Patent ID: 7346775

Claim:
A method of providing a web page to a device for authentication by a user, the method comprising the steps of: responsive to a request for the web page, determining whether an encrypted cookie comprising a user identifier is stored on the device; responsive to a determination that an encrypted cookie comprising a user identifier is not stored on the device, performing steps comprising: requesting the user to provide indicia of the user's identity; determining a user identifier based at least in part on the indicia; determining whether the user identifier is associated with customization information; responsive to a determination that the user identifier is not associated with customization information, performing steps comprising: requesting the user to identify customization information by at least one selected from: allowing the user to provide the customization information; allowing the user to select the customization information from a set comprising the customization information and other information; and providing the customization information to the user; associating with the user identifier the customization information identified; providing the user identifier in a cookie; encrypting the cookie; and storing the cookie on the device; responsive to a determination that the user identifier is associated with customization information, performing steps comprising: providing the customization information, via at least one selected from: a secure connection; and a communication channel different from that used to provide the web page; such that the user may authenticate the web page based at least in part on the customization information; providing the user identifier in a cookie; encrypting the cookie; and storing the cookie on the device; responsive to a determination that an encrypted cookie comprising a user identifier is stored on the device, performing steps comprising: reading the cookie stored; providing the web page requested; and responsive to the cookie read, providing the customization information associated with the user identifier stored in the cookie, via at least one selected from: a secure connection; and a communication channel different from that used to provide the web page; such that the user may authenticate the web page based at least in part on the customization information.