Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A centralized token generating server is disclosed for limiting access to remote equipment. The token generating server provides outgoing authentication of a user, before permitting the user to leave the network environment to access remote equipment. The token generating server generates responses (tokens) for authorized users to satisfy challenges posed by remote equipment and maintains a log of all processed transactions. The token generating server provides an initial outbound access control, whenever a user desires to leave the network environment to access remote equipment, and the remote equipment performs a secondary authorization to ensure that a given user can access the given remote equipment. Each attempt by a user to obtain token-regulated access to remote equipment requires two token management sessions. During a token acquisition process, the user establishes a first session with the token generating server to obtain an access token to obtain access to a given piece of remote equipment. The initial session terminates once the token is acquired and the user accesses the remote equipment. Once the user has completed accessing the remote equipment, a second session is established between the user and the token generating server to terminate the session. An access transaction is complete when the active session is terminated and the token generating server is notified.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim