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US5864676A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

URL login

Assignee: F Poszat HU LLC
•
Filing: 1996-11-14
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Granted: 1999-01-26
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Expires: 2016-11-14
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Abstract

Abstract A universal resource locator ("URL") login system. The invention makes full use of the internet/intranet concept by using a URL instead of a specific home directory as a fixed location to control and access a login function. The URL login function causes objects to be collected from various locations on a network and brought to a local client computer system where they are rendered. The content of one URL may reference another URL, so that a compound object is created comprising a collection of objects drawn from various storage locations on a network. The invention permits a user to access the user's private information and personal desktop no matter where the user is located. Accordingly, a user can use public computer systems to fully access private networks. Upon a successful login, the invention fetches objects from remote locations and instantiates them locally for the duration of the user's session. The user need only tell, via a URL, a local client computer system where the objects are located, and if required, the login system of the invention will return a challenge for access. The challenge is for access to the desired object, and not access to a particular computer system.

Inventors

  • 👤 John C. Beer
  • 👤 Timothy T. Kraft
  • 👤 Steven K. Beal
  • 👤 Steven C. Wilson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 10:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/08; H04L63/083; G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F21/6218

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 123 words
A method for logging into restricted computer system resources using a universal resource locator ("URL"), comprising the steps of: (a) receiving input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object; (b) applying the URL to the login object; (c) if the login object does not require a challenge, then permitting access by the user to contents of the login object, and otherwise: (1) indicating the need for a challenge; (2) retrieving a challenge object indicated by the login object; (3) rendering the challenge object to the user; (4) accepting login information from the user; (5) applying the login information to the login object; (6) permitting access by the user to contents of the login object in response to valid login information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 123 words
A method for logging into restricted computer system resources using a universal resource locator ("URL"), comprising the steps of: (a) receiving input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object; (b) applying the URL to the login object; (c) if the login object does not require a challenge, then permitting access by the user to contents of the login object, and otherwise: (1) indicating the need for a challenge; (2) retrieving a challenge object indicated by the login object; (3) rendering the challenge object to the user; (4) accepting login information from the user; (5) applying the login information to the login object; (6) permitting access by the user to contents of the login object in response to valid login information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the input from the user indicating a URL is a nickname, and further including the step of translating the nickname to a URL.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of rejecting access by the user to contents of the login object in response to invalid login information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 where the input received from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object is received in a desktop environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 1, further including means for rejecting access by the user to contents of the login object in response to invalid login information.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 126 words
A system for logging into restricted computer system resources using a universal resource locator ("URL"), comprising: (a) means for receiving input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object; (b) means for applying the URL to the login object; (c) means for permitting access by the user to contents of the login object if the login object does not require a challenge, and otherwise for: (1) indicating the need for a challenge; (2) retrieving a challenge object indicated by the login object; (3) rendering the challenge object to the user; (4) accepting login information from the user; (5) applying the login information to the login object; (6) permitting access by the user to contents of the login object in response to valid login information.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 126 words
A system for logging into restricted computer system resources using a universal resource locator ("URL"), comprising: (a) means for receiving input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object; (b) means for applying the URL to the login object; (c) means for permitting access by the user to contents of the login object if the login object does not require a challenge, and otherwise for: (1) indicating the need for a challenge; (2) retrieving a challenge object indicated by the login object; (3) rendering the challenge object to the user; (4) accepting login information from the user; (5) applying the login information to the login object; (6) permitting access by the user to contents of the login object in response to valid login information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 6, wherein the input from the user indicating a URL is a nickname, and further including means for translating the nickname to a URL.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 6 where the means for receiving input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object receives the input in a desktop environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 135 words
A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for logging into restricted computer system resources using a universal resource locator ("URL"), the computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer to: (a) receive input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object; (b) apply the URL to the login object; (c) if the login object does not require a challenge, then permit access by the user to contents of the login object, and otherwise: (1) indicate the need for a challenge; (2) retrieve a challenge object indicated by the login object; (3) render the challenge object to the user; (4) accept login information from the user; (5) apply the login information to the login object; (6) permit access by the user to contents of the login object in response to valid login information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 135 words
A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for logging into restricted computer system resources using a universal resource locator ("URL"), the computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer to: (a) receive input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object; (b) apply the URL to the login object; (c) if the login object does not require a challenge, then permit access by the user to contents of the login object, and otherwise: (1) indicate the need for a challenge; (2) retrieve a challenge object indicated by the login object; (3) render the challenge object to the user; (4) accept login information from the user; (5) apply the login information to the login object; (6) permit access by the user to contents of the login object in response to valid login information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 37 words
The computer program of claim 9, wherein the input from the user indicating a URL is a nickname, and wherein the computer program further comprises instructions for causing a computer to translate the nickname to a URL.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 35 words
The computer program of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions for causing a computer to reject access by the user to contents of the login object in response to invalid login information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
The computer program of claim 9 where the instructions for causing a computer to receive input from a user indicating a URL referencing a login object include instructions for receiving the input in a desktop environment.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5564018A Cited
US5655077A Cited
US5675507A Cited
US5684951A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-01-25 2002-07-27 2003-01-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-01-25 2006-07-27 2007-01-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-01-25 2010-07-27 2011-01-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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