System and method for delegation of permissions to a third party

Abstract

A system and method for delegating permissions to a third party are presented. A request to access a first computing resource of a computer server is received from a first user. The first user is prompted to supply a first authentication credential for access to the first computing resource of the computer server and the first authentication credential is received from the first user. After the first authentication credential is received, a request to access a second computing resource of the computer server is received from the first user. An authentication database is accessed to identify a second user associated with the second computing resource, and a request for a second authentication credential is transmitted to a second user. The second authentication credential is received from the second user. When the second authentication credential is received from the second user, the first user is given access to the second computing resource.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 authenticating, by a computer server configured to communicate via a communications network, a website developer;   after authenticating, by the computer server, the website developer, receiving from the website developer a request to access a computing resource of the computer server;   providing the website developer temporary access to the computing resource, the temporary access to the computing expiring after a period of time;   identifying, by the computer server, a user, wherein the computing resource is registered to the user;   transmitting, by the computer server, to the user a request for an authentication credential granting the website developer access to the computing resource; and   upon receiving, by the computer server, the authentication credential, providing the website developer permanent access to the computing resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for the authentication credential is transmitted to the user using a short message service message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication credential includes an image. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before providing the website developer temporary access to the computing resource, accessing an authentication database to determine that the user has previously granted access to the computing resource to the website developer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing resource includes at least one of a website builder application, a search engine optimization tool, and an email service. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , including, after receiving from the user the authentication credential:
 accessing an authentication database to determine a permission level of the website developer for the computing resource; and   restricting actions of the website developer with respect to the computing resource in accordance with the permission level.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , including, after receiving from the user the authentication credential, setting a secure cookie on a first user device of the website developer, the secure cookie indicating that the website developer is a delegate of the user. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a computer server configured to communicate via a communications network, a request from a first user to access a computing resource of the computer server;   providing the first user access to the computing resource;   identifying, by the computer server, a second user, wherein the computing resource is registered to the second user;   transmitting, by the computer server, a notification to the second user indicating that the first user has been granted to the computing resource; and   upon receiving, by the computer server, an indication that the permission of the first user to access the computing resource has been revoked, preventing the first user from accessing the computing resource.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the notification is transmitted to the second user using a short message service message. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, before providing the first user access to the computing resource, accessing an authentication database to determine that the second user has previously granted access to the computing resource to the first user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the computing resource includes at least one of a website builder application, a search engine optimization tool, and an email service. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 an authentication database associating at least one user with at least one computing resource; and   a computer server configured to communicate with the authentication database, the computer server being configured to perform the steps of:
 authenticating a website developer, 
 after authenticating the website developer, receiving from the website developer a request to access a computing resource of the computer server, 
 providing the website developer temporary access to the computing resource, 
 identifying a user, wherein the computing resource is registered to the user, 
 transmitting to the user a request for an authentication credential granting the website developer access to the computing resource, and 
 upon receiving the authentication credential, providing the website developer permanent access to the computing resource. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer server is configured to transmit the request for the authentication credential to the user using a short message service message. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the authentication credential includes an image. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer server is configured to perform the steps of, before providing the website developer temporary access to the computing resource, accessing an authentication database to determine that the user has previously granted access to the computing resource to the website developer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computing resource includes at least one of a website builder application, a search engine optimization tool, and an email service. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer server is configured to, after receiving from the user the authentication credential, perform the steps of:
 accessing an authentication database to determine a permission level of the website developer for the computing resource; and   restricting actions of the website developer with respect to the computing resource in accordance with the permission level.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer server is further configured to perform the steps of, after receiving from the user the authentication credential, setting a secure cookie on a first user device of the website developer, the secure cookie indicating that the website developer is a delegate of the user.