Linking identities in a network entity

A computer-implemented method for authenticating an end user who is registering with a collaborative application in order to begin an initial collaborative session, the method comprising:

• an act of receiving at a network entity an authentication request from the collaborative application, the collaborative application using the network entity to authenticate the end user, wherein the authentication request includes registration information of the end user, the end user's registration information being usable to identify both a network-entity-side user account of the end user and an existing first identifier of the end user's network-entity-side user account, the end user's registration information including identifying information about the end user so that the end user's network-entity-side user account and the end user's existing first identifier are identifiable using the identifying information, the identifying information not including an existing username of the end user, whereby the registration information, as opposed to an existing username, is used to initially identify the end user's network-entity-side user account and to obtain the first identifier;
• an act of the network entity using the existing first identifier to authenticate the end user, the existing first identifier being associated with the network entity, the existing first identifier having been previously saved within a recognition domain of the network entity and being used by the network entity to verify that the end user is permitted to use the collaborative application;
• in response, an act of the network entity sending first data to the collaborative application, the first data being structured to be interpretable by the collaborative application as meaning that the end user is permitted to use the collaborative application such that the end user is authenticated with the collaborative application;
• an act of receiving, at the network entity and from the collaborative application, a second identifier for the end user, the second identifier not at least initially being within the recognition domain of the network entity such that the second identifier is not identified as the end user's existing username, wherein the second identifier is received after the end user is already authenticated, the second identifier being received in response to a request that was sent to the end user after the end user is already authenticated;
• an act of linking the second identifier with the existing first identifier;
• an act of the network entity allowing the second identifier to be used to authenticate the end user with the collaborative application during a subsequent collaborative session without needing to use the existing first identifier when the end user begins the subsequent collaborative session using the collaborative application;
• and
• after the initial collaborative session has started, a selectable link is transmitted to a second end user to invite the second end user to join the initial collaborative session with the end user, the selectable link, when activated by the second end user, enabling the second end user to interact directly with the collaborative application to join the initial collaborative session;
• whereby the end user is authenticated without ever inputting the user's existing username.

One or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions being executable by one or more processors of a computing system to cause the computing system to perform a method for allowing a network entity to facilitate creation of an initial collaborative session between one or more end users and a collaborative application that is associated with the network entity, the method comprising:

• receiving at the network entity from the collaborative application an authentication request to authenticate a first end user, wherein the authentication request includes registration information of the first end user, the first end user's registration information being usable to identify both a network-entity-side user account of the first end user and an existing identifier of the first end user's network-entity-side user account, the first end user's registration information including identifying information about the first end user so that the first end user's network-entity-side user account and the first end user's existing identifier are identifiable using the identifying information, the identifying information not including an existing username of the first end user, whereby the registration information, as opposed to an existing username, is used to initially identify the first end user's network-entity-side user account and to obtain the identifier;
• verifying at the network entity that the existing identifier is an existing authentication identifier, the authentication identifier being within a recognition domain of the network entity such that the authentication identifier is able to be used by the network entity to verify that the first end user is permitted to use the collaborative application;
• in response to verifying that the first end user is permitted to use the collaborative application, the network entity sending data to the first end user, the data being associated with the authentication identifier, the data allowing the first end user to access the collaborative application to thereby begin the initial collaborative session using the collaborative application such that the first end user is authenticated with the collaborative application;
• after the first end user is authenticated with the collaborative application, sending a request to the first end user, the request inviting the first end user to provide a second identifier that is usable to authenticate the first end user during a subsequent collaborative session, the second identifier being different than the first end user's existing identifier;
• and
• after the initial collaborative session has started, transmitting a selectable link to a second end user to invite the second end user to join the initial collaborative session with the first end user, the selectable link, when activated by the second end user, enabling the second end user to interact directly with the collaborative application to join the initial collaborative session.

A computer system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable hardware storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors and that cause the computer system to establish a link between two user accounts by causing the computer system to:
• receive, from a collaborative application, data entered by a user who is attempting to access the collaborative application, the data being usable by the computer system to identify both a system-side user account of the user and an existing first identifier of the user's system-side user account, the user's data including identifying information about the user so that the user's system-side user account and the user's existing first identifier are identifiable using the identifying information, the identifying information not including an existing username of the user, whereby the data, as opposed to an existing username, is used to initially identify the user's system side user account and to obtain the first identifier;
• use the user data and the existing first identifier of the user to authenticate the user with the collaborative application, the existing first identifier having been previously saved in storage;
• upon successfully authenticating the user with the collaborative application, notify the collaborative application that the user is authenticated and that the user is permitted to begin a collaborative session of the collaborative application;
• receive a second identifier, wherein the second identifier was initially received at the collaborative application in response to a prompt that prompted the user to enter the second identifier even though the user is already authenticated;
• link the existing first identifier and the second identifier together, whereby, after the link, the second identifier is usable to successfully authenticate the user during a subsequent authentication between the user and the collaborative application, whereby the user is able to be authenticated without ever inputting the user's existing username;
• and
• after the user has begun the collaborative session, a selectable link is transmitted to a second user to invite the second user to join the collaborative session with the user, the selectable link, when activated by the second user, enabling the second user to interact directly with the collaborative application to join the collaborative session.