Method and system of facilitating automatic login to a web site using an internet browser

Abstract

A method and system of adding functionality to an Internet browser interface. In one embodiment of the present invention, the added functionality may facilitate automatic login to a web site using an Internet browser. In another embodiment, the added functionality may enable the user to perform various tasks using the Internet browser such as, by way of non-limiting example, performing various tasks required to navigate one or more web pages, or to retrieve information desired by the user from one or more web pages or web sites.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of facilitating automatic login by a user to a web site using an Internet browser and a computer, said method comprising the step of communicating computer code to the computer to add automatic login functionality to the browser that uses user data to automatically log the user in to the web site.  
     
     
         2 . A method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said communicating step comprises communicating computer code to add a button that adds automatic login functionality to the browser that enables a user to access a merchant list and to automatically login to a web site of a merchant on the merchant list by selecting that merchant from the merchant list.  
     
     
         3 . A method as recited by  claim 2 , wherein the button provides access to the merchant list via a pull-down menu.  
     
     
         4 . A method as recited by  claim 2 , wherein the computer code facilitates automatic communication of a request to a server when a user selects a merchant from the merchant list.  
     
     
         5 . A method as recited by  claim 4 , wherein the request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         6 . A method as recited by  claim 4 , wherein the request comprises a first request and a second request including a user identifier and merchant identifier.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited by  claim 6 , wherein the first request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         8 . A method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the computer code monitors the Internet navigation of the browser by intercepting an Internet address for each Internet site to which the browser is caused to navigate.  
     
     
         9 . A method as recited by  claim 2 , wherein the computer code determines if a merchant is a supported merchant.  
     
     
         10 . A method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the computer code provides an indicator when the browser is caused to navigate to a supported merchant web site.  
     
     
         11 . A method as recited by  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first request from a user;    determining if the first request is a secure request;    if the first request is a secure request, communicating a response to the user; and    if the first request is not a secure request, communicating a secure login web page to the user for display by the Internet browser.    
     
     
         12 . A method as recited by  claim 11 , wherein the determining step comprises determining if the first request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         13 . A method as recited by  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a second request for a user credential; and    communicating the user credential to the user.    
     
     
         14 . A method as recited by  claim 13 , wherein the user credential is stored on a server, and wherein the user credential is at least one of a login identifier and a password, and wherein the user credential is specific to a merchant and to a web site of the merchant.  
     
     
         15 . A method as recited by  claim 13 , wherein the second request includes at least one of a user identifier and a merchant identifier.  
     
     
         16 . A method as recited by  claim 14 , wherein the user credential includes a merchant rules file for the selected merchant.  
     
     
         17 . An Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser on a computer display, said browser interface being modifiable by a user of the browser to add functionality to enable a user to automatically log the user in to a web site using user data.  
     
     
         18 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 17 , wherein said functionality is provided by computer code operable in connection with a processor of the computer.  
     
     
         19 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 18 , wherein said functionality is provided by computer code operable in connection with a processor of the computer for adding an automatic login button to said browser interface that adds automatic login functionality to the browser that enables a user to access a merchant list and to automatically login to a web site of a merchant on the merchant list by selecting that merchant from the merchant list, and wherein the button provides access to the merchant list.  
     
     
         20 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 19 , wherein the computer code facilitates automatic communication of a request to a server when a user selects a merchant from the merchant list.  
     
     
         21 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 20 , wherein the request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         22 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 20 , wherein the request comprises a first request and a second request including a user identifier and a merchant identifier.  
     
     
         23 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 22 , wherein the first request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         24 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 18 , wherein said computer code is further operable in connection with the processor for monitoring the Internet navigation of the Internet browser by intercepting an Internet address for each Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate.  
     
     
         25 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 18 , wherein said computer code is further operable in connection with the processor for determining if a merchant web site is a supported merchant web site.  
     
     
         26 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 19 , wherein said computer code is further operable in connection with the processor of the computer for: 
 communicating a first request;    communicating a second request for a user credential; and    receiving the user credential.    
     
     
         27 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 26 , wherein the user credential is stored on a server, and wherein the user credential is at least one of a login identifier and a password, and wherein the user credential is specific to a merchant and to a web site of the merchant.  
     
     
         28 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 26 , wherein the first request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         29 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 28 , wherein the second request includes at least one of a user identifier and a merchant identifier.  
     
     
         30 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 29 , wherein the user credential includes a merchant rules file for the selected merchant.  
     
     
         31 . A system for facilitating automatic login by a user to a web site using an Internet browser and a computer, wherein user data is necessary to login to the web site, said system comprising: 
 a server connectable to the Internet and comprising: 
 a data storage device; and  
 a processor operable in connection with software stored on said data storage device for communicating computer code to the user's computer to add automatic login functionality to the browser, wherein the computer code adds automatic login functionality to the browser that uses user data to automatically log the user in to the web site.  
   
     
     
         32 . A system as recited by  claim 31 , wherein the computer code adds a button to the browser that adds automatic login functionality to the browser that enables a user to access a merchant list and to automatically login to a web site of a merchant on the merchant list by selecting that merchant from the merchant list.  
     
     
         33 . A system as recited by  claim 32 , wherein the button provides access to the merchant list via a pull-down menu.  
     
     
         34 . A system as recited by  claim 32 , wherein the computer code facilitates automatic communication of a request to a server when a user selects a merchant from the merchant list.  
     
     
         35 . A system as recited by  claim 34 , wherein the request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         36 . A system as recited by  claim 35 , wherein the request comprises a first request and a second request including a user identifier and a merchant identifier.  
     
     
         37 . A system as recited by  claim 36 , wherein the first request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         38 . A system as recited by  claim 34 , wherein said processor is further operable in connection with software for determining if the request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         39 . A system as recited by  claim 31 , wherein the computer code monitors the Internet navigation of the browser by intercepting an Internet address for each Internet site to which the browser is caused to navigate.  
     
     
         40 . A system as recited by  claim 39 , wherein the computer code determines if a merchant web site is a supported merchant web site.  
     
     
         41 . A system as recited by  claim 31 , wherein said server is a secure server.  
     
     
         42 . A system as recited by  claim 32 , wherein said processor is further operable in connection with software for: 
 receiving a first request from a user;    determining if the first request is a secure request;    if the first request is a secure request, communicating a response to the user; and    if the first request is not a secure request, communicating a secure login web page to the user for display by the Internet browser.    
     
     
         43 . A system as recited by  claim 42 , wherein said processor is further operable in connection with software for determining if the first request includes a secure cookie.  
     
     
         44 . A system as recited by  claim 42 , wherein said processor is further operable in connection with software for: 
 receiving a request for a user credential; and    communicating the user credential to the user.    
     
     
         45 . A system as recited by  claim 44 , wherein a user credential is stored on a server, and wherein the user credential is one or more of a login identifier and a password, and wherein the user credential is specific to a merchant and to a web site of the merchant.  
     
     
         46 . A system as recited by  claim 44 , wherein the second request includes at least one of a user identifier and a merchant identifier.  
     
     
         47 . A system as recited by  claim 45 , wherein the user credential includes a merchant rules file for the selected merchant.  
     
     
         48 . A method of controlling an Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser on a display of a computer, the Internet browser enabling a user of the computer and Internet browser to access and navigate the Internet and to receive and display on the computer display one or more web pages from one or more Internet sites, including the display of a web page from a predetermined Internet site, the Internet browser having at least one Internet browser toolbar having at least one toolbar button providing a predetermined functionality to the user of the computer and Internet browser, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing, at the predetermined Internet site, access to a program for controlling the Internet browser interface; and    (b) making available for downloading by the predetermined Internet site, a file for displaying a user toolbar making additional functionality available to the user as part of the Internet browser interface, such that once the user toolbar is displayed, the user toolbar remains displayed, and said additional functionality remains available to the user, regardless of the Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate, wherein the file adds automatic login functionality to the browser that uses user data to automatically log the user in to the web site.    
     
