US6711682B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Online service registration system and method
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2000-02-09
•
Granted: 2004-03-23
•
Expires: 2020-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A method for registering a user for an online service includes receiving an initial access to an online service by a prospective user and determining whether the user has provided a valid user identifier (ID). If the prospective user fails to provide a valid user ID, automatically generating a memorable user identifier (ID), without acquiring any personal information regarding the prospective user, to enable the prospective user to anonymously access the online service.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen P. Capps
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0407; H04L63/0421; G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2117
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for registering a prospective user to utilize an online service, the method comprising: receiving an initial access to an online service by a prospective user; determining whether the user has provided a valid user identifier (ID); and if the user has not provided a valid user ID: automatically generating a memorable user identifier (ID), without acquiring personal information regarding the prospective user; displaying a user interface (UI) including the memorable user ID; retrieving any change to the memorable user ID via the UI; and enabling the prospective user to access the online service using either the original or the changed memorable user IDs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for registering a prospective user to utilize an online service, the method comprising: receiving an initial access to an online service by a prospective user; determining whether the user has provided a valid user identifier (ID); and if the user has not provided a valid user ID: automatically generating a memorable user identifier (ID), without acquiring personal information regarding the prospective user; displaying a user interface (UI) including the memorable user ID; retrieving any change to the memorable user ID via the UI; and enabling the prospective user to access the online service using either the original or the changed memorable user IDs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising adding the memorable user ID to a user registry associated with the online service enabling access to the online service.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises accessing a user registry associated with the online service to search for a user ID offered by the prospective user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises identifying that a user ID offered by the user adheres to client assignment rules.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein a user ID generated in accordance with client assignment rules substantially differs from a user ID generated in accordance with server assignment rules.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein a user ID generated in accordance with client assignment rules are distributed to prospective users with a product or service unrelated to the online service as promotional material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the memorable user ID is generated in accordance with server assignment rules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: constructing a configuration file including at least the memorable user ID to facilitate direct access to the online service on subsequent accesses; and downloading the configuration file to a client computer used by the prospective user to access the online service.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the configuration file is used during subsequent accesses to the online service to automatically provide the user ID, facilitating direct access to the online service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A storage medium having stored therein a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed, implement a method as recited in claim 1 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises enabling the prospective user to make both the initial and successive accesses to the online service without the online service acquiring personal information about the prospective user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID without requiring the prospective user to input personal information about the prospective user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID without prompting the prospective user to input demographic information about the prospective user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID so as to conform to a predetermined syntax.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the personal information includes demographic information regarding the prospective user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising detecting a geographic region from any automatic number identifier (ANI) information from a telephone number of a dial-up connection connecting the initial access to the online service, wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include an association with the detected geographic region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein: the receiving an initial access to an online service by a prospective user further comprises receiving a product identifier from the prospective user; the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include the product identifier; and the product identifier is selected from the group consisting of a good, a service, and a provider of goods and/or services.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include: a word from one or more word lists; and an optional number, whereby the memorable user ID is unique.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
A business method comprising: offering an online service to prospective users from an accessible server; automatically generating a memorable user identifier (ID), without acquiring personal information regarding a prospective user, for the prospective user requesting access to the service if the prospective user has not offered a valid user identifier (ID); displaying a user interface (UI) including the memorable user ID; retrieving a change to the memorable user ID via the UI; and enabling the prospective user to access the online service using either the original or the changed memorable user IDs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
A business method comprising: offering an online service to prospective users from an accessible server; automatically generating a memorable user identifier (ID), without acquiring personal information regarding a prospective user, for the prospective user requesting access to the service if the prospective user has not offered a valid user identifier (ID); displaying a user interface (UI) including the memorable user ID; retrieving a change to the memorable user ID via the UI; and enabling the prospective user to access the online service using either the original or the changed memorable user IDs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A business method as recited in claim 19 , further comprising: verifying that the prospective user has offered a valid user ID by, accessing a user registry associated with the online service to identify the offered user ID; and determining whether the offered user ID adheres to client assignment rules if the offered user ID is not identified within the user registry.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A business method as recited in claim 20 , wherein a user ID generated in accordance with client assignment rules is provided to the prospective user in association with a product or service that is unrelated to the online service.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A business method as recited in claim 20 , further comprising: populating the u user registry with the user ID adhering to the client assignment rules to facilitate direct access to the online service on subsequent accesses by the user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
