Cross platform social networking authentication system

Abstract

Disclosed in one example is a method of authenticating with multiple social network services. The method may include storing first authentication information associated with a user for a first social networking service using at least one computer processor, receiving second authentication information associated with the user for a second social networking service from a social networking application, and sending to the social networking application the first authentication information. The first authentication information may enable the social networking application to utilize a protected application programming interface call for the first social networking service and the second authentication information may enable the social networking application to utilize a protected application programming interface call for the second social networking service.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of authenticating an application with a network-based content service, the method comprising:
 at an application server:
 receiving, over a network, an authentication token from the application, the application previously obtaining the authentication token over the network from the network-based content service after completing an authenticating process with the network-based content service; 
 storing the authentication token in a database of the application server; 
 after receiving the authentication token, receiving, over the network, a request from the application for the authentication token for the network-based content service; 
 obtaining the authentication token from the database; 
 sending, over the network, the authentication token to the application, the application using the token to re-authenticate with the network-based content service. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the application server sends the application over the network to a computing device of the user. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the authentication token has expired, and wherein the method further comprises renewing of the authentication token by the application. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 receiving, over a network, a second authentication token from a second application, the second application obtaining the authentication token over the network from a second network-based application service after completing an authentication process with the second network-based application service; and   determining that both the first and second authentication tokens correspond to a same user, and storing a correlation of the first and second authentication token in the database of the application service.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 sending a request for information on a user of the application, using the authentication token, to the network-based content service;   receiving from the network-based content service, the information on the user; and   sending, over the network, the information on the user to a second application executing within a framework of a second network-based content service.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 prior to receiving, over the network, the authentication token:
 receiving a request for the authentication token from the application; 
 determining that the authentication token for the network-based content service has not been received for the application; 
 sending a response indicating that the application server does not have the authentication token; and 
 wherein the application authenticates with the network-based content service in response to the response indicating that the application server does not have the authentication token. 
   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the application is a social networking application and wherein the network-based content service is a social networking service. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the social networking application is a game. 
     
     
         29 . A system for authenticating an application with a network-based content service, the system comprising:
 an application server comprising:   a processor; and   a memory, the memory storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, over a network, an authentication token from the application, the application previously obtaining the authentication token over the network from the network-based content service after completing an authenticating process with the network-based content service; 
 storing the authentication token in a database of the application server; 
 after receiving the authentication token, receiving, over the network, a request from the application for the authentication token for the network-based content service; 
 obtaining the authentication token from the database; 
 sending, over the network, the authentication token to the application, the application using the token to re-authenticate with the network-based content service. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the operations comprise sending the application over the network to a computing device of the user. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the authentication token has expired, and wherein the authentication token is renewed by the application. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, over a network, a second authentication token from a second application, the second application obtaining the authentication token over the network from a second network-based application service after completing an authentication process with the second network-based application service; and   determining that both the first and second authentication tokens correspond to a same user, and storing a correlation of the first and second authentication token in the database of the application service.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 sending a request for information on a user of the application, using the authentication token, to the network-based content service;   receiving from the network-based content service, the information on the user; and   sending, over the network, the information on the user to a second application executing within a framework of a second network-based content service.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 prior to receiving, over the network, the authentication token:
 receiving a request for the authentication token from the application; 
 determining that the authentication token for the network-based content service has not been received for the application; 
 sending a response indicating that the application server does not have the authentication token; and 
 wherein the application authenticates with the network-based content service in response to the response indicating that the application server does not have the authentication token. 
   
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, over a network, an authentication token from an application, the application previously obtaining the authentication token over a network from the network-based content service after completing an authenticating process with the network-based content service;   storing the authentication token in a database;   after receiving the authentication token, receiving, over the network, a request from the application for the authentication token for the network-based content service;   obtaining the authentication token from the database;   sending, over the network, the authentication token to the application, the application using the token to re-authenticate with the network-based content service.   
     
     
         36 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the operations comprise sending the application over the network to a computing device of the user. 
     
     
         37 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the authentication token as expired, and wherein the authentication token is renewed by the application. 
     
     
         38 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, over a network, a second authentication token from a second application, the second application obtaining the authentication token over the network from a second network-based application service after completing an authentication process with the second network-based application service; and   determining that both the first and second authentication tokens correspond to a same user, and storing a correlation of the first and second authentication token in the database of the application service.   
     
     
         39 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 sending a request for information on a user of the application, using the authentication token, to the network-based content service;   receiving from the network-based content service, the information on the user; and   sending, over the network, the information on the user to a second application executing within a framework of a second network-based content service.   
     
     
         40 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 prior to receiving, over the network, the authentication token:
 receiving a request for the authentication token from the application; 
 determining that the authentication token for the network-based content service has not been received for the application; 
 sending a response indicating that the authentication token is not available; and 
 wherein the application authenticates with the network-based content service in response to the response indicating that the authentication token is not available.