Patent ID: 7272849

Claim:
A method for sharing user information, the method comprising: receiving with a network service an identification of a level of access to user information that is to be extended to a web site host, the identification being received from a user computer via a network; assigning with the network service a user code that is pertinent to the identified level of access; sending the assigned user code from the network service to the user computer via a network to enable the user to provide the user code to the web site host when the user visits a web site maintained by the web site host; receiving from the web site host via a network with the network service a request for information concerning the user and the user code that was provided to the web site host; determining with the network service a level of access for which the web site host is authorized from the user code received from the web site host; and transmitting from the network service to the web site host via a network user information that pertains to the user code.