U.S. patent application number 09/208740 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-14 for method and apparatus for providing and maintaining a user-interactive portal system accessible via internet or other switched-packet-network.
Invention is credited to INALA, SAM, RANGAN, P. VENKAT.
Application Number | 20020032782 09/208740 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22775856 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020032782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RANGAN, P. VENKAT ; et
al. |
March 14, 2002 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING A
USER-INTERACTIVE PORTAL SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE VIA INTERNET OR OTHER
SWITCHED-PACKET-NETWORK
Abstract
An Internet Portal is enabled by software executing on an
Internet-connected server. The Portal, in response to a log-on by a
user, presents a secure and personalized page for and to the user,
the personalized page having listed plural Internet destinations
enabled by hyperlinks, wherein upon invocation of a hyperlink by
the subscriber, such as by a point-and-click technique, the portal
invokes a URL for the destination, and upon connection with the
destination, transparently provides any required log-on information
for user access at the destination. In an enhanced embodiment a
search function is provided wherein a user may configure searches
in any or all of the listed destinations on a personalized page.
Provision is provided for log-on by limited appliances, such as by
a Smartcard or embedded password, and in some embodiments
functionality is provided in a browser plug-in wherein a user may
navigate to a site, and, in response to a request for log-in data,
the subscriber may use a hot key or pointer input, which will cause
the browser to access and provide the needed data from the
Password-All source.
Inventors: |
RANGAN, P. VENKAT; (SAN
DIEGO, CA) ; INALA, SAM; (REDMOND, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CENTRAL COAST PATENT AGENCY
PO BOX 187
AROMAS
CA
95004
US
|
Family ID: |
22775856 |
Appl. No.: |
09/208740 |
Filed: |
December 8, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/229 ;
707/E17.109; 707/E17.116; 726/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0248 20130101;
G06Q 30/0239 20130101; G06Q 30/0271 20130101; G06Q 20/3821
20130101; G06Q 30/0277 20130101; G06F 21/41 20130101; G06F
2221/2119 20130101; G06Q 30/0226 20130101; H04L 67/02 20130101;
G06F 16/958 20190101; H04L 67/56 20220501; H04L 67/289 20130101;
H04L 67/561 20220501; G06F 16/9535 20190101; H04L 67/567
20220501 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/229 ;
713/201 |
International
Class: |
H04L 009/32; H04L
012/22 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An Internet Portal, comprising: an Internet-connected server;
and a portal software executing on the server; wherein the Portal,
in response to log-on by a user from a user's Internet-connected
appliance, presents a secure and personalized page for the user,
the personalized page having a list of Internet destinations
enabled by hyperlinks, wherein, upon invocation of a hyperlink by
the user, the portal invokes a URL for the destination, and upon
connection with the destination, transparently provides any
required log-on information required for user access at the
destination.
2. The Internet Portal of claim 1 wherein required log-on
information includes a password, and wherein the password is stored
at the Internet Portal in an encrypted form, and is exchanged with
cooperating software at the user's appliance, where it is decrypted
and passed on to the destination for log-on.
3. The Internet Portal of claim 1 wherein the user connects to the
Portal through an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and after
transparent log-on to an invoked destination, the page at the
destination is conveyed to and displayed for the user.
4. The Internet Portal of claim 1 wherein the Portal is enabled by
software executing at a server hosted by an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) to which the user subscribes.
5. The Internet Portal of claim 1 further comprising a search
function adapted to search selected ones of listed destinations for
defined search criteria.
6. The Internet Portal of claim 1 wherein, after a user invokes a
hyperlink, during navigation time to the invoked destination, the
Portal software accesses and displays one or more informative
displays to the user.
7. The Internet Portal of claim 6 wherein the informative displays
comprise one or more advertisements.
8. The Internet Portal of claim 1 wherein the Portal software,
interacting with a logged-on user, upon the user creating a new
account at a WEB site and providing a pre-determined signal,
automatically adds the new destination for the user's Portal
page.
9. The Internet Portal of claim 1 wherein the Portal periodically
summarizes account information for accounts at destinations listed
on the user's WEB page.
10. The Internet Portal of claim 9 wherein the summarization is
automatic in period and scope, subject to edit by the user.
11. An Internet Portal, comprising: an Internet-connected server;
and a portal software executing on the server; wherein the portal
interacts with a browser plug-in executing on a user's
Internet-connected appliance, such that, when the user invokes a
destination from the browser, wherein the destination requires a
secure log-on, the portal software cooperates with the browser
plug-in to furnish the data necessary for a successful log-on
transparent to the user.
12. The Internet Portal of claim 11 wherein required log-on
information includes a password, and wherein the password is stored
at the Internet Portal in an encrypted form, and is exchanged with
cooperating software at the user's appliance, where it is decrypted
and passed on to the destination for log-on.
13. The Internet Portal of claim 11 wherein, after a user invokes a
hyperlink, during navigation time to the invoked destination, the
Portal software cooperates with the user's browser plug-in to
access and display one or more informative displays to the
user.
14. The Internet Portal of claim 12 wherein the informative
displays comprise one or more advertisements.
15. The Internet Portal of claim 11 wherein the Portal software,
interacting with a logged-on user, upon the user creating a new
account at a WEB site and providing a predetermined signal,
automatically adds the new destination for the user's Portal
page.
16. The Internet Portal of claim 11 wherein the Portal periodically
summarizes account information for accounts at destinations listed
on the user's WEB page.
17. The Internet Portal of claim 16 wherein the summarization is
automatic in period and scope, subject to edit by the user.
18. An Internet Portal application executable on an
Internet-connected server, comprising: a log-on facility adapted
for users to enter log-on information from an Internet-connected
appliance for access to the Portal application; and a plurality of
stored personal pages associated each with one or more specific
users; wherein individual personalized pages list plural Internet
destinations enabled by hyperlinks, wherein upon invocation of a
hyperlink by a user, the portal invokes a URL for the destination,
and upon connection with the destination, transparently provides
any required log-on information for user access at the
destination.
19. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 wherein required
log-on information includes a password, and wherein the password is
stored at the Internet server in an encrypted form, and is
exchanged with cooperating software at the user's appliance, where
it is decrypted and passed on to the destination for log-on.
20. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 wherein, after
transparent log-on to an invoked destination, the page at the
destination is conveyed to and displayed for the user.
21. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 adapted to execute
on a server hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to which
the users subscribe.
22. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 further comprising
a search function adapted to search selected ones of listed
destinations in user's pages for defined search criteria.
23. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 wherein, after a
user invokes a hyperlink, during navigation time to the invoked
destination, the Portal software accesses and displays one or more
informative displays to the user.
24. The Internet Portal application of claim 23 wherein the
informative displays comprise one or more advertisements.
25. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 wherein the Portal
application, interacting with a logged-on user, upon the user
creating a new account at a WEB site and providing a pre-determined
signal, automatically adds the new destination for the user's
Portal page.
26. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 wherein the Portal
periodically summarizes account information for accounts at
destinations listed on the user's WEB page.
27. The Internet Portal application of claim 26 wherein the
summarization is automatic in period and scope, subject to edit by
the user.
28. An Internet Portal application executable on an
Internet-connected server, comprising: a log-on facility adapted
for users to enter log-on information for access to the Portal
application; and a plurality of stored personal pages associated
each with one or more specific users; wherein the portal
application interacts with a browser plug-in executing on a
subscriber's Internet-connected appliance, such that, when the user
invokes a destination from the browser, wherein the destination
requires a secure log-on, the portal software cooperates with the
browser plug-in to furnish the data necessary for a successful
log-on transparent to the user.
29. The Internet Portal application of claim 28 wherein required
log-on information includes a password, and wherein the password is
stored at the Internet Portal in an encrypted form, and is
exchanged with cooperating software at the user's appliance, where
it is decrypted and passed on to the destination for log-on.
30. The Internet Portal application of claim 28 adapted to execute
on a server hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to which
the users subscribe.
31. The Internet Portal application of claim 28 wherein, after a
user invokes a hyperlink, during navigation time to the invoked
destination, the Portal software, in cooperation with the browser
plug-in, accesses and displays one or more informative displays to
the user.
32. The Internet Portal application of claim 31 wherein the
informative displays comprise one or more advertisements.
33. The Internet Portal application of claim 28 wherein the Portal
application, interacting with a logged-on user, upon the user
creating a new account at a WEB site and providing a pre-determined
signal, automatically adds the new destination for the user's
Portal page.
