Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for authenticating and authorizing user access to a computer network. An AAA server comprises a plurality of Authentication transport protocol modules that interface with one or more clients using a native authentication transport protocol. The AAA server is coupled with a DBMS system that stores user authentication, authorization and accounting information in a standard format. Authentication and authorization are performed using a five phase process comprising the phases: Augmentation; Selection; Authentication; Authorization and Confirmation. During the Augmentation phase, client requests are translated into a standard internal format. The requests are parsed into a set of attribute/value pairs according to a parse rules table. In the Selection phase, the AAA server determines the details of the access request and identifies the permit required to authorize access. A rules table is used, wherein a particular row in the rules table is selected according to the attribute/value pairs from the Augmentation phase. The rules table provides the necessary details for the AAA server to formulate a proper response to the client. In the Authentication phase, the AAA server determines if the log in information provided by the user matches information stored in the user record. In the Authorization phase, the AAA server determines if the user is authorized to access the requested service by determining if the permit retrieved in the Selection phase matches the permit stored in the user database. In the Confirmation phase, the AAA server determines if a port limit has been exceeded and checks the client request for inconsistencies.

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First Claim