Automated on-line information service and directory, particularly for the World Wide Web

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating a web site user ID verification. Preferred embodiments include a web site configured to receive a request from a user for a user ID, query the user for an email address, associate a user ID with the user based on the received email address, and send an email to the user containing a user ID.

1 . A method for facilitating a web site user ID verification comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user for a user ID;    querying said user for an email address;    associating a user ID with said user responsive to a received email address; and    sending to said email address said user ID.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said act of querying said user comprises presenting to the user a page containing an area for entering at least one email address and an icon for invoking a user ID be sent to the associated email address.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said verification is initiated by clicking on said icon by the user.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said email contains customer information corresponding to said user ID.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said email is logged in a database file.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said received request is logged in a database file.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said email contains a link to said website.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein clicking said link takes the user to said website.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for facilitating a web site user ID verification comprising: 
 a web site configured for:    receiving a request from a user for a user ID;    querying said user for an email address;    associating a user ID with said user responsive to a received email address; and    sending to said email address said user ID.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said act of querying said user comprises presenting to the user a page containing an area for entering at least one email address and an icon for invoking a user ID be sent to the associated email address.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said verification is initiated by clicking on said icon by the user.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said email contains customer information corresponding to said user ID.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said email is logged in a database file.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said received request is logged in a database file.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said email contains a link to said website.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein clicking said link takes the user to said website.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for facilitating a web site user ID verification comprising: 
 web site means for providing network connectivity with a user;    means for receiving a request from a user for a user ID;    means for querying said user for an email address;    means for associating a user ID with said user responsive to a received email address; and    means for sending to said email address said user ID.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said means for querying said user comprises presenting to the user a page containing an area for entering at least one email address and an icon for invoking a user ID be sent to the associated email address.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said verification is initiated by clicking on said icon by the user.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said email contains customer information corresponding to said user ID.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said email is logged in a database file.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said received request is logged in a database file.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said email contains a link to said website.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein clicking said link takes the user to said website.