34. The Internet Portal application of claim 28 wherein the Portal
periodically summarizes account information for accounts at
destinations listed on the user's WEB page.
35. The Internet Portal of claim 34 wherein the summarization is
automatic in period and scope, subject to edit by the user.
36. A method for accessing and interacting with WEB pages on the
Internet, comprising steps of: (a) using an Internet-capable
appliance, logging on to a Portal server, which returns a
personalized page for the user logging on, the personalized page
having listed plural Internet destinations enabled by hyperlinks;
(b) selecting a hyperlink in the personalized page, thereby
invoking a URL for a destination, and, upon connection to the
destination, automatically providing user log-on information for
the user; and (c) interacting with the page automatically
provided.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the Portal server is a part of
an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
38. The method of claim 36 further comprising a step for invoking a
search function adapted to search selected ones of listed
destinations for defined search criteria.
39. A method for accessing and interacting with WEB pages on the
Internet, comprising steps of: (a) using an Internet-capable
appliance, logging on to a Portal server as a subscriber, the
portal server storing data associated with Internet destinations
frequently accessed by the subscriber; (a) using a browser with a
plug-in for interacting with a Portal server executing on the
Internet-capable appliance, invoking a URL to a destination WEB
page; (b) upon being presented with a log-in interface by the
destination WEB page, calling the Portal server by the plug-in; and
(c) furnishing necessary log-in data by the Portal server, and
accomplishing secure log-in for the subscriber substantially
transparently to the subscriber.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is in the field of Internet navigation
and browsing, and pertains more particularly to methods and
apparatus for providing and maintaining an Internet portal
configured to provide access to an interaction with other Internet
information sources.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The information network known as the world wide web (WWW),
which is a subset of the well-known Internet, is arguably the most
complete source of publicly-accessible information available.
Anyone with a suitable Internet appliance such as a personal
computer with a standard Internet connection may access (go
on-line) and navigate to information pages (termed web pages)
stored on Internet-connected servers for the purpose of garnering
information and initiating transactions with hosts of such servers
and pages.
[0003] Many companies offer various subscription services
accessible via the Internet. For example, many people now do their
banking, stock trading, shopping, and so forth from the comfort of
their own homes via Internet access. Typically, a user, through
subscription, has access to personalized and secure WEB pages for
such functions. By typing in a user name and a password or other
personal identification code, a user may obtain information,
initiate transactions, buy stock, and accomplish a myriad of other
tasks.
[0004] One problem that is encountered by an individual who has
several or many such subscriptions to Internet-brokered services is
that there are invariably many passwords and/or log-in codes to be
used. Often a same password or code cannot be used for every
service, as the password or code may already be taken by another
user. A user may not wish to supply a code unique to the user such
as perhaps a social security number because of security issues,
including quality of security, that may vary from service to
service. Additionally, many users at their own volition may choose
different passwords for different sites so as to have increased
security, which in fact also increases the number of passwords a
user may have.
[0005] Another issue that can plague a user who has many passworded
subscriptions is the fact that they must bookmark many WEB pages in
a computer cache so that they may quickly find and access the
various services. For example, in order to reserve and pay for
airline travel, a user must connect to the Internet, go to his/her
book-marks file and select an airline page. The user then has to
enter a user name and password, and follow on-screen instructions
once the page is delivered. If the user wishes to purchase tickets
from the WEB site, and wishes to transfer funds from an on-line
banking service, the user must also look for and select the
personal bank or account page to initiate a funds transfer for the
tickets. Different user names and passwords may be required to
access these other pages, and things get quite complicated.
[0006] Although this preceding example is merely exemplary, it is
generally known that much work related to finding WEB pages,
logging in with passwords, and the like is required to successfully
do business on the WEB.
[0007] What is clearly needed is an interactive Internet portal
that will enable users to store their WEB pages, user names, and
passwords, and that can accomplish pre-defined tasks such as
navigation and interaction between WEB servers based on user
pre-programming (user profiles). Such a system would greatly
simplify on-line or network-based business transactions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an
Internet Portal is provided, comprising an Internet-connected
server; and a portal software executing on the server. The portal,
in response to a log-on by a user, presents a secure and
personalized page for the user, the personalized page having a list
of Internet destinations enabled by hyperlinks, wherein, upon
invocation of a hyperlink by the subscriber, the portal invokes a
URL for the destination, and upon connection with the destination,
transparently provides any required log-on information required for
user access at the destination.
[0009] The Portal server can be a part of an Internet server used
for another purpose, and may be hosted therefore by such as an
Internet service provider (ISP).
[0010] In some embodiments search functions are provided, and in
the same or other embodiments, after a user invokes a hyperlink,
during navigation time to the invoked destination, the Portal
software accesses and displays one or more informative displays to
the user. Informative displays may be one or more advertisements.
Further, in some embodiments periodic summaries may be provided for
accounts associated with destinations on the user's WEB page.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention an Internet Portal is
provided comprising an Internet-connected server; and a portal
software executing on the server. In this aspect the portal
interacts with a browser plug-in executing on a subscriber's
computer station, such that, when the user invokes a destination
from the browser, wherein the destination requires a secure log-on,
the portal software cooperates with the browser plug-in to furnish
the data necessary for a successful log-on transparent to the user.
In this embodiment as well, after a user invokes a hyperlink,
during navigation time to the invoked destination, the Portal
software cooperates with the user's browser plug-in to access and
display one or more informative displays to the user. The
informative displays may be one or more advertisements. Further, in
some embodiments periodic summaries may be provided for accounts
associated with destinations on the user's WEB page.
[0012] In yet another aspect an Internet Portal application
executable on an Internet-connected server is provided, comprising
a log-on facility adapted for users to enter log-on information for
access to the Portal application; and a plurality of stored
personal pages associated each with one or more specific users. In
this aspect individual personalized pages list plural Internet
destinations enabled by hyperlinks, wherein upon invocation of a
hyperlink by a user, the portal invokes a URL for the destination,
and upon connection with the destination, transparently provides
any required log-on information for user access at the destination.
After transparent log-on to an invoked destination, the page at the
destination is conveyed to and displayed for the user. The
application may be adapted to execute on a server hosted by an
Internet Service Provider (ISP) to which the users subscribe. There
may also be a search function adapted to search selected ones of
listed destinations in user's pages for defined search
criteria.
[0013] In this aspect as well, after a user invokes a hyperlink,
during navigation time to the invoked destination, the Portal
software can access and display one or more informative displays to
the user, which may be advertisements. Further, in some embodiments
periodic summaries may be provided for accounts associated with
destinations on the user's WEB page.
[0014] In yet another aspect an Internet Portal application
executable on an Internet-connected server is provided, comprising
a log-on facility adapted for users to enter log-on information for
access to the Portal application; and a plurality of stored
personal pages associated each with one or more specific users. The
portal application interacts with a browser plug-in executing on a
subscriber's computer station, such that, when the user invokes a
destination from the browser, wherein the destination requires a
secure log-on, the portal software cooperates with the browser
plug-in to furnish the data necessary for a successful log-on
transparent to the user.
[0015] In this embodiment as well as others, the application may be
adapted to execute on a server hosted by an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) to which the users subscribe. Also, as in some other
embodiments, after a user invokes a hyperlink, during navigation
time to the invoked destination, the Portal software, in
cooperation with the browser plug-in, accesses and displays one or
more informative displays to the user, which may be commercial
advertisements. Further, in some embodiments periodic summaries may
be provided for accounts associated with destinations on the user's
WEB page.
[0016] In addition to the apparatus and software applications
provided, several methods are taught in the following enabling
disclosure as well. In the disclosure, for the first time, an
invention is described that allows a subscriber to safely and
securely navigate to any of multiple destinations on the Internet
with a single point-and-click, and in the case of destinations
requiring secure log on, the log on may be accomplished completely
transparently to the user, while still maintaining strict security
of the user's passwords and other security data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0017] FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet portal-system and
network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view of a personalized Portal
home page application as it may be seen on a display monitor
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating user interaction with
the Internet portal of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a unique Internet portal is provided and adapted to
provide unique services to users who have obtained access via an
Internet or other network connection from an Internet-capable
appliance. Such an interface provides users with a method for
storing many personal WEB pages and further provides search
function and certain task-performing functions. The methods and
apparatus of the present invention are taught in enabling detail
below.
[0021] FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet portal system 11 and
Internet network 13 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. Portal system 11, in this embodiment, operates as an ISP
in addition to a unique network portal, but may, in other
embodiments be implemented as a standalone Internet server. In yet
other embodiments the service and apparatus described herein may
also be provided by such as a search and listing service
(AltaVista.TM., Yahoo.TM.) or by any other enterprise hosting a
WEB-connected server.
[0022] Internet 13 is representative of a preferred use of the
present invention, but should not be considered limiting, as the
invention could apply in other networks and combinations of
networks.
[0023] ISP 15 in this embodiment comprises a server 31, a modem
bank 33, represented here by a single modem, and a mass storage
repository 29 for storing digital data. The modem bank is a
convenience, as connection to the server could be by another type
of network link. ISP 15, as is typical in the art, provides
Internet access services for individual subscribers. In addition to
well-known Internet access services, ISP 15 also provides a unique
subscription service as an Internet portal for the purpose of
storing many WEB pages or destinations along with any passwords and
or personal codes associated with those pages, in a manner
described in more detail below. This unique portal service is
provided by execution of Portal Software 35, which is termed by the
inventors the Password-All suite. The software of the invention is
referred to herein both as the Portal Software, and as the
Password-all software suite. Also, in much of the description
below, the apparatus of the invention is referred to by the
Password-All terminology, such as the Password-All Server or
Password-All Portal.
[0024] ISP 15 is connected to Internet 13 as shown. Other equipment
known in the art to be present and connected to a network such as
Internet 13, for example, IP data routers, data switches, gateway
routers, and the like, are not illustrated here but may be assumed
to be present. Access to ISP 15 is through a connection-oriented
telephone system as is known in the art, or through any other
Internet/WEB access connection, such as through a cable modem,
special network connection (e.g. T1), ISDN, and so forth. Such
connection is illustrated via access line 19 from Internet
appliance 17 through modem bank 33.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment a user has access to Internet
Password-All Portal services by a user name and password as is
well-known in the art, which provides an individualized WEB page to
the subscriber. In another embodiment wherein a user has other
individuals that use his or her Internet account, then an
additional password or code unique to the user may be required
before access to portal 31 is granted. Such personalized Portal WEB
pages may be stored in repository 29, which may be any convenient
form of mass storage.
[0026] Three Internet servers 23, 25, and 27, are shown in Internet
13, and represent Internet servers hosted by various enterprises
and subscribed to by a user operating appliance 17. For example,
server 23 may be a bank server wherein interactive on-line banking
and account managing may be performed. Server 25 may be an
investment server wherein investment accounts may be created and
managed. Server 27 may be an airline or travel server wherein
flights may be booked, tickets may be purchased, and so on. In this
example, all three servers are secure servers requiring user ID and
password for access, but the invention is not necessarily limited
to just secure services.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
subscribing user operating an Internet-capable appliance, such as
appliance 17, connects to Password-All Portal system 11 hosted by
ISP 15, and thereby gains access to a personalized, interactive
VVEB page, which in turn provides access to any one of a number of
servers on Internet 13 such as servers 23, 25, and 27, without
being required to enter additional passwords or codes. In a
preferred embodiment the software that enables this service is
termed Password-All by the inventors. Password-All may be
considered to be a software suite executing on the unique server,
and in some instances also on the user's station (client).
Additional interactivity provided by portal software 35 allows a
connected user to search his listed pages for information
associated with keywords, text strings, or the like, and allows a
user to program user-defined tasks involving access and interaction
with one or more Internet-connected servers such as servers 23, 25,
and 27 according to a pre-defined time schedule. These functions
are taught in enabling detail below.
[0028] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a personalized portal page as
may be seen on a display monitor according to an embodiment of the
present invention, provided by Password-All Portal software 35
executing on server 31, in response to secure access by a
subscriber. Page 32 presents an interactive listing 34 of
user-subscribed or member WEB pages, identified in this example by
URL, but which may also be identified by any convenient pseudonym,
preferably descriptive, along with user name and typically
encrypted password information for each page. Listed in a first
column under destination, are exemplary destinations LBC.com, My
Bank.com, My Stocks.com, My shopping.com, Mortgage.com, and
Airline.com. These are but a few of many exemplary destinations
that may be present and listed as such on page 33. In order to view
additional listings listed but not immediately viewable from within
application 33, a scroll bar 35 is provided and adapted to allow a
user to scroll up or down the list to enable viewing as is known in
the art.
[0029] Items listed in list 34 in this example may be considered
destinations on such as servers 23, 25, and 27 of FIG. 1. Typically
the URL associated with an item on this list will not take a user
to a server, per se, but to a page stored on a server. User names
and password data associated with each item in list 34 are
illustrated in respective columns labeled user name, and password,
to the right of the column labeled destination. Each listing, or at
least a portion of each listing, is a hyperlink invoking, when
selected, the URL to that destination. In some instances a
particular service may have more than one associated URL. For
example, My Bank.com may have more than one URL associated for such
as different accounts or businesses associated also with a single
subscriber. In this case there may be a sub-listing for different
destinations associated with a single higher-level listing. This
expedient is not shown, but, given this teaching the mechanism will
be apparent to those with skill in the art.
[0030] In some embodiments one page 33 may be shared by more than
one user, such as a husband and wife sharing a common account and
subscription. An instance of this is illustrated herein with
respect to the server labeled Mortgage.com wherein both a John and
a Jane Doe are listed together under the column labeled user name.
In another embodiment, a network of individuals, perhaps business
owners, authorized co-workers, investment parties, or the like may
share one application. In this way, system 11 may be adapted for
private individuals as well as business uses.
[0031] After gaining access to application 33 which is served via
Internet portal server 31 of FIG. 1, a user may scroll, highlight,
and select any URL in his or her list 34 for the purpose of
navigation to that particular destination for further interaction.
Application 33 already has each password and user name listed for
each URL. It is not necessary, however, that the password and user
name be displayed for a user or users. These may well be stored
transparently in a user's profile, and invoked as needed as a user
makes selections. Therefore, a user is spared the need of entering
passwords and user names for any destinations enabled by list 34.
Of course, each list 34 is built, configured and maintained by a
subscribing user or users, and an editing facility is also provided
wherein a user may edit and update listings, including changing
URL's adding and deleting listings, and the like.
[0032] In another aspect of the invention new listings for a user's
profile, such as a new passthrough to a bank or other enterprise
page, may be added semi-automatically as follows: Typically, when a
user opens a new account with an enterprise through interaction
with a WEB page hosted by the enterprise, the user is required to
provide certain information, which will typically include such as
the user's ID, address, e-mail account, and so forth, and typically
a new user name and password to access the account. In this process
the user will be interacting with the enterprise's page from
his/her browser. A Password-All plug-in is provided wherein, after
entering the required information for the new enterprise, the user
may activate a predetermined signal (right click, key stroke,
etc.), and the Password-All suite will then enter a new passthrough
in the user's Password. All profile at the Password-All Portal
server.
[0033] In a related method for new entries, the enterprise hosting
the Password-All Portal may, by agreement with other enterprises,
provide login and sign-up services at the Password-All Portal, with
most action transparent to the user. For example, there may be, at
the Password-All Portal, a selectable browser list of cooperating
enterprises, such as banks, security services, and the like, and a
user having a Password-All Portal subscription and profile may
select among such cooperating enterprises and open new accounts,
which will simultaneously and automatically be added to the
Password-All Portal page for the user and to the server hosted by
the cooperating enterprise. There may be some interactivity
required for different accounts, but in the main, much information
from the user's profile may be used directly without being
re-entered.
[0034] The inventors have anticipated that many potential users may
well be suspicious of providing passwords and user names to an
enterprise hosting a Password-All Portal Server executing a service
like Password-All according to embodiments of the present
invention. To accommodate this problem, in preferred embodiments,
it is not necessary that the user provide the cleartext password to
Password. All. Instead, an encrypted version of each password is
provided. When a user links to his passthrough page in Password-All
at the Password-All Portal server, when he/she invokes a hyperlink,
the encrypted password is returned to the user's system, which
then, by virtue of the kept encryption key or master password,
invokes the true and necessary password for connection to the
selected destination. It is thus not necessary that cleartext
passwords be stored at the Password-All Portal server, where they
may be vulnerable to attack from outside sources, or to perceived
misuse in other ways as well.
[0035] In a related safety measure, in a preferred embodiment of
the invention, a user's complete profile is never stored on a
single server, but is distributed over two or more, preferably
more, servers, so any problem with any one server will minimize the
overall effect for any particular user.
[0036] Password-All, as described above, allows a user to access a
complete list of the user's usual cyberspace destinations, complete
with necessary logon data, stored in an encrypted fashion, so a
user may simply select a destination (a hyperlink) in the
Password-All list, and the user's browser then invokes the URL for
the selected destination. In an added feature, Password-All may
display banner ads and other types of advertisement during the
navigation time between a hyperlink being invoked and the time the
destination WEB page is displayed.
[0037] In yet another embodiment of the invention, a
user/subscriber need not access the Password-All page to enjoy the
advantages of the unique features provided. In this variation, a
Plug-In is provided for the subscriber's WEB browser. If the
subscriber navigates by use of the local browser to a WEB page
requiring a secure log-in, such as his/her on-line banking
destination, when the subscriber is presented with an input window
for ID and Password, the plug in may be activated by a
predetermined user input, such as a hot key or right click of the
mouse device. The plug-in then accesses, transparently, the
Password-All page (which may be cached at the client), and
automatically accesses and provides the needed data for log-on.
[0038] In yet another aspect of the invention a search option 37
allows a user to search list 34 for specific URL's based on typed
input such as keywords or the like. In some cases, the number of
URL's stored in list 34 can be extensive making a search function
such as function 37 an attractive option. A criteria dialog box 51
illustrated as logically separated from and below list 34 is
provided and adapted to accept input for search option 37 as is
known in the art. In one embodiment, search option 37 may bring up
a second window wherein a dialog box such as box 51 could be
located.
[0039] In another aspect of the invention the search function may
also be configured in a window invoked from window 33, and caused
to search all or selected ones of listed destinations, and to
return results in a manner that may be, at least to some extent,
configured by a user. For example, a dialog box may be presented
wherein a user may enter a search criteria, and select among all of
the listed destinations. The search will then be access each of the
selected destinations in turn, and the result may be presented to
the user as each instance of the criteria is found, or results may
be listed in a manner to be accessed after the search.
[0040] Preferably the search function is a part of the Password-All
Portal software, available for all users, and may be accessed by
hyperlinks in user's personal pages. In some embodiments users may
create highly individualized search functions that may be stored in
a manner to be usable only by the user who creates such a
function.
[0041] In many aspects of the present invention a knowledge of
specific WEB pages, and certain types of WEB pages, is highly
desirable. In many embodiments characteristics of destination WEB
pages are researched by persons (facilitators) maintaining and
enhancing Password-All Portal software 35, and many characteristics
may be provided in configuration modules for users to accomplish
specific tasks. In most cases these characteristics are invoked and
incorporated transparent to the user.
[0042] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
Password-All suite is structured to provide periodic reports to a
user, in a manner to be structured and timed by the user, through
the user's profile. For example, reports of changes in account
balances in bank accounts, stock purchases, stock values, total
airline travel purchases, frequent-flier miles, and the like may be
summarized and provided to the users in many different ways.
Because the Password-All Portal server with the Password-All
software site handles a broad variety of transactional traffic for
a user, there is an opportunity to summarize and collect and
process statistics in many useful ways. In preferred embodiments of
the invention such reports may be furnished and implemented in a
number of different ways, including being displayed on the user's
secure personal WEB page on the Password-All Portal.
[0043] In addition to the ability of performing tasks as described
above, task results including reports, and hard documents such as
airline tickets may be sent over the Internet or other data
packet-networks to user-defined destinations such as fax machines,
connected computer nodes, e-mail servers, and other
Internet-connected appliances. All tasks may be set-up and caused
to run according to user-defined schedules while the user is doing
something else or is otherwise not engaged with the scheduled
task.
[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, recognizing
the increasing use of the Internet for fiscal transactions, such as
purchasing goods and services, a facility is provided in a user's
profile to automatically track transactions made at various
destinations, and to authorize payment either on a
transaction-by-transaction basis, or after a session, using access
to the user's bank accounts, all of which may be pre-programmed and
authorized by the user.
[0045] Other functions or options illustrated as part of
application 35 include a last URL option 41, an update function 43,
and an add function 45. Function 41 allows a user to immediately
navigate to a last visited URL. Update function 43 provides a means
of updating URL's for content and new address. An add function
enables a user to add additional URL's to list 34. Similarly,
function 45 may also provide a means to delete entries. Other ways
to add accounts are described above. It should be noted that the
services provided by the unique Password-All Portal in embodiments
of the present invention, and by the Password-All software suite
are not limited to destinations requiring passwords and user names.
