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US 2010/0250676 A1Published application
System, method, and computer program product for verifying the identity of social network users
AssigneePharos Global Strategies Ltd.
InventorsStephen Ufford, Tanis Jorge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An advanced identity verification system, method, and computer program product are provided that enable a user to create and individualize a repository of identifying data, and then incorporate that repository into processes that require reliable identification of an individual. Real-world acquaintances of the user can be queried to determine the accuracy of identifying data in the repository. As more and more acquaintances respond concerning a particular item of identifying data, a numeric accuracy index may be provided that permits an inquiring party to determine whether the identifying data may be trusted.
Claims25
A system for verifying the identity of a social network member comprising:
- a user device;
- and
- a network entity in electronic communication with the user device, the network entity including a processor and a memory;
- a profile module stored on the memory;
- a data module stored on the memory;
- a verification module stored on the memory;
- and
- a publication module stored on the memory;
- wherein the profile module is executable by the processor and configured to, upon execution, receive:
- a plurality of identifying data as multiple items of identifying data;
- and
- contact information for a plurality of persons who are acquainted with the social network member, the plurality of persons who are acquainted with the social network member being defined as acquaintances, the contact information for acquaintances being defined as acquaintance data;
- wherein the data module is executable by the processor and configured to, upon execution, store and retrieve the plurality of identifying data and the acquaintance data;
- wherein the verification module is executable by the processor and configured to, upon execution, assign a numeric accuracy index to each of the plurality of identifying data;
- wherein the publication module is executable by the processor and configured to, upon execution, selectively publish:
- at least one of the items of identifying data, the at least one item of identifying data that is published being defined as at least one item of published data;
- and
- the respective numeric accuracy index associated with the at least one item of published data;
- wherein the publication module publishes the at least one item of identifying data responsive to receipt of a request from an authorized user.
16 more elements
A computer-implemented method of verifying the identity of a social network member, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of identifying data as multiple items of identifying data;
- assigning a numeric accuracy index with each of the plurality of identifying data;
- receiving contact information for a plurality of persons who are acquainted with the social network member, the plurality of persons who are acquainted with the social network member being defined as acquaintances;
- sending at least one verification request for at least one respective item of identifying data to at least one of the acquaintances, the at least one acquaintances receiving a verification request being defined as at least one verifying acquaintance;
- receiving at least one of a positive indication, a negative indication, and a without knowledge indication from the at least one verifying acquaintance, the positive indication indicating that the item of identifying data in the verification request is accurate, the negative indication indicating that the item of identifying data in the verification request is inaccurate, and the without knowledge indication indicating that the at least one verifying acquaintance is without knowledge of the item of identifying data in the verification request;
- and
- selectively publishing, in response to receipt of a request from an authorized user, at least one of the items of identifying data, the at least one item of identifying data that is published being defined as at least one item of published data and the respective numeric accuracy index associated with the at least one item of published data.
4 more elements
A computer program product for verifying the identity of a social network member, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having one or more computer-readable program code portions stored therein, said computer-readable program code portions comprising:
- a first executable portion for receiving a plurality of identifying data as multiple items of identifying data;
- a second executable portion for assigning a numeric accuracy index with each of the plurality of identifying data;
- a third executable portion for receiving contact information for a plurality of persons who are acquainted with the social network member, the plurality of persons who are acquainted with the social network member being defined as acquaintances;
- a fourth executable portion for sending at least one verification request for at least one respective item of identifying data to at least one of the acquaintances, the at least one acquaintances receiving a verification request being defined as at least one verifying acquaintance;
- a fifth executable portion for receiving at least one of a positive indication, a negative indication, and a without knowledge indication from the at least one verifying acquaintance, the positive indication indicating that the item of identifying data in the verification request is accurate, the negative indication indicating that the item of identifying data in the verification request is inaccurate, and the without knowledge indication indicating that the at least one verifying acquaintance is without knowledge of the item of identifying data in the verification request;
- and
- a sixth executable portion for selectively publishing, in response to receipt of a request from an authorized user, at least one of the items of identifying data, the at least one item of identifying data that is published being defined as at least one item of published data and the respective numeric accuracy index associated with the at least one item of published data.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.