User Authentication

Abstract

A user may be authenticated using credentials associated with online retailers. A username and password associated with an online retailer, for example, may be submitted to a different online retailer. The different online retailer may thus use the username and password to verify the user, even though the username and password are associated with the online retailer. A single user identity, in other words, is more convenient for the user.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a server, an electronic authentication request requesting an authentication associated with an online retailer, the electronic authentication request specifying a user identity associated with a different online retailer;   querying, by the server, an electronic database for the user identity associated with the different online retailer, the electronic database having electronic database associations between user identities and global identities;   retrieving, by the server from the electronic database, a global identity of the global identities having an electronic database association with the user identity associated with the different online retailer; and   authenticating, by the server, access to a restricted access zone associated with the online retailer based on the global identity having the electronic database association with the user identity associated with the different online retailer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the access to the restricted access zone comprises authenticating the access to a website. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the access to the restricted access zone comprises authenticating the access to a website associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the access to the restricted access zone comprises authenticating the access to a software application. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the access to the restricted access zone comprises authenticating the access to a software application associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the access to the restricted access zone comprises authenticating the access to data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the access to the restricted access zone comprises authenticating the access to data associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:   receiving an electronic authentication request requesting an authentication associated with an online retailer, the electronic authentication request specifying a user identity associated with a different online retailer;   querying an electronic database for the user identity associated with the different online retailer, the electronic database having electronic database associations between user identities and global identities;   retrieving a global identity of the global identities having an electronic database association with the user identity associated with the different online retailer; and   authenticating access to a restricted access zone associated with the online retailer based on the global identity having the electronic database association with the user identity associated with the different online retailer.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a website. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a website associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a software application. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a software application associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to data. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to data associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         15 . A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving an electronic authentication request requesting an authentication associated with an online retailer, the electronic authentication request specifying a user identity associated with a different online retailer;   querying an electronic database for the user identity associated with the different online retailer, the electronic database having electronic database associations between user identities and global identities;   retrieving a global identity of the global identities having an electronic database association with the user identity associated with the different online retailer; and   authenticating access to a restricted access zone associated with the online retailer based on the global identity having the electronic database association with the user identity associated with the different online retailer.   
     
     
         16 . The memory device of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a website. 
     
     
         17 . The memory device of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a website associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         18 . The memory device of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a software application. 
     
     
         19 . The memory device of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to a software application associated with the online retailer. 
     
     
         20 . The memory device of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the access to data associated with the online retailer.