Managing user information on an e-commerce system

1. A method for enabling an e-commerce web site to manage user information for both site server users and regular web site users, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a site server comprising a membership directory component with directory information stored thereon including preferences, roles, and details identifying the users, wherein the details of the users include a user name and a legal name;

(b) providing a database separate from the membership directory component of the site server, the database having table information stored in a plurality of database tables, including preferences, roles, and details identifying the users, wherein the details of the users include a user name and a legal name, wherein the preferences include a currency in which monetary values are displayed and a language in which text is displayed, and wherein the roles relating to the users include a customer, a manager, and an employee;

(c) authenticating an identity of one of the users with an active server page, for determining whether the user is a site server user or a regular web site user;

(d) providing a single interface framework of components which provides user information access by both site server users and regular web site users upon authentication of the identity of the user;

(e) allowing site server users to view and change the information identifying the user that is stored on the membership directory component of the site server; and

(f) allowing regular web site users to view and change the information identifying the user that is stored on the plurality of database tables in the database.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the identity of the user is authenticated by at least one of verifying a user name and a password, a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate, and a log-in form.

3. A system for enabling an e-commerce web site to manage user information for both site server users and regular web site users, the system comprising:

a site server;

(a) logic that provides the site server comprising a membership directory component with directory information stored thereon including preferences, roles, and details identifying the users, wherein the details of the users include a user name and a legal name;

(b) logic that provides a database separate from the membership directory component of the site server, the database having table information stored in a plurality of database tables, including preferences, roles, and details identifying the users, wherein the details of the users include a user name and a legal name, wherein the preferences include a currency in which monetary values are displayed and a language in which text is displayed, and wherein the roles relating to the users include a customer, a manager, and an employee;

(c) logic that authenticates an identity of one of the users with an active server page, for determining whether the user is a site server user or a regular web site user;

(d) logic that provides a single interface framework of components which provides user information access by both site server users and regular web site users upon authentication of the identity of the user;

(e) logic that allows site server users to view and change the information identifying the user that is stored on the membership directory component of the site server; and

(f) logic that allows regular web site users to view and change the information identifying the user that is stored on the plurality of database tables in the database.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the identity of the user is authenticated by at least one of verifying a user name and a password, a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate, and a log-in form.

5. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for enabling an e-commerce web site to manage user information for both site server users and regular web site users, comprising:

(a) a code segment that provides a site server comprising a membership directory component with directory information stored thereon including preferences, roles, and details identifying the users, wherein the details of the users include a user name and a legal name;

(b) a code segment that provides a database separate from the membership directory component of the site server, the database having table information stored in a plurality of database tables, including preferences, roles, and details identifying the users, wherein the details of the users include a user name and a legal name, wherein the preferences include a currency in which monetary values are displayed and a language in which text is displayed, and wherein the roles relating to the users include a customer, a manager, and an employee;

(c) a code segment that authenticates an identity of one of the users with an active server page, for determining whether the user is a site server user or a regular web site user;

(d) a code segment that provides a single interface framework of components which provides user information access by both site server users and regular web site users upon authentication of the identity of the user;

(e) a code segment that allows site server users to view and change the information identifying the user that is stored on the membership directory component of the site server; and

(f) a code segment that allows regular web site users to view and change the information identifying the user that is stored on the plurality of database tables in the database.

6. A computer program as recited in claim 5 , wherein the identity of the user is authenticated by at least one of verifying a user name and a password, a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate, and a log-in form.