System and method for identifying users in a distributed network

Abstract

A communications network includes several computers connected to a communications medium. In one embodiment, a client computer has a unique identification number that is embedded within a processor. The client computer includes a client module which generates a message that includes the identification number and sends the message over the communications medium. Another computer receives the message and retrieves the identification number from the message. In addition, the computer processes the identification number and updates an identification database. The processing of the identification number and the updating of the identification database is triggered when the message is received.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of maintaining a user identification database that indicates when users are in communication with a network, the method comprising the acts of: 
 associating in a computer accessible storage medium electronic mail addresses, processor-embedded identifiers and status information;    receiving a first electronic message from a first computer, the first electronic message containing an electronic mail address and a copy of the processor-embedded identifier existing in the first computer;    using the first electronic mail address to access the corresponding processor-embedded identifier stored in the storage medium;    comparing the processor-embedded identifier from the first computer with the processor-embedded identifiers of the storage medium; and    modifying the status information in the storage medium to indicate that the first electronic mail address is authentic when the processor-embedded identifier from the first computer matches a processor-embedded identifier of storage medium.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the acts of: 
 receiving a second electronic message from a second computer, the second electronic message requesting authentication of the first electronic mail address;    comparing the first electronic mail address with the electronic mail addresses stored in the storage medium;    sending a third message to the second computer that indicates whether the first electronic mail address is authentic.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the acts of: 
 obtaining the status information that corresponds to the first electronic mail address; and    including the status information to the third message.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the act of using the authenticated first electronic mail address to establish a communications link between the first and second computers.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of modifying the status information includes indicating the first computer as active.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the act of receiving the second electronic mail includes indicating the second computer as active in the storage medium.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of associating electronic mail addresses includes registering the first and second computers in a computer accessible database.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the act of registering includes storing each processor-embedded identifier in the database together with the electronic mail address of the registering computer.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of altering the processor-embedded identifier in the first computer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the act of altering includes encoding the processor-embedded identifier.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the act of altering includes hashing the processor-embedded identifier.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of using the communications link to initiate sending an order from the first computer to the second computer as part of a sales transaction  
     
     
         13 . A method of establishing a conferencing connection comprising the acts of: 
 receiving a first processor-specific identifier embedded within a first computer when the first computer is in communication with a communications medium;    receiving a second processor-specific identifier embedded within a second computer when the second computer is in communication with the communications medium; and    providing to the first computer indication that the second computer is in communication with the communications medium in response to a request from the first computer to initiate a conferencing connection with the second computer.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the act of maintaining a contact list in the first computer, the contact list indicating a status of the second computer.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the contact list indicates the status of the second computer as active when the second computer is in communication with the communications medium.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the conferencing connection is selected from a group including a video conference, an electronic mail connection, a chat connection, a data connection, and a voice connection.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the act of sending a connect request from the first computer to the second computer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the request includes an electronic mail address of the second computer.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the act of providing includes comparing the electronic mail address with computer specific data stored in an identification database.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the acts of receiving include registering the first and second computers as active in the identification database.  
     
     
         21 . A method of identifying computer users by using processor-specific identifiers, the method comprising the acts of: 
 receiving a first processor-specific identifier that is embedded within a computer processor;    accessing a database that associates processor-specific identifiers with information about users of computer processors; and    obtaining the information of a computer processor user that corresponds to the first processor-specific identifier.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the act of receiving includes receiving an altered processor-specific identifier.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the processor-specific identifier is altered through encoding.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the processor-specific identifier is altered through hashing.  
     
     
         25 . A method of identifying users by using manufacturer-embedded identifiers, the method comprising the acts of: 
 associating a database of manufacturer-embedded identifiers with information about users, wherein each manufacturer-embedded identifier is associated with information about a user; and    using the manufacturer-embedded identifier to access the user information that corresponds to the manufacturer-embedded identifier.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the database further includes electronic mail addresses, user names and billing data.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the acts of: 
 receiving a first manufacturer-embedded identifier of a first computer when the first computer is in communication with a communications medium;    receiving a second manufacturer-embedded identifier of a second computer when the second computer is in communication with the communications medium; and    providing to the first computer indication that the second computer is authentic in responds to a request from the first computer to authenticate the second computer.    
     
     
         28 . A method of monitoring when a processor accesses a communications medium by using a processor-specific identifier that is embedded within the processor, the method comprising the acts of: 
 receiving from a first processor a processor-specific identifier embedded therein when the first processor is in communication with a communications medium; and    updating a database to indicate that the first processor is in communication with the communications medium.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the act of updating includes registering the first processor as active.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the act of registering includes transferring the processor-specific identifier to an active user database.  
     
     
         31 . A method of identifying a computer user comprising the act of associating user information with a processor-embedded identifier.  
     
     
         32 . A computer system, comprising: 
 a first computer connectable to a communications medium and comprising an identification module which provides a computer-specific identification number, the first computer configured to enclose the identification number to a message for sending over the communications medium; and    a second computer connectable to the communications medium to receive the message and to retrieve the identification number from the message, the second computer comprising a database configured to process the identification number of the first computer to identify the first computer.    
     
     
         33 . A communications network, comprising: 
 a first computer connectable to a communications medium and comprising a first identification module which provides a first identification number, the first computer configured to generate a first message including the first identification number for sending over the communications medium;    a second computer connectable to the communications medium;    a computer server connectable to the communications medium and comprising an identification database, the computer server configured to receive the first message and to retrieve the first identification number from the first message, the computer server further configured to process the first identification and to update the identification database.    
     
     
         34 . The network of  claim 33 , wherein the second computer comprises a second identification module which provides a second identification number.  
     
     
         35 . The network of  claim 34 , wherein the second computer is configured to generate a second message including the second identification number for sending over the communications medium.  
     
     
         36 . A computer, comprising: 
 a communications module configured to receive and send electronic messages; and    a database storing electronic message addresses and corresponding processor-specific identifiers, the database configured to be updated through a first electronic message containing a first electronic message address and a first processor-specific identifier.    
     
     
         37 . The computer of  claim 36 , wherein the database is configured to generate a second message including an authenticated first electronic message address.