Method and system for user information verification

Abstract

A system and method for authenticating users based on personal information. The personal information may include age-related data where the users are interested in receiving age-restricted content. The personal information may include an address and a permission request is sent to the address. Biometric information may also be associated with the personal information.

1 . A method of authenticating a user comprising:
 receiving a request for information from a user of a processing device,   receiving with at least one processor, personal information associated with said user, said personal information including an address and age information, the personal information having been pre-stored in the processing device of the user for use in multiple authentications, wherein the age information includes a period of time or date that is a function of the user's age;   sending a permission request to said address, said permission request including a request for permission to provide information to said user,   receiving permission in response to said permission request, and   sending information to said user of the processing device in response to said request for information,   whereby an authentication is performed.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said age information includes data representative of said user's date of birth. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said personal information includes a user name. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said personal information includes a category of information which said user is entitled to receive. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said address comprises an e-mail address. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said address is not the e-mail address of said user. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said user is a child and said e-mail address is the child's parent's e-mail address. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said personal information includes credit card information. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the steps of sending said credit card information back to said user and requesting verification of the accuracy of said credit card information. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising prompting said user to provide credit card information if said user does not verify the accuracy of said credit card information. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said user has the option of not including said credit card information in the personal information received during said step of receiving said personal information. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising prompting said user to provide credit card information if said user opted not to include said credit card information in the personal information received during said step of receiving said personal information. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said information is restricted to users based on a cut-off value, and further comprising the step of comparing the age information with said cut-off value. 
   
   
       14 . A method of authenticating the age of a user over a client/server network wherein said server has content restricted to users older than a particular age, said method comprising the steps of said client:
 storing age data representative of said user's age on a client of said network for use in multiple authentications,   after said step of said storing, sending a request to said server for access to said content,   receiving a request for said age data in response to the request for access to said content,   automatically providing the stored age data in response to said request for said age data,   gaining access or being denied access to said content dependant upon whether said age data indicates that said user is older than said particular age,   wherein the age data are data other than a credit card.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said steps are executed on a processor in a computer operated by said user. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising maintaining a log of each request for content. 
   
   
       17 . A method of authenticating a user over a client/server network wherein said server has content restricted to users older than a particular age, said method comprising the steps of said server:
 receiving a request for access to said content from the user of a client of the network,   receiving pre-stored personal information regarding said user, said pre-stored personal information including age data representative of said user's age and an e-mail address on said network, the pre-stored personal information being previously stored with the client of the network for use in multiple authentications,   if said age data indicates that said user is older than said particular age, then sending an e-mail to said address indicating said request was received,   sending said content to said user if a permission response is received in response to said e-mail,   wherein the age data includes a period of time or date that is a function of the user's age.   
   
   
       18 . A system of authenticating a user comprising:
 a processor,   a set of instructions executable by said processor, said instructions controlling said processor to perform: receiving a request for information from a user of a remote processing device, the remote processing device having access to pre-stored user information associated with said user, said pre-stored user information including an address and age data; receiving the pre-stored user information associated with said user; sending a permission request to said address to authenticate the user, said permission request including a request for permission to provide information to said user; receiving permission in response to said permission request; and sending information to said user of the remote processing device in response to said request for information,   wherein the age data is information other than a credit card.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said processor and instructions are contained in web server. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said set of instructions is a JAVA applet. 
   
   
       21 . A method of authenticating a user comprising:
 receiving a request for information from a user of a processing device,   receiving with at least one processor, personal information associated with said user, said personal information including an address and age data, the personal information having been pre-stored by the processing device of the user for use in multiple authentications;   sending a permission request to said address to authenticate the user, said permission request including a request for permission to provide information to said user,   receiving permission in response to said permission request, and   sending information to said user of the processing device in response to said request for information,   wherein the age data represents information other than a credit card.