SECURE CLIENT AUTHENTICATION AND SERVICE AUTHORIZATION IN A SHARED COMMUNICATION NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- establishing a secure communication channel between a client network device and a managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the client network device;
causing the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device in parallel with a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of service providers of the communication network;
securely matching the client network device with a first of the plurality of service providers;
securely receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing one or more of the service providers of the communication network to service the client network device in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorizing process with the client network device; and
securely transmitting the service voucher from the managing network device to the matching service provider to allow the client network device to be serviced by the matching service provider.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Functionality for secure client authentication and service authorization in a shared communication network are disclosed. A managing network device of a communication network causes a securely connected client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device in parallel with a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more service providers of the communication network. The managing network device executes the service matching process and securely matches the client network device with one of the service providers. The accounting network device executes the account authorizing process with the client network device and provides a service voucher to the managing network device authorizing one or more of the service providers to service the client network device. The managing network device transmits the service voucher to the matched service provider to prompt the matched service provider to service the client network device.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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establishing a secure communication channel between a client network device and a managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the client network device; causing the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device in parallel with a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of service providers of the communication network; securely matching the client network device with a first of the plurality of service providers; securely receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing one or more of the service providers of the communication network to service the client network device in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorizing process with the client network device; and securely transmitting the service voucher from the managing network device to the matching service provider to allow the client network device to be serviced by the matching service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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establishing, at a client network device, a secure communication channel with a managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the client network device; receiving, from the managing network device, identification information associated with the managing network device via the secure communication channel; providing the client identifier and the identification information associated with the managing network device to an accounting network device to cause the accounting network device to execute an account authorization process with the client network device; in parallel with the account authorization process, executing a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of service providers of the communication network; detecting receipt of service from a first of the plurality of service providers of the communication network after completion of the account authorization process and the service matching process; and transmitting an acknowledgement message to one of the managing network device and the first of the plurality of service providers in response to said detecting receipt of service from the first of the plurality of service providers of the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A managing network device comprising:
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a network interface; and a matching authorization unit coupled with the network interface, the matching authorization unit operable to; establish a secure communication channel between a client network device and the managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the client network device; cause the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device in parallel with a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of service providers of the communication network; securely match the client network device with a first of the plurality of service providers; securely receive a service voucher from the accounting network device authorizing one or more of the service providers of the communication network to service the client network device in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorizing process with the client network device; and securely transmit the service voucher to the matching service provider to allow the client network device to be serviced by the matching service provider. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network device comprising:
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a network interface; and a communication unit coupled with the network interface, the communication unit operable to; establish a secure communication channel with a managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the network device; receive, from the managing network device, identification information associated with the managing network device via the secure communication channel; provide the client identifier and the identification information associated with the managing network device to an accounting network device to cause the accounting network device to execute an account authorization process with the network device; in parallel with the account authorization process, execute a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of service providers of the communication network; detect receipt of service from a first of the plurality of service providers of the communication network after completion of the account authorization process and the service matching process; and transmit an acknowledgement message to one of the managing network device and the first of the plurality of service providers in response to the communication unit detecting receipt of service from the first of the plurality of service providers of the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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establishing a secure communication channel between a plug-in electric vehicle and a managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the plug-in electric vehicle; causing the plug-in electric vehicle to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device in parallel with a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of electric charging stations of the communication network; securely matching the plug-in electric vehicle with a first of the plurality of electric charging stations; securely receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing one or more of the electric charging stations of the communication network to provide electric power to the plug-in electric vehicle in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorizing process with the plug-in electric vehicle; and securely transmitting the service voucher from the managing network device to the matching electric charging station to allow the plug-in electric vehicle to receive electric power from the matching electric charging station. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. One or more machine-readable storage media having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:
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establishing a secure communication channel between a client network device and a managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the client network device; causing the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device in parallel with a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of service providers of the communication network; securely matching the client network device with a first of the plurality of service providers; securely receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing one or more of the service providers of the communication network to service the client network device in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorizing process with the client network device; and securely transmitting the service voucher from the managing network device to the matching service provider to allow the client network device to be serviced by the matching service provider. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. One or more machine-readable storage media having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:
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establishing a secure communication channel with a managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of a client network device; receiving, from the managing network device, identification information associated with the managing network device via the secure communication channel; providing the client identifier and the identification information associated with the managing network device to an accounting network device to cause the accounting network device to execute an account authorization process with the client network device; in parallel with the account authorization process, executing a service matching process with the managing network device and one or more of a plurality of service providers of the communication network; detecting receipt of service from a first of the plurality of service providers of the communication network after completion of the account authorization process and the service matching process; and transmitting an acknowledgement message to one of the managing network device and the first of the plurality of service providers in response to said detecting receipt of service from the first of the plurality of service providers of the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification