Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An agent device for regulating access to user data in response to a request for user data generated at a remote location across a communications network, said apparatus comprising: a data storage means storing, data describing a plurality of caller types, for each said caller type, data describing a type of user data accessible by said caller type, and for each said user data type, data describing a corresponding authentication method required to access said user data type; and an authorization decoder for receiving a plurality of authorization signals representing different levels of authorization to access different types of said user data, and for recognizing said authorization signals according to a said authentication method; and a data access signal generator for generating data access signals for accessing authorized data types; wherein said agent device allows or denies access to portions of stored data depending on a type of caller and a level of said received authorization signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An agent device for regulating access to user data in response to a request for user data generated at a remote location across a communications network, said apparatus comprising: a data storage means storing, data describing a plurality of caller types, for each said caller type, data describing a type of user data accessible by said caller type, and for each said user data type, data describing a corresponding authentication method required to access said user data type; and an authorization decoder for receiving a plurality of authorization signals representing different levels of authorization to access different types of said user data, and for recognizing said authorization signals according to a said authentication method; and a data access signal generator for generating data access signals for accessing authorized data types; wherein said agent device allows or denies access to portions of stored data depending on a type of caller and a level of said received authorization signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An agent device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data storage means is partitioned into a plurality of different data sets, each comprising a set of said user data types which are authorized by a said user for access by callers in response to receipt of a said recognized authorization signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An agent device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user data types include data types pre-defined by a said user, and available from a user data source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An agent device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user data types include service data available from a service provider device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An agent device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data storage means stores: data describing a plurality of types of said authorization signals; and data describing a plurality of said user data types accessible in response to receipt of each said recognized authorization signal type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An agent device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said authorization decoder comprises a decryption means for recognizing a received encrypted authorization signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An agent device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said authorization decoder comprises a means for encryption of said accessible data.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of a acessing a plurality of user data sources over a communications network from a location remote from said user data sources, said method comprising the steps of: storing in a look-up table data describing a type of caller; storing in said look-up table for each said caller type data designing types of user data accessible by said caller type; for each said user data type, storing in said look-up table data describing a corresponding authentication method, wherein a type of said authentication method depends on a type of said user data requested by said caller; and receiving a request signal requesting access to user data available from at least one said user data source; receiving an authorization signal representing an authorization to access user data available from said at least one user data source; recognizing said authorization signal according to said authentication method; reading said look-up table data describing types of user data which are authorized for access in response to a said received authorization signal; and accessing authorized data types from at least one said user data source, wherein access to said authorized types of user data is allowed or denied depending on a type of said caller, and a level of authorization of said recieved authorization signed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of a acessing a plurality of user data sources over a communications network from a location remote from said user data sources, said method comprising the steps of: storing in a look-up table data describing a type of caller; storing in said look-up table for each said caller type data designing types of user data accessible by said caller type; for each said user data type, storing in said look-up table data describing a corresponding authentication method, wherein a type of said authentication method depends on a type of said user data requested by said caller; and receiving a request signal requesting access to user data available from at least one said user data source; receiving an authorization signal representing an authorization to access user data available from said at least one user data source; recognizing said authorization signal according to said authentication method; reading said look-up table data describing types of user data which are authorized for access in response to a said received authorization signal; and accessing authorized data types from at least one said user data source, wherein access to said authorized types of user data is allowed or denied depending on a type of said caller, and a level of authorization of said recieved authorization signed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of recognizing an authorization signal comprise decoding an encrypted data signal.