The Password-All Portal and software in many embodiments may also
be used to manage all of a user's bookmarks, including editing of
bookmarks and the like. In this aspect, bookmarks will typically be
presented in indexed, grouped, and hierarchical ways.
[0046] There are editing features provided with Password-All for
adding, acquiring, deleting, and otherwise managing bookmarks. As a
convenience, in many embodiments of the invention, bookmarks may be
downloaded from a user's Password-All site, and loaded onto the
same user's local browser. In this manner, additions and
improvements in the bookmark set for a user may be used without the
necessity of going to Password-All. Further, bookmarks may be
uploaded from a user's local PC to his/her home page on the
Password-All site by use of one or more Password-All plug-ins.
[0047] It will be apparent to the skilled artisan, given the
teaching herein, that the functionality provided in various
embodiments of the invention is especially applicable to
Internet-capable appliances that may be limited in input
capability. For example, a set-top box in a WEB TV application may
well be without a keyboard for entering IDs and Passwords and the
like. In practice of the present invention keyboard entry is
minimized or eliminated. The same comments apply to many other
sorts of Internet appliances.
[0048] In preferred embodiments of the invention, once a
subscriber-user is in Password-All, only an ability to
point-and-click is needed for all navigation. To get into the
Password-All site, using a limited apparatus, such as an appliance
without a keyboard or keypad, a Smartcard or embedded password may
be used, or some other type of authentication.
[0049] It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that an
interactive application such as application 33 may be provided in a
form other than a WEB page without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. For example, an application such as
application 33 may be provided as a downloadable module or program
that may be set-up and configured off-line and made operational
when on-line.
[0050] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating user interaction with
the Internet Password-All Portal of FIG. 1. The following process
steps illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, are intended to illustrate exemplary user-steps and
automated software processes that may be initiated and invoked
during interaction with an Internet portal of the present invention
such as portal 31 of FIG. 1. In step 53 a user connects to the
Internet or another previously described switched-packet network
via a compatible appliance such as Internet appliance 17 of FIG.
1.
[0051] At step 55, a user enters a user-name and password which, in
one embodiment, may simply be his ISP user name and password. In
another embodiment, a second password or code would be required to
access an Internet portal such as portal server 31 of FIG. 1 after
logging onto the Internet through the ISP. In some cases, having a
special arrangement with the ISP, there may be one password for
both Internet access through the ISP and for Password-All. At step
57 a personal WEB page such as page 32 of FIG. 2 is displayed via
Internet portal server 31. At minimum, the personalized WEB page
will contain all user configured URL's, and may also be enhanced by
a search function, among other possibilities.
[0052] In step 58 a user will, minimally, select a URL from his or
her bookmarked destinations, and as is known by hyperlink
technology, the transparent URL will be invoked, and the user will
navigate to that destination for the purpose of normal user
interaction. In this action, the Password-All Portal software
transparently logs the user on to the destination page, if such
log-on is needed.
[0053] At step 60 the user invokes a search engine by clicking on
an option such as described option 37 of FIG. 2. At step 62, the
user inputs search parameters into a provided text field such as
text field 51 of FIG. 2. After inputting such parameters, the user
starts the search by a button such as button 52. The search engine
extracts information in step 64. Such information may be, in one
option, of the form of URL's fitting the description provided by
search parameters. A searched list of URL's may be presented in a
separate generated page in step 66 after which a user may select
which URL to navigate to. In an optional search function, the user
may provide search criteria, and search any or all of the possible
destinations for the criteria.
[0054] In another embodiment wherein WEB pages are cached in their
presentable form, information extracted in step 64 may include any
information contained in any of the stored pages such as text,
pictures, interactive content, or the like. In this case, one
displayed result page may provide generated links to search results
that include the URL associated with the results. Perhaps by
clicking on a text or graphic result, the associated WEB page will
be displayed for the user with the result highlighted and in view
with regards to the display window.
[0055] The method and apparatus of the present invention may be
practiced via private individuals on the Internet, businesses
operating on a WAN connected to the Internet, businesses operating
via private WAN, and so on. There are many customizable
situations.
[0056] The present invention as taught herein and above should be
afforded the broadest of scope. The spirit and scope of the present
invention is limited only by the claims that follow.
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