Patent ID: 8725587

Claim:
A method of managing access to a trading network, comprising: as a result of a command entered by a first user at a terminal, receiving by an authentication manager from the terminal a first network login request for the first user, the first login request including first authentication information, the first authentication information including at least one of a login ID and password associated with the first user; approving by the authentication manager the first network login request based at least on the first authentication information, wherein approving the first login network request authorizes the first user to access the trading network; based at least in part on approving the first network login request: identifying by the authentication manager from a plurality of users one or more associated users for which the first user is authorized to engage in trading activity via the trading network on behalf of, the one or more identified associated users including a second user; and communicating by the authentication manager to the terminal at least the second user and second authentication information associated with the second user, the second authentication information including at least one of a login ID and password associated with the second user; as a result of a command entered by the first user at the terminal, receiving by the authentication manager from the terminal a second network login request for the second user, the second network login request including the second authentication information; approving by the authentication manager the second network login request based at least on the second authentication information; and in response to approving the second network login request: obtaining by the authentication manager user profile information for the second user, the user profile information including information regarding the second user that allows the first user to engage in trading activity via the trading network on behalf of the second user; and communicating by the authentication manager the user profile information to the terminal.