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Claims  |
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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,
pre-selected by the user and 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 appliances 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 pre-determined 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 software application executing on an
Internet-connected server, comprising:
a log-on portion providing an interactive display for users to enter log-on
information from an Internet-connected appliance for access to the Portal
application; and
a plurality of displayable stored personal pages associated each with one
or more specific users;
wherein individual personalized pages, rendered in an interactive display,
list plural Internet destinations enabled by hyperlinks, the destinations
pre-selected by the associated users, and upon invocation of a hyperlink
by the associated user, the portal software 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 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 enables users to pre-select destinations by 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.
26. The Internet Portal application of claim 18 wherein the Portal
periodically summarizes account information for accounts at destinations
listed on the user's WBB 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 software application executing on an
Internet-connected server, comprising:
a log-on portion providing an interactive display for users to enter log-on
information for access to the Portal application; and
a plurality of displayable 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, pre-selected by the associated user, from the
browser, accessing the associated user's personal page, 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 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 enables users to pre-select destinations by 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, the destinations pre-selected by the user;
(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 pre-selected 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. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
In yet another aspect an Internet Portal application executable on an
Internet-connected server is provided, comprising a log-on facility
adapted or users to enter log-on information for access to the Portal
application; and 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.
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.
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
FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet portal-system and network according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
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.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating user interaction with the Internet
portal of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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.
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 stand-alone
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 WEB 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 pre-determined 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.
In a related method for new entries, the enterprise hosting the
Password-All Portal may, by agreement with other enterprises, provide
log-in 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.
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.
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.
Password-All, as described above, allows a user to access a complete list
of the user's usual cyberspace destinations, complete with necessary
log-on 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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