Abstract: A method for establishing credentials for securing text message communications. The method includes receiving, at a text messaging hub executing at a server device, a text message from a user, the text message being directed to a service number and including (1) a user number and (2) a request to establish a secure credential for communicating with a text messaging application. The method also includes transmitting, by the text messaging hub executing at the server device, an initiation message to the user, the initiation message includes a user-specific system number to which the user is to direct future text messages.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method including receiving a request from a service provider, at a central account manager, to provide a user account for a user logging into the first service provider, identifying one or more user accounts associated with the user at one or more user account providers maintained at the central account manager, selecting a first user account of the one or more user accounts and providing, using the one or more computing devices, the selected first user account to the first service provider in response to the request.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method including receiving a request from a first service provider, at a central account manager, to provide a user account for a user logging into a first service provider, identifying one or more user accounts at one or more service providers other than the first service provider associated with the user maintained at the central account manager, providing the one or more user accounts for display to the user, receiving a selection of a first user account of the one or more user accounts and providing the selected first user account to the first service provider in response to the request.

Abstract: A self-inspection apparatus comprising a mirror support member having a hinge proximate an end thereof and configured to couple to a toilet bowl rim or a toilet seat, and a mirror coupled to the mirror support member at the hinge and configured to be positionable for self-inspection. A method of manufacturing a self-inspection apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating appraisals is disclosed. A lender and/or customer may request an appraisal from a manager or administrator, by posting the request to an Internet site form. The manager checks the schedules of local appraisers, selects an appraiser and schedules the appraisal. Once the appraisal has been completed, the appraiser uploads the appraisal information making the information available to the requestor or other customer. The requestor can access the system information at any time from any computer with internet access. The manager may also store the appraisal and information about the uploaded appraisal for analysis regarding the appraised property or the appraiser's work product.

Abstract: A method is presented for managing session identifiers amongst a set of servers. The servers receive resource requests from clients, and the servers maintain sessions having session state information wherein each session is associated with a session identifier. When a server sends a response to a client, the response is accompanied by a first cookie and a second cookie, wherein the first cookie contains a copy of the session identifier and the second cookie contains a copy of the session identifier that has been cryptographically protected using a cryptographic key, wherein each server in the set of servers possesses a copy of the cryptographic key. If a server does not recognize the session identifier in the first cookie, the server decrypts the second cookie, and if the session identifier from the cookies are identical, the server will reuse the session identifier rather than generating a new session identifier.

Abstract: A method is presented for providing an HTTP-based authentication mechanism. A request for a controlled resource is received from a client at a first server, which sends a request for an uncontrolled resource to a second server, which may be an HTTP-based authentication server, e.g., by redirecting a request via the client to the second server or by forwarding a request directly to the second server. The second server then obtains authentication information from the client. The second server returns the authentication credential or the authenticated identify to the first server within a response message, e.g., by storing the authentication credential within one or more HTTP headers. In response to receiving the authentication information, the first server builds a session for the client and processes the original request for the controlled resource, e.g., by sending a redirection for the controlled resource through the client.

Abstract: A method is presented for enabling single-sign-on functionality with applications that require user/client authentication using form documents. A server-side forms-based single-sign-on (FSSO) module resides between a back-end application and a user. The FSSO module is configured to scan for various incoming requests and outgoing responses that contain information that trigger the FSSO module to initiate a single-sign-on operation or to perform another action with respect to an ongoing single-sign-on operation. At some point in time, a back-end application sends or attempts to send an authentication form to the user in order to obtain authentication information for an authentication operation by the back-end application, and the FSSO module intercepts the back-end application's authentication process to act as an intermediate agent between the user and the back-end application.