A business method as recited in claim 22 , further comprising: constructing a configuration file including at least the user ID; and downloading the configuration file to a client computer used to access the online service to automatically provide the user ID to the online service on subsequent accesses to the service by the user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A business method as recited in claim 19 , further comprising: dynamically generating a user ID for the prospective user if the user has failed to provide a valid user ID.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A business method as recited in claim 24 , wherein the dynamically generated user ID is generated in accordance with server assignment rules, without acquiring personal information regarding the prospective user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A business method as recited in claim 24 , further comprising: populating a user registry with the dynamically generated user ID facilitating direct access to the online service on subsequent accesses by the user.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
A business method as recited in claim 24 , further comprising: constructing a configuration file including at least the dynamically generated user ID; and downloading the configuration file to a client computer used to access the online service to automatically provide the user ID to the online service on subsequent accesses to the service by the user.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A storage medium having stored therein a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed, implement a business method as recited in claim 19 .
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The business method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID without requiring the prospective user to input personal information regarding the prospective user.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The business method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID without prompting the prospective user to input demographic information regarding the prospective user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The business method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID so as to conform to a predetermined syntax.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the personal information includes demographic information characterizing the prospective user.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
61 words
The business method as defined in claim 19 , further comprising detecting a geographic region from any automatic number identifier (ANI) information from a telephone number of a dial-up connection connecting the requesting access to the online service, wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include an association with the geographic region.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
69 words
The business method as defined in claim 19 , further comprising receiving an initial access to the online service from the prospective user supplying a product identifier, wherein: the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include the product identifier; and the product identifier is selected from the group consisting of a good, a service, and a provider of goods and/or services.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
45 words
The business method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include: a word from one or more word lists; and an optional number, whereby the memorable user ID is unique.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
121 words
A registration manager comprising: a user identifier (ID) generator to create, upon an invocation, a memorable user ID for a prospective user of the online service without acquiring personal information about the prospective user; controller, coupled to the user ID generator, to receive an initial access from a prospective user and, if the user fails to provide a valid user ID, to invoke the user ID generator, to facilitate access of the online service; means for displaying a user interface (UI) including the memorable user ID; means for retrieving a change to the memorable user ID via the UI; and means for enabling the prospective user to access the online service using either the original or the changed memorable user IDs.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
121 words
A registration manager comprising: a user identifier (ID) generator to create, upon an invocation, a memorable user ID for a prospective user of the online service without acquiring personal information about the prospective user; controller, coupled to the user ID generator, to receive an initial access from a prospective user and, if the user fails to provide a valid user ID, to invoke the user ID generator, to facilitate access of the online service; means for displaying a user interface (UI) including the memorable user ID; means for retrieving a change to the memorable user ID via the UI; and means for enabling the prospective user to access the online service using either the original or the changed memorable user IDs.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 36 , further comprising: a user registry, coupled to the controller, containing a list of valid user ID's.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 37 , wherein the controller accesses the user registry to identify the user ID offered by the prospective user to determine if the offered user ID is a valid user ID.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 37 , wherein the controller identifies whether the user ID offered by the prospective user adheres to client assignment rules to determine if the offered user ID is valid.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
38 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 39 , wherein the controller updates the user registry with the offered user ID adhering to client assignment rules to facilitate direct anonymous access on subsequent accesses to the online service.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
55 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 39 , wherein the controller constructs and downloads a configuration file including at least the user ID to a client computer used by the prospective user to access the online service to automatically provide the controller with the valid user ID upon subsequent accesses to the online service.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
38 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 36 , wherein the controller populates a user registry with the dynamically generated user ID to facilitate direct, anonymous access to the online service upon subsequent accesses by the prospective user.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
53 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 36 , wherein the controller constructs and downloads a configuration file including at least the valid user ID to a client computer utilized by the prospective user to access the online service to automatically provide the valid user ID on subsequent accesses to the online service.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
A storage medium having stored therein a plurality of executable instructions which, when executed, implements a registration manager as recited in claim 36 .
