System Method and Apparatus for Portable Digital Identity

Abstract

Two-way digital media devices typically store digital identifying data that identify the user to providers of content and interactive data. In the case of a Web browser of a personal computer, the digital identity is stored in the form of a plurality of cookies that are used by respective web sites to personalize the web site experience for each particular user. When a user is at a different computer, the digital identifying data is not available. In addition, other types of interactive devices, such as CATV settop boxes, cell phones, PDAs and the like, may not have enough non-volatile memory (persistent storage) to store the digital identifying data. In order to provide users with a portable digital identity, a digital identity server is provided as a server node on the Internet, which retrieves digital identifying data and downloads such digital identifying data to any device upon request. In such manner, the user's digital identity is portable and available at any computer or other digital device that is being used. The system digital identity server permits devices without sufficient non-volatile memory storage to download a digital identity for temporary storage in volatile memory, thereby providing a digital identity in devices without non-volatile memory.

1 . A method comprising:
 processing, by a remote communication device, user identification information;   communicating the user identification information to a digital identity server;   receiving, from the digital identity server, a digital identity associated with the user identification information, the digital identity identifying a service authorized for presentation by a home communication device; and   enabling presentation of the service by the remote communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is a premium television channel accessible by the home communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating capability information of the remote communication device to the digital identity server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the digital identity to configure operation of the remote communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital identity comprises software settings to configure operation of the remote communication device based on settings of the home communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote communication device comprises a personal computer and the home communication device comprises a television or set top box. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital identity comprises a video pause point identifying a point at which a video program was paused using the home communication device to permit the remote communication device to resume presentation of the video program from the video pause point. 
     
     
         8 . A computer readable storage device storing software that, when executed, causes an apparatus at least to perform:
 processing user identification information;   communicating the user identification information to a digital identity server;   receiving, from the digital identity server, a digital identity associated with the user identification information, the digital identity identifying a service authorized for presentation by a home communication device; and   enabling presentation of the service.   
     
     
         9 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the service is a premium television channel. 
     
     
         10 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to communicate capability information to the digital identity server. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to process the digital identity to configure operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the digital identity comprises software settings to configure operation of the apparatus based on settings of the home communication device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the digital identity comprises a video pause point identifying a point at which a video program was paused using the home communication device to permit the apparatus to resume presentation of the video program from the video pause point. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing software that, when executed, causes the apparatus at least to perform:   processing user identification information;   communicating the user identification information to a digital identity server;   receiving, from the digital identity server, a digital identity associated with the user identification information, the digital identity identifying a service authorized for presentation by a home communication device; and   enabling presentation of the service.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the service is a premium television channel. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to communicate capability information to the digital identity server. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the software, when executed, causes the apparatus to process the digital identity to configure operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the digital identity comprises software settings to configure operation of the apparatus based on settings of the home communication device. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus comprises a personal computer and the home communication device comprises a television or set top box. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the digital identity comprises a video pause point identifying a point at which a video program was paused using the home communication device to permit the apparatus to resume presentation of the video program from the video pause point.