Service routing and web integration in a distributed, multi-site user authentication system

• US 20050120121A1
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guo, Wei-Quiang Michael, Dharmarajan, Baskaran, Battle, Ryan W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A computerized method and system for routing between network servers. A central database coupled to a central server on a data communication network stores information for identifying locations of a plurality of network servers on the network. Each network server provides at least one service via the network. The central server receives a request from the user for a selected service including a carry through keyword for controlling routing of the user to the selected service. The central server retrieves location information from the central database to identify the location of the network server providing the selected service and attaches the carry through keyword to the retrieved location information. The central server then routes the user with the carry through keyword to the network server, which directs the user to the selected service based on the carry through keyword.

Claims

1. A computerized method of routing a user to one or more services provided by network servers coupled to a data communication network, said method comprising:

storing information in a central database for identifying locations of a plurality of network servers that provide at least one service or more services via the data communication network, said central database being coupled to a central server, said central server being coupled to the data communication network;

receiving a request from the user for a selected service to be provided by one of the network servers, said request being received at the central server and including a carry through keyword for controlling routing of the user to the selected service and a service routing request keyword for identifying the selected service;

retrieving location information from the central database to identify the location of the network server providing the selected service;

attaching the carry through keyword and the service routing request keyword to the retrieved location information; and

routing the user to the selected service provided by the network server at the identified location, said user being directed to the selected service based on the carry through keyword.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing authentication information in the central database for authenticating the user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the carry through keyword references content associated with the selected service provided by the network server.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing user-specific information in the central database for identifying the user and wherein the carry through keyword is based on the user-specific information.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying the user with a domain name and wherein the location information is retrieved from the central database as a function of the domain name for the user.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a plurality of providers of the selected service with the service routing request keyword included in the service request received at the central server.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein storing information in the central database for identifying the locations of the network servers includes registering the network servers with the central server.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating a browser program configured to permit the user to communicate on the data communication network.

21. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

3-4. -4. (canceled).

7-11. -11. (canceled).

13-15. -15. (canceled).

19-20. -20. (canceled).

22. A computerized system for routing a user to one or more services provided by network servers coupled to a data communication network, said system comprising:

a central database storing information for identifying locations of a plurality of network servers that provide one or more services via the data communications network, and

a central server coupled to the data communication network, said central server having the central database coupled thereto, said central further being configured for;

receiving a request from the user for a selected service to be provided by one of the network servers, said request including a carry through keyword for controlling routing of the user to the selected service and a service routing request keyword for identifying the selected service;

retrieving location information from the central database to identify the location of the network server providing the selected service and attaching the carry through keyword and the service routing request keyword to the retrieved location information; and

routing the user with the carry through keyword and the service routing request keyword to the selected service provided by the network server at the identified location, said user being directed to the selected service based on the carry through keyword.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the central database further stores authentication information in the central database for authenticating the user.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the carry through keyword references content associated with the selected service provided by the network server.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the central database further stores user-specific information for identifying the user and wherein the carry through keyword is based on the user-specific information.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein the user is identified by a domain name and wherein the location information is retrieved from the central database as a function of the domain name for the user.

37. The system of claim 22 wherein a service routing request keyword included in the service request received at the central server identifies a plurality of the network servers providing the selected service.

38. The system of claim 22 wherein the network servers are web servers and the data communication network is the Internet.

24-25. -25. (canceled).

28-32. -32. (canceled).

34-36. -36. (canceled).

39. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising:

a first field containing location information identifying locations of a plurality of network servers that provide at least one service via a data communication network, said location information being maintained by the network servers; and

a second field containing keyword information, said keyword information relating the location information to the services provided by the network servers for routing a user upon a request from the user for a selected service to be provided by one of the network servers, said request being received at a central server coupled with the data structure, said central server retrieving the location information from the first field to identify the location of the network server providing the selected service as a function of the keyword information and attaching a service routing request keyword for identifying the selected service and a carry through keyword to the retrieved location information for routing the user to the selected service based on the keyword information.

40. The data structure of claim 39 further comprising a third field containing authentication information, said authentication information being compared to login information from the user for authenticating the user upon the request for the selected service, said central server routing the user to the selected service based on the keyword information if the user was authenticated.

41. The data structure of claim 39 wherein the keyword information includes at least one carry through keyword.

42. The data structure of claim 39 wherein the keyword information includes at least one service routing request keyword.