Contested account registration

An authentication system comprising:

• an authentication server coupled to a data communication network;
• an authentication database associated with the authentication server;
• and
• said authentication server being configured to authenticate registered users when login information from the registered users retrieved via the data communication network matches authentication credentials maintained in the authentication database, said credentials including login identifiers corresponding to user accounts of the registered users, said user accounts each being identified by a unique account identifier assigned thereto, said authentication server further being configured to receive a request to create a new user account in connection with a requested login identifier, said request to create the new user account being received at the authentication server from a new user via a client computer also coupled to the data communication network, said authentication server further being configured to notify the new user of a contested registration when the requested login identifier matches one of the login identifiers maintained in the authentication database, create the new user account in connection with the requested login identifier for the new user, render inactive the user account corresponding to the matching login identifier for resolving the contested registration, and retain the unique account identifier and associated account information for the inactive user account.

A method of managing user accounts in an authentication system, said authentication system including an authentication server and an authentication database associated therewith, said authentication server being coupled to a data communication network and authenticating users when login information from the users retrieved via the data communication network matches authentication credentials maintained in the authentication database, said credentials including e-mail addresses corresponding to the user accounts of the users, said user accounts each being identified by a unique account identifier assigned thereto, said method comprising:

• receiving a request from one of the users to change the e-mail address associated with the user account of the requesting user, said request being received at the authentication server from the requesting user via a client computer also coupled to the data communication network;
• soliciting confirmation from the requesting user that the requested e-mail address belongs to the requesting user when the requested e-mail address matches one of the e-mail addresses maintained in the authentication database, said confirmation being solicited via an e-mail sent to the requested e-mail address;
• rendering inactive the user account corresponding to the matching e-mail address;
• and
• retaining the unique account identifier and associated account information for the inactive user account.

A method of managing user accounts in an authentication system, said authentication system including an authentication server and an authentication database associated therewith, said authentication database storing authentication credentials including e-mail addresses corresponding to the user accounts of a plurality of users, said user accounts each being identified by a unique account identifier assigned thereto, said method comprising:

• receiving, at the authentication server, a request from one of the users to associate an e-mail address with the user account of the requesting user;
• notifying the requesting user of a contested registration when the requested e-mail address matches one of the e-mail addresses stored in the authentication database;
• soliciting confirmation from the requesting user that the requested e-mail address belongs to the requesting user, said confirmation being solicited via an e-mail sent to the requested e-mail address;
• placing the user account corresponding to the matching e-mail address in a forced rename state to render the user account inactive and to cause the user of the inactive user account to change the matching e-mail address associated therewith before permitting the inactive user account to become active again;
• and
• retaining the unique account identifier and associated account information for the inactive user account.