Patent ID: 6199114
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G07F,H04L

Abstract:
In an internet terminal coupled with a server system, a method of initiating a user session with the server system from the internet terminal, the method comprising the acts of:identifying the presence of a smart card in the internet terminal;requesting initiation of a user session by reading identification information from a memory of the smart card and transmitting the identification information to the server system; andreceiving and storing, at the internet terminal, a ticket for use in accessing various services, the ticket having been generated in a process at the server system that includes:the server system using the identification information to access a customer database maintained at the server system in order to find a customer record which includes at least a smart card identifier and a customer identifier, thereby determining that the identification information read from the smart card is associated with an authorized user of the server system; andthe server system generating the ticket, wherein the ticket includes information from the customer record.