(1912) United States(12) Patent Application Publication RANGANInala et al.
`
`(10) Pub.Patent No.: US 2002/0032782 Al6,199,077 B1
`
`(4345) Pub. Date of Patent: Mar. 14, 20026, 2001
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING A USER-
`INTERACTIVE PORTAL SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE VIA INTERNET OR OTHER
`SWITCHED-PACKET-NETWORKSERVER-SIDE WEB SUMMARY GENERATION AND
`PRESENTATION
`
`(76) Inventors: P. VENKAT RANGAN, SAN DIEGO, CA (US); SAM INALA, REDMOND,
`WA75) Inventors: Suman Kumar Inala, Santa Clara; P Venkat Rangan, San Diego; Ramakrishna
`Satyavolu, Santa Clara, all of CA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`
`CENTRAL COAST PATENT AGENCY
`
`PO BOX 187
`
`AROMAS(73) Assignee: Yodlee.com, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA 95004 (US)
`
`( * ) Notice: This is a publication of a continued prosecution application (CPA) filed under 37
`CFR 1.53(d)) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted
`under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/208,740323,598
`
`(22) Filed: DecJun. 8, 19981, 1999
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/208,740, filed on Dec. 8, 1998.
`
`(51) Int. C1.7 HO4L 9/32; H04L 12/22Cl.7 GO6F 17/21
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. 707/501; 709/229202; 709/218; 713/201202; 704/1
`
`(58) Field of Search 707/501, 513, 707/1, 3, 4, 5, 9-10; 713/201-202; 705/26-27; 709/202, 218;
`704/1
`
`(56) References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`Petitioner's Ex. 1005
`Page 1
`
`

`
`
`
`5,649,186 * 7/1997 Ferguson 707/10
`
`5,708,825 * 1/1998 Sotomayor 707/501
`
`5,794,233 * 8/1998 Rubinstein 707/4
`
`5,855,015 * 12/1998 Shoham 707/5
`
`5,931,907 * 8/1999 Davies et al. 709/218
`
`5,983,227 * 11/1999 Nazem et al. 707/10
`
`5,987,466 * 11/1999 Greer et al. 707/10
`
`6,029,180 * 2/2000 Murata et al. 707/501
`
`6,029,182 * 2/2000 Nehab et al. 707/523
`
`6,032,162 * 2/2000 Burke 707/501
`
`6,038,668 * 8/2000 Chipman et al. 713/201
`
`6,041,326 * 3/2000 Amro et al. 707/10
`
`6,108,686 * 8/2000 Williams, Jr. 709/202
`
`6,119,101 * 9/2000 Peckover 705/10 X
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Stanley, Tracey, “Intelligent Searching Agents on the Web”, 4 pages,
`<http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issu7/search–engines/> Jan. 1997.*
`
`Jansen, James, “Using an Intelligent Agent to Enhance Search Ingine Performance”, 16 pages,
`<http o://www.first-monday.dk/issues/issue2 3/jansen/> Dec. 1998.*
`
`Lesser, Victor et al, “BIG: A Resource Bounded Information Gathering Agent”, 18 pages,
`<http://dis.cs.umass.edu/ research/big/> Jan. 1998.*
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Joseph H. Feild
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Donald R. Boys; Central Coast Patent Agency
`
`(57) ABSTRACT
`
`An Internet Portal is enabled by software executing on anA portal server includes a software
`agent configured to do summary searches for subscribers based on Internet destinations provided
`
`
`
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`Page 2
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`by the subscribers, to retrieve information from such destinations based on pre-programmed site
`information, and to download the summary information to the subscriber. The destinations and
`the nature of the information to be retrieved is pre-programmed. There is further a configuration
`and intitiation interface for a subscriber to set up and start a summary search. In some cases the
`summary searches are configured for individual clients as templates stored and retrieved at the
`Internet-connected server. The Portal, in response to a log-on by a user, presents a secure and
`personalized page for and to the user, the personalized page having listed plural Internet
`destinations enabled by hyperlinks, wherein upon invocation of a hyperlink by the subscriber,
`such as by a point-and-click technique, 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. In an enhanced embodiment a search function is provided wherein a
`user may configure searches in any or all of the listed destinations on a personalized page.
`Provision is provided for log-on by limited appliances, such as by a Smartcard or embedded
`password, and in some embodiments functionality is provided in a browser plug-in wherein a
`user may navigate to a site, and, in response to a request for log-in data, the subscriber may use a
`hot key or pointer input, which will cause the browser to access and provide the needed data
`from the Password-All sourceAlso in some cases retrieved information is immediately sent to the
`subscriber, and in other situations such information is saved at the portal to be retrieved by a
`subscriber at a later time. In preferred embodiments of the invention autologins are accomplished
`for a subscriber at Internet destinations by use of pre-stored configuration information.
`
`SERVER-SIDE WEB SUMMARY GENERATION AND PRESENTATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS
`
`The present invention is a continuation in part (CIP) to patent application Ser. No. 09/208,740
`entitled “Method and Apparatus for Providing and Maintaining a User-Interactive Portal System
`Accessible via Internet or other Switched-Packet-Network” filed on Dec. 8, 1998,pending,
`disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety herein by reference.
