel information about the associated user privilege.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to cancel the secure network connection and sign off further comprises displaying on the control panel options for the user to sign on and sign off independently of a specific secure function.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein allowing the user to cancel the secure network connection and sign off further comprises allowing the user to simultaneously cancel the secure network connection, sign off independently of the specific function and revoke at least one privilege associated with the secure network connection with a selection of the sign off option.

17. A system for providing status indication and control to a user of a computing device with a secure network connection, comprising:

means for allowing the user at the computing device to establish the secure network connection between the computing device and a website server via a global network using public key certificates identifying the computing device to the website server;

means for providing a graphical user interface displaying a control panel at the computing device with an icon on the control panel that indicates to the user that the secure network connection to the website server is established and with a current status of the secure network connection to the website server;

means for displaying on the control panel a time out period during which the current status and at least one user privilege associated with the current status will remain in effect, an option for the user to extend the time out period, and an option for the user to view the information about the associated user privilege; and

means for allowing the user to cancel the secure network connection and sign off independently of a specific secure function by clicking on a sign off option displayed on the control panel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for allowing the user at the computing device to establish the secure network connection further comprises means for allowing the user at a personal computer with a browser to establish the secure network connection between the personal computer and the website server via the global network.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for allowing the user at the computing device to establish the secure network connection further comprises means for allowing the user to establish the secure network connection between the computing device and at least one website server in a federation of web servers.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface further comprises means for providing the graphical user interface by an application running on the computing device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface further comprises means for downloading the application to the computing device via a host system.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface further comprises means for downloading the application to the computing device via the website server.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface further comprises means for downloading the application to the computing device when the secure network connection is established.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface further comprises means for downloading the application to the computing device automatically by the website server when the secure network connection is established.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface by the application further comprises means for providing the graphical user interface by a stand-alone utility that adopts formal protocols and can work on at least one secure server other than the website server.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface by the application further comprises means for downloading the stand-alone utility on the computing device.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface displaying the control panel further comprises means for continuously displaying the control panel at all times the computing device is activated.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for providing the graphical user interface displaying the control panel further comprises means for providing an attribute to the control panel causing the control panel to be continuously visible on a front of a display screen of the computing device.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for displaying on the control panel the time out period further comprises means for displaying on the control panel the time out period during which the user privilege will remain in effect in the form of a count-down timer.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for displaying on the control panel the time out period further comprises means for displaying on the control panel information about the associated user privilege.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for allowing the user to cancel the secure network connection and sign off further comprises means for displaying on the control panel options for the user to sign on and sign off independently of a specific secure function.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the means for allowing the user to cancel the secure network connection and sign off further comprises means for allowing the user to simultaneously cancel the secure network connection, sign off independently of the specific function and revoke at least one privilege associated with the secure network connection with a selection of the sign off option.

33. A method for providing status indication and control to a user of a computing device with a secure network connection, comprising:

allowing the user at the computing device to establish the secure network connection between the computing device and a website server;

providing a graphical user interface displaying a control panel at the computing device with a current status of the secure network connection, the control panel having an attribute causing the control panel to be continuously visible on a front of a display screen of the computing device at all times the computing device is activated;

displaying on the control panel a time out period during which the current status and at least one user privilege associated with the current status will remain in effect, an option for the user to extend the time out period, and an option for the user to view the information about the associated user privilege; and

allowing the user to simultaneously cancel the secure network connection, sign off independently of a specific function and revoke the privilege associated with the secure network connection with a selection of a sign off option displayed on the control panel.