Patent ID: 8707400

Claim:
A method for using a first computer to access a shared session opened by a second computer over a network, the first computer having a communications circuit and configured to perform the steps of: presenting a transaction request to the second computer; receiving a credential request from the second computer over the network; matching the credential request to a credential from a set of available credentials controlled by the first computer, the credential comprising a consumer-side information; storing information relating to the set of available credentials; automatically evaluating an authorization of the second computer to receive the credential; retrieving a credential identifier from a credential store when the authorization is validated; and returning a credential response over the network to the second computer, wherein: the credential response is created using the credential identifier, the credential is drawn from a set including an authentication credential and an authorization credential, the credential response is used by the second computer to authenticate or authorize the first computer, and the credential response is selected from a group that includes the credential, a modified credential, an error, a credential sent in an HTTP post, a credential sent as a message-oriented protocol, and a credential wrapped in a protocol envelope.