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING A USER-
`INTERACTIVE PORTAL SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE VIA INTERNET OR OTHER
`SWITCHED-PACKET-NETWORK
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The present invention is in the field of Internet navigation and browsing,including various
`communication means and connection technologies 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, including software, for gathering summary
`information from users or enterprise-selected WEB sites and presenting the information as
`HTML to the user using either a push or pull technology.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The information network known as the world wide webWorld 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
`
`
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`Page 3
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`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.
`
`[0003] 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.
`
`[0004] 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.
`
`[0005] 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.
`
`[0006] 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.
`
`A service known to the inventor and described in the related case listed under the cross-reference
`to related documents section provides a WEB service that allows a user to store all of his
`password protected pages in one location such that browsing and garnering information from
`them is much simplified. A feature of the above service allows a user to program certain tasks
`into the system such that requested tasks are executed by an agent (software) based on user
`instruction. The service stores user password and log-in information and uses the information to
`log-in to the user’s sites, thus enabling the user to navigate without having to manually input log-
`in or password codes to gain access to the links.
`
`The above-described service uses a server to present a user-personalized application that may be
`displayed as an interactive home page that contains all of his listed sites (hyperlinks) for easy
`navigation. The application lists the user’s URL’s in the form of hyperlinks such that a user may
`
`
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`click on a hyperlink and navigate to the page wherein login, if required, is automatic, and
`transparent to the user.
`
`The application described above also includes a software agent that may be programmed to
`perform scheduled tasks for the user including returning specific summaries and updates about
`user-account pages. A search function is provided and adapted to cooperate with the software
`agent to search user-entered URL’s for specific content if such pages are cached somewhere in
`their presentable form such as at the portal server, or on the client’s machine.
`
`In addition to the features described above, it is desirable that the software agent in conjunction
`with the search function be enabled to navigate to any URL or group of URL’s, provided as input
`by a user or otherwise deemed appropriate by the service provider, for the purpose of providing
`summary information regarding updated content for each URL, which may be presented as an
`HTML information-page to the user.
`
`[0007] 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 transactionsa method
`and apparatus that can independently navigate to user-supplied or known URL’s, login with the
`appropriate password information at each URL (if required), and return requested summary
`information to a user in the form of a human and machine-readable HTML document. Such a
`system would provide an effective summarization service wherein important information may be
`presented to a user without requiring that the user invoke hyperlinks at his personal portal home
`page.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] 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, including a summary software agent. The Portal maintains a list of
`Internet destinations enabled by hyper-links, 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 destinationspecific for a subscriber, and the summary software agent accesses the Internet
`destinations, retrieves information according to pre-programmed criteria, and summarizes the
`retrieved information for delivery to the subscriber.
`
`[0009] 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).
`
`[0010] 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.
`
`
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`[0011] 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.
`
`[0012] 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.
`
`[0013] 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.
`
`[0014] In yet another aspect an Internet Portal application executable on anIn one embodiment
`the Portal further comprises a configuration and intitiation interface for a subscriber to set up and
`start a summary search, and summary searches may be configured for individual clients as
`templates stored and retrieved at the 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. 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.[0015] 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 cases summary information is
`stored to be later downloaded at request of the subscriber, and in others the information is
`immediately pushed to the client. Also 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 pageembodiments
`
`
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`autologins are performed for the subscriber at each Internet site according to a data stored for the
`subscriber at the Portal.
`
`[0016] In addition to the apparatus and software applications provided, several methods are
`taught in the following enabling disclosureMethods for practicing the invention in several
`embodiments are provided as well. In 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 datadescriptions that follow, and for the
`first time a system is enabled allowing subscribers to quickly access multiple WEB sites without
`lengthy log-in procedures, and to also summarize and download the data resulting from a
`summary search.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGDRAWINGS FIGURES
`
`[0017] FIG. 1 is an overview of an Internet portal- system and network according to an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`[0018] 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.
`
`[0019] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating user interaction with the Internet portal of FIG. 1.
`
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a summarization software agent and capabilities thereof
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`FIG. 5 is a logical flow chart illustrating an exemplary summarization process performed by the
`software agent of FIG. 4 operating in a user-defined mode.
`
`FIG. 6 is a logical flow chart illustrating an exemplary summarization process performed by the
`software agent of FIG. 4 in a User-independent smart mode with minimum user input.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0020] 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.
`
`[0021] 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
`standalonestand-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™,
`Yahoo™) or by any other enterprise hosting a WEB-connected server.
`
`
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`[0022] 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.
`
`[0023] 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.
`
`[0024] 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.
`
`[0025] In a preferred embodiment a user has access to Internet 1 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.
`
`[0026] Three Internet servers 23, 25, and 27, are shown in 1 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.
`
`[0027] 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 VVEBWEB 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 1 by the inventors.
`
`
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`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.
`
`[0028] 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.
`
`[0029] 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.
`
`[0030] 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.
`
`[0031] 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
`
`
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`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.
`
`[0032] 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
`predeterminedpre-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.
`
`[0033] In a related method for new entries, the enterprise hosting the Password-All Portal may,
`by agreement with other enterprises, provide loginlog-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.
`
`[0034] 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.
`
`[0035] 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.
`
`[0036] Password-All, as described above, allows a user to access a complete list of the user’s
`usual cyberspace destinations, complete with necessary logonlog-on data, stored in an encrypted
`fashion, so a user may simply select a destination (a hyperlink) in the Password-All list, and the
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`Petitioner's Ex. 1005
`Page 10
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`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.
`
`[0037] 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