RADIUS Proxy for Cross-Domain Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges with managing multiple passwords and identities across different networks, especially when roaming or accessing guest networks, and hotspot providers incur high costs for configuring and maintaining networks for guest access.
Innovation Solution
A network interface device is registered with a device management service, receiving an encrypted token for authentication, which allows seamless access to public or secure networks by facilitating communication with authentication and authorization services, enabling single sign-on and reducing network configuration overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional RADIUS servers with user account databases are used for authentication, then authentication decisions can be made within a single security domain, but cross-domain authentication and single sign-on experience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a RADIUS proxy server as an intermediary component that mediates between RADIUS clients and multiple RADIUS servers across different security domains. The proxy server receives authentication requests, determines the appropriate target RADIUS server based on the requestor's domain, and forwards the request accordingly. This intermediary approach enables cross-domain authentication without requiring each client to directly manage multiple complex authentication systems, thus improving versatility while controlling complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple passwords and identities are required for different networks, then network security control is maintained, but user convenience and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authentication mechanism where a single user identity and credential set can be used across multiple security domains and networks. The RADIUS proxy server enables this by translating and routing authentication requests from a single identity to appropriate authentication authorities across different domains. This universal approach maintains security control through proper authentication verification while significantly improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for users to manage multiple passwords and identities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hotspot providers configure and maintain separate networks for guest access, then guest network access is provided, but operational costs and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the merging of guest network authentication into the existing primary network authentication infrastructure. Instead of maintaining separate authentication systems for guest access, the RADIUS proxy server integrates guest authentication requests into the same authentication framework used for primary network users. This consolidation allows hotspot providers to manage both primary and guest network access through a unified system, reducing operational costs and management overhead while maintaining the capability to provide guest network access.
Data Source
AI summary
In embodiments of registration and network access control, an initially unconfigured network interface device can be registered and configured as an interface to a public network for a client device. In another embodiment, a network interface device can receive a network access request from a client device to access a secure network utilizing extensible authentication protocol (EAP), and the request is communicated to an authentication service to authenticate a user of the client device based on user credentials. In another embodiment, a network interface device can receive a network access request from a client device to access a Web site in a public network utilizing a universal access method (UAM), and the request is redirected to the authentication service to authenticate a user of the client device based on user credentials.