ACCESSING DIGITAL IDENTITY RELATED REPUTATION DATA
Systems and processes of the present invention allow for tracking and publishing digital identity related reputation. In an example embodiment, a Digital Identity Provider maintains a database with reputation data that can be accessed by Requesters. The Digital Identity Provider may update reputation data based on a variety of events related to a digital identity. The reputation data may be tracked regarding the digital identity itself, digital identity purchaser or registrant, or an email address, domain name, URL, or website associated with the digital identity. The reputation data may include various categories, such as email practices, website content, privacy policies and practices, fraudulent activities, domain name related complaints, overall reputation, etc. The reputation data may be published in a publicly-available database, a private database, or via other methods. The Registrant may opt for a reputation service while registering a digital identity. The Requester may decide whether to interact with a digital identity based on the digital identity related reputation.
1 . A method for accessing digital identity related reputation data, comprising the steps of:
a) identifying, by at least one server computer, a digital identity,
b) determining, by said at least one server computer, a Digital Identity Provider through which said digital identity was registered,
c) determining, by said at least one server computer, a location of a digital identity related reputation data for said digital identity, and
d) accessing, by said at least one server computer, said data.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said Digital Identity Provider comprises a domain name Registry.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said Digital Identity Provider comprises a domain name Registrar.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said Digital Identity Provider comprises a Reseller of a domain name Registrar.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises a numeric rating or score, representing digital identity related reputation.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises a value out of one or more predetermined sets of discrete values, representing digital identity related reputation.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises a link or a reference to a location of an additional reputation data.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records for said digital identity itself.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records for a URL associated with said digital identity.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records for a person associated with said digital identity.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records for an entity associated with said digital identity.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records for an email address associated with said digital identity.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records associated with email practices.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records associated with website content.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records associated with privacy policies and practices.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records associated with fraudulent activities.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records associated with digital identity related complaints.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records associated with digital identity overall reputation.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said data comprises one or more records indicating if said digital identity can be trusted.
20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
e) prior to step a) receiving an email message from an email address.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein said digital identity is identified from said email address.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein said digital identity is identified from one or more links present in said email message.
23 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
f) determining whether to allow or reject said email message based on said data.
24 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
f) prior to step a) intending to visit a URL associated with said digital identity.
25 . The method of claim 244 , further comprising the step of:
f) determining whether to visit said URL based on said data.
26 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
e) prior to step a) intending to sell a product or service to an individual or entity associated with said digital identity.
27 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising the step of:
f) determining whether to sell said product or service to said individual or entity based on said data.
28 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
e) prior to step a) intending to purchase a product or service from an individual or entity associated with said digital identity.
29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising the step of:
f) determining whether to purchase said product or service to said individual or entity based on said data.
30 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
e) prior to step a) intending to communicate on a website with an individual or entity associated with said digital identity.
31 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising the step of:
f) determining whether to communicate on a website with said individual or entity based on said data.