Importance

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Abstract

An authorizing apparatus for use with a client that connects to a first server in a network is described. The authorizing apparatus includes a second server that authorizes session requests of the client for the first server. A plurality of records of resource allocation data is coupled with the second server. Each record indicates whether a session may be established between the client and the first server. Coupled to the second server is information that associates an entity that includes and is associated with one or more clients, and information that associates the second server to a third server that is authoritative for the second server and the associated clients. Means are provided for receiving a request to establish a session between the client and the first server and for determining, at the second server, based on one of the records that is associated with the client, whether the session may be established when the client is associated with the entity. Also provided are means for informing the first server that the session is authorized only when the second server determines from the one of the records that the session may be established. Although the first, second and third servers have been described as separate servers the functions performed by two or more of the servers may actually be combined in a single server unit.

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First Claim