US6263447B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for authentication of network users
Assignee: Equifax Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-20
•
Granted: 2001-07-17
•
Expires: 2019-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A network authentication system provides verification of the identity or other attributes of a network user to conduct a transaction, access data or avail themselves of other resources. The user is presented with a hierarchy of queries based on wallet-type (basic identification) and non-wallet type (more private) information designed to ensure the identity of the user and prevent fraud, false negatives and other undesirable results. A preprocessing stage may be employed to ensure correct formatting of the input information and clean up routine mistakes (such as missing digits, typos, etc.) that might otherwise halt the transaction. Queries can be presented in interactive, batch processed, or other format. The authenticator can be configured to require differing levels of input or award differing levels of authentication according to security criteria.
Inventors
- 👤 Jennifer French
- 👤 Jone Wilder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/33; G06F21/40; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/409; G06Q20/4097; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0609; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/08; H04L63/0823; H04L63/10; H04L63/105; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) comprises generating an interactive query, the interactive query comprising at least one question having multiple-choice answers, wherein only one of the answers is the correct answer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) comprises generating an interactive query, the interactive query comprising at least one question having multiple-choice answers, wherein only one of the answers is the correct answer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, the second type of information comprising information pertaining to credit accounts to which the user is a party, the information pertaining to credit accounts comprising mortgage loan information, wherein the user is requested to identify at least one of: i) mortgage lender information; and ii) mortgage loan amount information.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, the second type of information comprising information pertaining to credit accounts to which the user is a party, the information pertaining to credit accounts comprising mortgage loan information, wherein the user is requested to identify at least one of: i) mortgage lender information; and ii) mortgage loan amount information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information, performing a first authentication step further comprising: i) obtaining the first type of information from the user; ii) retrieving user identification information from a data source; iii) comparing the first type of information supplied by the user with the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and iv) determining a level of correspondence between the first type of information supplied by the user and the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the data source for the first type of information is used to identify the availability of the second type of information for the user.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information, performing a first authentication step further comprising: i) obtaining the first type of information from the user; ii) retrieving user identification information from a data source; iii) comparing the first type of information supplied by the user with the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and iv) determining a level of correspondence between the first type of information supplied by the user and the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the data source for the first type of information is used to identify the availability of the second type of information for the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information; and c) storing a transaction record of the first authentication step.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information; and c) storing a transaction record of the first authentication step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising; a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information; and c) executing a pattern recognition process to detect potential irregularities in at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising; a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information; and c) executing a pattern recognition process to detect potential irregularities in at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information; and c) performing a remote authentication step based upon at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of authenticating a user on a network, said method comprising: a) performing a first authentication step based on a first type of information; b) performing at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information; and c) performing a remote authentication step based upon at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the step (c) of performing a remote authentication step further comprises filtering through a mailability filter the at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor generates an interactive query, the interactive query comprising at least one question having multiple-choice answers wherein only one of the answers is the correct answer.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor generates an interactive query, the interactive query comprising at least one question having multiple-choice answers wherein only one of the answers is the correct answer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication based on a first type of information, the first type of information comprising wallet-type information; and performing at least a second authentication based on a second type of information other than the first type of information wherein the second type of information comprises non-wallet type information and pertains to credit accounts to which the user is a party, the second type of information pertaining to credit accounts further comprising mortgage loan information, and performing at least a second authentication further comprises a request for the user to identify at least one of: mortgage lender information; and mortgage loan amount information.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication based on a first type of information, the first type of information comprising wallet-type information; and performing at least a second authentication based on a second type of information other than the first type of information wherein the second type of information comprises non-wallet type information and pertains to credit accounts to which the user is a party, the second type of information pertaining to credit accounts further comprising mortgage loan information, and performing at least a second authentication further comprises a request for the user to identify at least one of: mortgage lender information; and mortgage loan amount information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 30 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 30 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 30 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information, the first authentication comprising obtaining the first type of information from the user; retrieving user identification information from a data source; comparing the first type of information supplied by the user with the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and determining a level of correspondence between the first type of information supplied by the user and the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the user identification information retrieved from the data source is used to identify the availability of the second type of information for the user.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information, the first authentication comprising obtaining the first type of information from the user; retrieving user identification information from a data source; comparing the first type of information supplied by the user with the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and determining a level of correspondence between the first type of information supplied by the user and the user identification information retrieved from the data source; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the user identification information retrieved from the data source is used to identify the availability of the second type of information for the user.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 34 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor, connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor stores a transaction record of the first authentication step.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor, connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor stores a transaction record of the first authentication step.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 30 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 38 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 38 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor, connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor executes a pattern recognition process to detect potential irregularities in the input supplied by the user.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor, connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor executes a pattern recognition process to detect potential irregularities in the input supplied by the user.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor, connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor further performs a remote authentication step based upon at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for authenticating a user on a network, said system comprising: an input interface for receiving input from the user; and a processor, connected to the input interface and configured to: perform a first authentication step based on a first type of information; and perform at least a second authentication step based on a second type of information other than the first type of information, wherein the processor further performs a remote authentication step based upon at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein the offline authentication comprises applying a mailability filter to the at least one of the first type of information and the second type of information.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein the first information comprises at least one of name information, address information, social security number information, gender information, birth date information, telephone number information, email information, and driver's license information.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein the second information comprises at least one of credit card information, mortgage information, other loan information, and monthly payment information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-16 | 2005-01-15 | 2005-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-16 | 2009-01-15 | 2009-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-16 | 2013-01-15 | 2013-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |