Method and apparatus for providing an automated login process

• US 7,093,019 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bertani, John A., Kerr, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/718,583
• Time in Patent Office: 2,093 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/226, 709/227, 709/216, 709/219, 709/229, 726/4, 726/27, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

An automated login process is provided for a user connecting to a first server of multiple servers that are connected via a computer network. The server receives a connection to the user via a client data terminal, receives an identifier associated with a second server of the multiple servers, and authenticates the user based on the identifier.

Claims

1. A method for providing an automated login for a user connecting to a server, wherein the server comprises a first server of a plurality of servers that are connected via a computer network, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a connection to the user via a client data terminal;

accessing the first server by the user after being authenticated;

selecting from the first server a computer input mark to a second server and assigning a first identifier and underlying second identifier associated with the first server of the computer input mark;

accessing the services of the second server from the user and based on the received identifiers if both identifiers are authenticated; and

authenticating, without the use of cookie, the user and the first server based on the first and second identifiers and allowing access to the second server by linking the user to the second server through the first server and without requesting a cookie from the client if both identifiers are authenticated to eliminate the need for the user to provide separate login information and to eliminate the use of cookies when connecting to the second server via the input mark.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second identifier comprises a provider identifier associated with the second server and the first identifier comprises a personal identifier assigned to the user by the second server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of authenticating the user comprises a step of allowing a user access to a service provided by the first server after an initial registration by the user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving a connection comprises a step of receiving a second connection to a user via a client data terminal, wherein the step of selecting from the first server a computer input mark comprises a step of receiving, during the second connection, a provider identifier associated with a second server of the plurality of servers and a step of receiving, during the second connection, a personal identifier assigned to the user by the second server, and further comprising steps of:

receiving a first connection to the user via a client data terminal, wherein the first connection is first in time relative to the second connection;

receiving, during the first connection, an identifier associated with the second server;

receiving registration information from the user;

storing the identifier and the registration information; and

wherein the step of authenticating the user comprises a step of matching the stored identifier with the identifier received during the second connection.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier received during the first connection and the identifier received during the second connection each comprises a provider identifier associated with a second server and a personal identifier assigned to the user by the second server.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of storing comprises steps of:

creating a user profile; and

storing the identifier and the registration information in the user profile.

7. The method of claim 4, further including steps of:

requesting, during the first connection, a consent of the user to use the identifier associated with the second server; and

receiving the requested consent.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the registration information comprises at least one of a user name, user post office address, user telephone number, and user electronic mail address.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of assigning, by the first server and during a first connection, a personal identifier to the user.

10. A method for providing an automated login for a user logging onto a host web site, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a connection to a user via an affiliated web site;

accessing a first server by the user after being authenticated;

selecting from a host web site a computer input mark having a hyperlink to a second web site and assigning a personal identifier and an underlying provider identifier associated with the host web site of the computer input mark;

allowing the user access to the host web site; and

accessing the services of a second server by linking the user to the second server through the first server and based on the received identifiers if both identifiers are authenticated wherein the need for the user to provide separate login information and the use of a cookie between the first server and second server is eliminated when connecting to the second web site via the hyperlink of the input mark.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the personal identifier is provided to the second web site via a transparent login process after the user disconnects and then later reconnects to the second web site.

12. The method of step 10, wherein the step of receiving a connection comprises a step of receiving a second connection of a user via an affiliated web site, wherein the step of selecting from the host web site a computer input mark comprises a step of receiving, during the second connection, an identifier associated with the affiliated web site, and further comprising steps of:

receiving a first connection of the user via the affiliated web site, wherein the first connection is first in time relative to the second connection;

receiving, with respect to the first connection, registration information from the user;

receiving, with respect to the first connection, an identifier associated with the affiliated web site; and

storing the registration information and identifier received with respect to the first connection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifier received during the first connection and the identifier received during the second connection each comprises a provider identifier associated with the affiliated web site and a personal identifier assigned to the user by the affiliated web site.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the registration information and identifier received with respect to the first connection is stored in a database, and wherein the step of allowing comprises steps of:

searching the database for an identifier that matches the identifier received with respect to the second connection; and

when a matching identifier is located, allowing the user access to the host web site.

15. A server comprising:

a means for receiving a first connection and a second connection to a client data terminal, wherein the first connection is first in time relative to the second connection;

a means for accessing the first server by the user after being authenticated;

a means for selecting from the first connection a computer input mark having a hyperlink to the second connection;

a means for receiving registration information during the first connection from a user of the client data terminal;

a means for receiving a personal and a provider identifier each associated with an affiliated server during the first connection, which affiliated server was visited by the user prior to the server receiving the first connection to the client data terminal;

a means for storing the received registration information and the personal identifier;

a means for receiving the provider identifier during the second connection; and

a means for authenticating the user during the second connection based on the personal and provider identifiers received during the second connection and allowing access to the second connection by linking the user to the second server through the first server and if both identifiers are authenticated to eliminate the need for the user to provide separate login information when connecting to the second connection via the hyperlink of the input mark and to eliminate the use of cookies during authentication and connection.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the personal identifier is provided to the second connection via a transparent login process after the user disconnects and then later reconnects to the second connection.