Method and apparatus for managing digital identities through a single interface

1. A method of managing digital identities related to a user, comprising:

obtaining an identity policy of an entity;

identifying at least one relevant digital identity from the digital identities, each of the at least one relevant digital identity including information required by the identity policy;

obtaining a selected digital identity of the at least one relevant digital identity;

providing a representation of the selected digital identity that complies with the identity policy to the entity;

presenting the at least one relevant digital identity to the user for selection of the selected digital identity;

determining a confidence level of the entity; and

presenting a recommended one of the at least one relevant digital identity to the user based on the confidence level.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disabling for use with the entity each of the digital identities other than the at least one relevant digital identity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recommended digital identity includes real identity information for the user if the confidence level is high or anonymous identity information for the user if the confidence level is low.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected digital identity includes a first representation, and wherein the step of providing comprises:

translating the first representation of the selected digital identity to the representation that complies with the identity policy.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected digital identity includes a first representation, and wherein the method further comprises:

creating at least one alternative representation to the first representation of the selected digital identity to create a plurality of representations.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of providing comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of representations as the representation that complies with the identity policy.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the digital identities includes at least one representation, and wherein the at least one representation of each of the at least one relevant digital identity includes the representation that complies with the identity policy.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information in the selected digital identity includes a plurality of credentials, and wherein the method further comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of credentials for inclusion in the representation of the selected digital identity provided to the entity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identity policy supports a plurality of representations, wherein the selected digital identity includes the plurality of representations, and wherein the method further comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of representations as a most secure representation; and

designating the most secure representation as the representation to be provided to the entity.

10. Apparatus for managing digital identities related to a user, comprising:

means for obtaining an identity policy of an entity;

means for identifying at least one relevant digital identity from the digital identities, each of the at least one relevant digital identity including information required by the identity policy;

means for obtaining a selected digital identity of the at least one relevant digital identity;

means for providing a representation of the selected digital identity that complies with the identity policy to the entity;

means for presenting the at least one relevant digital identity to the user for selection of the selected digital identity;

means for determining a confidence level of the entity; and

means for presenting a recommended one of the at least one relevant digital identity to the user based on the confidence level.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the selected digital identity includes a first representation, and wherein the means for providing comprises:

means for translating the first representation of the selected digital identity to the representation that complies with the identity policy.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the selected digital identity includes a first representation, and wherein the method further comprises:

means for creating at least one alternative representation to the first representation of the selected digital identity to create a plurality of representations.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the means for providing comprises:

means for selecting one of the plurality of representations as the representation that complies with the identity policy.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the identity policy supports a plurality of representations, wherein the selected digital identity includes the plurality of representations, and wherein the method further comprises:

means for selecting one of the plurality of representations as a most secure representation; and

means for designating the most secure representation as the representation to be provided to the entity.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a memory configured to store digital identities related to a user; and

an interface configured to communicate with an entity on a network; and

an identity manager configured to:

obtain an identity policy of the entity through the interface;

identify at least one relevant digital identity from the digital identities, each of the at least one relevant digital identity including information required by the identity policy;

obtain a selected digital identity of the at least one relevant digital identity;

provide a representation of the selected digital identity that complies with the identity policy to the entity through the interface;

present the at least one relevant digital identity to the user for selection of the selected digital identity;

determine a confidence level of the entity; and

present a recommended one of the at least one relevant digital identity to the user based on the confidence level.

16. The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a display;

wherein the identity manager is further configured to present the at least one relevant digital identity to the user using visual representations on the display for selection of the selected digital identity.

17. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the selected digital identity includes a first representation, and wherein the identity manager is configured to create at least one alternative representation to the first representation of the selected digital identity to create a plurality of representations.