User verification system and method based on restricted url opening on browser of user device

Abstract

A computerized age-verification method, comprising: receiving an electronic request for verification of a user associated with a user device; opening a browser window in a browser running on the user device; attempting to open a URL listed on a directory of restricted URLs; responsive to receipt of a message denying opening of the URL, returning an indication that the user is not verified; and responsive to receipt of an indication that the URL opens, returning an indication that the user is verified.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized age-verification method, comprising:
 receiving an electronic request for verification of a user associated with a user device;   opening a browser window in a browser running on the user device;   attempting to open a URL listed on a directory of restricted URLs;   responsive to receipt of a message denying opening of the URL, returning an indication that the user is not verified; and   responsive to receipt of an indication that the URL opens, returning an indication that the user is verified.   
     
     
         2 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of an indication that the URL opens, generating and storing an authentication token on the browser of the user device, the authentication token providing for subsequent verification of the user device. 
     
     
         3 . The computerized method of  claim 2 , wherein upon said subsequent verification and determination of the authentication token, generating a request for a user to create a user account. 
     
     
         4 . The computerized method of  claim 3 , wherein the creation of the user account includes provision of a virtual mailbox. 
     
     
         5 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein the user device is a mobile device connected to a cellular network, and wherein data associated with the mobile device is checked to determine whether the mobile device is associated with an adult such that the cellular network prevents access to the URL upon a determination that said mobile device is not associated with an adult. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for verification of the user of the user device is received by a central computer system, for a provider system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving data indicative of a plurality of contacts of the user;   determining, by the central computer system, for each of the contacts, whether the contact is a verified user in a database of verified users maintained by the central computer system.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 dispatching, by the central computer system, an electronic message to each of the contacts determined to be a verified user, requesting verification of age of the user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the central computer system, from the contacts, responses to the electronic messages;   determining by the central computer system, based on at least the responses, whether the user is verified; and   responding to the request for user verification with a message indicative of the determination of whether the user is verified.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data indicative of a plurality of contacts comprises data indicative of a plurality of e-mail addresses. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data indicative of a plurality of contacts comprises data indicative of a plurality of social media network contacts. 
     
     
         12 . A computer system for verifying ages of users communicating from remote user devices, comprising:
 a central system memory, storing processor-executable instructions; and   one or more central system computer processors in communication with the central system memory, the processor-executable instructions causing the one or more central system computer processors to:
 receive a request for verification of a user associated with a user device; 
 open a browser window in a browser running on the user device; 
 attempt to open a URL listed on a directory of restricted URLs; 
 responsive to receipt of a message denying opening of the URL, return an indication that the user is not verified; and 
 responsive to receipt of an indication that the URL opens, return an indication that the user is verified. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the one or more central system computer processors to, responsive to receipt of an indication that the URL opens, generate and store an authentication token on the browser of the user device, the authentication token providing for subsequent verification of the user device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the one or more central system computer processors to, responsive to said subsequent verification and determination of the authentication token, generate a request for a user to create a user account. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the user device is a mobile device connected to a cellular network, and wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the one or more central system computer processors to check data associated with the mobile device to determine whether the mobile device is associated with an adult such that the cellular network prevents access to the URL upon a determination that the mobile device is not associated with an adult. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the one or more central system computer processors to, responsive to receipt of the request for verification on behalf of a provider system:
 receive data indicative of a plurality of contacts of the user;   determine for each of the contacts, whether the contact is a verified user in a database of verified users maintained by the central computer system;   dispatch to each of the contacts determined to be a verified user, an electronic message requesting verification of age of the user;   determine based upon responses to the electronic messages whether the user is verified; and   respond to the request for user verification with a message indicative of the determination of whether the user is verified.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data indicative of a plurality of contacts comprises data indicative of one or more of a plurality of e-mail addresses or a plurality of social media network contacts. 
     
     
         18 . A method for age verification of remote users, comprising:
 receiving, by a central computer system, from a provider system, a request for verification of a user employing a remote device;   receiving data indicative of a plurality of contacts of the user;   determining, by the central computer system, for each of the contacts, whether the contact is a verified user in a database of verified users maintained by the central computer system;   dispatching, by the central computer system, an electronic message to each of the contacts determined to be a verified user, requesting verification of age of the user;   receiving, by the central computer system, from the contacts, responses to the electronic messages;   based on at least the responses, determining, by the central computer system, whether the user is verified; and   responding to the request with a message indicative of the determination of whether the user is verified.   
     
     
         19 . A computerized method for age verification of users, comprising:
 storing, by a central computer system, a plurality of data tables having entries indicative of values for data indicative of verification types and confidence levels, each entry associated with a merchant and a location;   permitting, by the central computer system, remote access by a merchant representative to alter the stored values of the entries associated with the merchant;   responsive to receipt by the central computer system of a request for age verification of a user, associated with a merchant and a location, accessing, by the central computer system, the corresponding data table entries to determine associated verification type and confidence level; and   based on the accessed verification type and confidence level, determine an age verification response.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, following accessing the corresponding data table entries, dynamically generating a request window for display on a user browser based on the associated verification type.