METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE OFFICE ACCESS MANAGEMENT

• US 20020010865A1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: MULTACH, JEFFREY, REITZ, RANDOLPH, FULTON, CHRISTINA E.
• Application Number:
  US09/239,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A method for remote office access management. A remote user dials a number associated with a remote office access server. A connection is established between the user and the remote office access server. A first packet containing user identification information is passed from the remote office access server to a security server. The security server authenticates the user information. If access is granted, the security server returns the authentication decision to the remote office access server and data is permitted to pass between the user and a customer network. The customer network is typically a LAN.

Claims

1. A method for remote office access management, comprising the steps of:

dialing a number associated with a remote office access server from a user at a remote location;

when a connection is established between the user and the remote office access server, passing a first packet containing user information from the remote office access server to a security server;

authenticating the user information at the security server;

returning an authentication decision from the security server to the remote office access server, wherein the authentication decision comprises at least one of granting access to the user and denying access to the user; and

when access is granted by the security server, permitting data to pass between the user and a customer network, through the remote office access server.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring the remote office access server to handle different types of calls from the user.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the call types include at least one of a cellular call, an analog call and an ISDN call.