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
A server for a Web site comprising the registration manager as recited in claim 36 .
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The registration manager as defined in claim 36 , wherein the user ID generator creates the memorable user ID without requiring the prospective user of the online service to input personal information about the prospective user.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
The registration manager as defined in claim 36 , wherein the user ID generator creates the memorable user ID without prompting the prospective user to input demographic information about the prospective user.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
The registration manager as defined in claim 36 , wherein the user ID generator creates the memorable user ID so as to conform to a predetermined syntax.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
The registration manager as defined in claim 36 , wherein the personal information includes demographic information characterizing the prospective user.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
57 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 36 , wherein the user ID generator further comprising means for detecting a geographic region from any automatic number identifier (ANI) information from a telephone number of a dial-up connection connecting the requesting access to the online service, wherein the memorable user ID includes an association with the geographic region.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
70 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 36 , further comprising means for receiving an initial access to the online service from the prospective user supplying a product identifier, wherein: the user ID generator further comprises means for forming the memorable user ID to include the product identifier; and the product identifier is selected from the group consisting of a good, a service, and a provider of goods and/or services.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
44 words
A registration manager as recited in claim 36 , wherein the user ID generator further comprising means for forming the memorable user ID to include: a word from one or more word lists; and an optional number, whereby the memorable user ID is unique.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
130 words
A system comprising: a client executing a client program to provide a user identifier (ID) for making an initial access to an online service at a server through a network; and a server program executing on the server to: receive the initial access to the online service from the client; determine whether the user ID provided by the client is a valid user ID; and when the user ID is determined by the server program to be invalid: automatically generate a user ID; display a user interface (UI) including the user ID; retrieve any change to the user ID via the UI; and enable the client to make subsequent accesses to the online service using either the original or the changed user IDs without acquiring personal information about the client.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
130 words
A system comprising: a client executing a client program to provide a user identifier (ID) for making an initial access to an online service at a server through a network; and a server program executing on the server to: receive the initial access to the online service from the client; determine whether the user ID provided by the client is a valid user ID; and when the user ID is determined by the server program to be invalid: automatically generate a user ID; display a user interface (UI) including the user ID; retrieve any change to the user ID via the UI; and enable the client to make subsequent accesses to the online service using either the original or the changed user IDs without acquiring personal information about the client.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as defined in claim 53 , wherein the automatically generating the user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID without requiring the prospective user to input personal information about the client.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as defined in claim 53 , wherein the automatically generating the user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID without prompting the prospective user to input the personal information.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as defined in claim 53 , wherein the automatically generating the user ID further comprises generating the memorable user ID so as to conform to a predetermined syntax.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system as defined in claim 53 , wherein the server program executing on the server further detects a geographic region from any automatic number identifier (ANI) information from a telephone number of a dial-up connection connecting the initial access to the online service, wherein the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include an association with the detected geographic region.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system as defined in claim 53 , wherein: the receiving of the initial access to the online service from the client further comprises receiving a product identifier from the client; the automatically generating the memorable user ID further comprises forming the memorable user ID to include the product identifier; and the product identifier is selected from the group consisting of a good, a service, and a provider of goods and/or services.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system as defined in claim 53 , wherein the server program executing on the server further forms the memorable user ID to include: a word from one or more word lists; and an optional number, whereby the memorable user ID is unique.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5732212A
Cited
US5790785A
Cited
US5996111A
Cited
US5922045A
Cited
EP0855659A1
Cited
US6128663A
Cited
US6029141A
Cited
US6134661A
Cited
US6141778A
Cited
US6141010A
Cited
US6275824B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-23 | 2007-09-22 | 2008-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-23 | 2011-09-22 | 2012-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-23 | 2015-09-22 | 2016-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |