Cross platform social networking authentication system

• US 9,311,462 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• 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 Selp
• Primary Examiner(s): Abyaneh, Ali
• Application Number:
  US13/077,411
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 726/7, 726/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 social network services comprising:

at a network service, using one or more computer processors;

sending, over a network, a social networking application to a computing device corresponding to a user, the social networking application providing a gaming application;

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

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

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

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

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first authentication information from the social networking application, the social networking application receiving the authentication information in response to authenticating with the first social networking service.

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

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication includes obtaining information about the user.

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

7. The method of claim 6, 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.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving third authentication information associated with a second user for one of the first and second social networking services and associating the third authentication information with the second user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second authentication information is indicative of an authorization by the user to allow the social networking application access to one of functions and data of the second social networking service.

10. A system for authenticating with multiple social networks comprising:

one or more computer processors configured to implement a network service including;

an application module configured to send, over a network, a social networking application to a computing device corresponding to a user, the social networking application providing a gaming application;

an authentication module configured to;

receive, over the network, first authentication information associated with the user for the first social networking service, the first authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated with the first social networking service;

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

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

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first authentication information is received from a second social networking application, the second social networking application obtaining the first authentication information by authenticating with the first social networking service, and the social networking application obtaining the second authentication information by authenticating with the second social networking service.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first authentication information is received from the social networking application, the social networking application receiving the authentication information in response to authenticating with the first social networking service.

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

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the communication includes obtaining information about the user.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the authentication module is further configured to associate the first and second authentication information with the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the authentication module is further configured 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.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the authentication module is further configured to receive third authentication information associated with a second user for one of the first and second social networking services and associate the third authentication information with the second user.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the second authentication information is indicative of an authorization by the user to allow the social networking application access to one of functions and data of the second social networking service.

19. A method of communicating with multiple social networks comprising:

at a social networking application, using one or more computer processors;

authenticating with a first social networking service;

responsive to authenticating with the first social networking service, receiving, over a computer network, first authentication information for a user from the first social networking service, the first authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated with the first social networking service;

sending, over the computer network, the first authentication information to an authorization server;

receiving, over the computer network, from the authorization server second authentication information for a second social networking service for the user, the second authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated with the second social networking service;

accessing an application programming interface of both the first and second social networking services using both the first and second authentication information respectively, to determine social networking data for the user from both the first and second social networking services; and

providing a gaming application for the user which utilizes the social networking data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the social networking data comprises a list of a plurality of other users associated with the user on both the first and second social networks.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising presenting to the user in the gaming application the plurality of other users associated with the user on both the first and second social networking service.

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

at a network service,

sending, over a network, a social networking application to a computing device corresponding to a user, the social networking application providing a gaming application;

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

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

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

23. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the first authentication information is received from a second social networking application, the second social networking application obtaining the first authentication information by authenticating with the first social networking service, and the social networking application obtaining the second authentication information by authenticating with the second social networking service.

24. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the first authentication information is received from the social networking application, the social networking application receiving the authentication information in response to authenticating with the first social networking service.

25. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the social networking application uses the first and second authentication information to communicate with both of the first and second social networking services, communicating with the first and second social networking services using different application programming interfaces.

26. The machine readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the communication includes obtaining information about the user.

27. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which when performed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations further comprising:

associating the first and second authentication information with the user.

28. The machine readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which when performed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations further comprising:

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.

29. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which when performed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations further comprising:

receiving third authentication information associated with a second user for one of the first and second social networking services and associating the third authentication information with the second user.

30. The machine readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the second authentication information is indicative of an authorization by the user to allow the social networking application access to one of functions and data of the second social networking service.

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

at a social networking application;

authenticating with a first social networking service;

responsive to authenticating with the first social networking service, receiving, over a computer network, first authentication information for a user from the first social networking service, the first authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated with the first social networking service;

sending, over the computer network, the first authentication information to an authorization server;

receiving, over the computer network, from the authorization server, second authentication information for a second social networking service for the user, the second authentication information indicating that the user has already authenticated with the second social networking service;

accessing an application programming interface of both the first and second social networking services using both the first and second authentication information respectively, to determine social networking data for the user from both the first and second social networking services; and

providing a gaming application for the user which utilizes the social networking data.

32. The machine readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the social networking data comprises a list of a plurality of other users associated with the user on both the first and second social networks.

33. The machine readable storage medium of claim 32, further comprising presenting to the user in the gaming application the plurality of other users associated with the user on both the first and second social networking service.