     
         49 . A method as recited by  claim 48 , wherein the user toolbar includes an interface object and is customizable by the user to provide user-selected functionality in the user toolbar.  
     
     
         50 . A method as recited by  claim 48 , wherein the file comprises an ActiveX control.  
     
     
         51 . A method as recited by  claim 48 , wherein the file comprises a Plug-in.  
     
     
         52 . A method as recited by  claim 49 , wherein the interface object is a toolbar button.  
     
     
         53 . A method as recited by  claim 49 , wherein the interface object is a search window that enables the user to initiate a search at the predetermined Internet site regardless of the Internet site to which the computer is connected via the browser at the time the search is initiated.  
     
     
         54 . A method as recited by  claim 48 , wherein the predetermined Internet site maintains user-specific information for a plurality of users, including the user of the computer and Internet browser, said method further comprising the step of making available for downloading by the predetermined Internet site, information specific to the user of the computer and Internet browser for defining all or part of the user toolbar and wherein all or part of the display of the user toolbar is dependent upon the information, specific to the user of the computer and Internet browser, downloaded by the predetermined Internet site.  
     
     
         55 . A method as recited by  claim 54 , further comprising the step of making available for downloading by the predetermined Internet site, additional information, specific to the user of the computer and Internet browser, for defining all or part of the user toolbar, and wherein all or part of the display of the user toolbar is dependent upon the downloaded information.  
     
     
         56 . An Internet browser interface displayable by an Internet browser on a display of a computer, the Internet browser facilitating connection between the computer and one or more Internet sites, including a predetermined Internet site, the Internet browser having at least one Internet browser toolbar having predetermined functionality available to a user of the computer and Internet browser, the Internet browser further facilitating display on the computer display of one or more web pages from the one or more Internet sites, including display of web pages from the predetermined Internet site, said Internet browser interface including a user toolbar that is displayed as part of the Internet browser interface and along with the Internet browser toolbar while the Internet browser is activated regardless of the Internet site to which the computer is connected via the Internet browser, wherein the user toolbar makes additional functionality available to the user as part of the Internet browser interface, such that once the user toolbar is displayed, the user toolbar remains displayed, and said additional functionality remains available to the user, regardless of the Internet site to which the Internet browser is caused to navigate, wherein said additional functionality adds automatic login functionality to the browser that uses user data to automatically log the user in to the web site.  
     
     
         57 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 56 , wherein said user toolbar includes an interface object and is customizable by the user.  
     
     
         58 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 57 , wherein said interface object is a toolbar button.  
     
     
         59 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 57 , wherein said interface object is a search window that enables the user to initiate a search at the predetermined Internet site regardless of the Internet site to which the computer is connected via the Internet browser at the time the search is initiated.  
     
     
         60 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 57 , wherein said interface object comprises an ActiveX control that enables user customization of said interface object.  
     
     
         61 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 57 , wherein said interface object comprises a Plug-in control that enables user customization of said interface object.  
     
     
         62 . An Internet browser interface as recited by  claim 57 , wherein the predetermined Internet site maintains user-specific information for a plurality of users, including the user of the computer and Internet browser, wherein said interface object causes the Internet browser to establish a connection to the predetermined Internet site when the Internet browser is first activated and to receive information specific to the user of the computer and Internet browser from the predetermined Internet site, and wherein all or part of said user toolbar is dependent upon the information, specific to the user of the computer and Internet browser, received from the predetermined Internet site.  
     
     
         63 . An Internet browser interface as recited by claim  62 , wherein said interface object causes the Internet browser to periodically re-establish a connection to the predetermined Internet site while the Internet browser is activated to receive additional information, specific to the user of the computer and Internet browser, from the predetermined Internet site, and wherein all or part of said user toolbar is dependent upon the received information and additional information.