Proxy system

• US 7,380,008 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Teng, Joan C., Lee, Chi-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/998,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709/232, 709/204, 709/223, 709/227, 709/224, 705/26, 713/155
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0815 providing single-sign-on or federations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0884 by delegation of authentication, e.g. a proxy authenticates an entity to be authenticated on behalf of this entity vis-à-vis an authentication entity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to technology for using a proxy in an Identity System. When a first entity is on vacation, on a business trip or otherwise unavailable to perform certain actions on an Identity System, a second entity can act as a proxy for the first entity. The Identity System will provide the second entity, acting as a proxy, with the privileges, access and rights of the first entity. In one embodiment, Identity System is part of an integrated Identity and Access System, and the second entity is a proxy in the Identity System but not in the Access System.

Claims

1. A method for allowing proxies in an integrated Identity System and Access System, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user of the integrated Identity System and Access System a request for the user to be a proxy for an administrator of the integrated Identity System and Access System;

associating said user with one or more credentials of said administrator without authenticating said user as said administrator;

allowing said user to use said Identity System as said administrator based on said one or more credentials of said administrator; and

allowing said user to use said Access System to access resources as proxy for said administrator based on one or more credentials of said user but not the one or more credentials of said administrator, wherein said user has all rights and privileges of said administrator while acting as proxy for said administrator.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving a request includes the steps of:

providing a notification to said user of an ability to be said proxy for said administrator; and

receiving a request from said user to be said proxy for said administrator.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

said notification includes an email.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

said notification includes a display page for said Identity System.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving a request includes the step of:

receiving an indication from said administrator that said user can be said proxy for said administrator.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving a request includes the steps of:

providing a list of potential proxy candidates;

providing a search mechanism to add more candidates to said list of potential proxy candidates; and

receiving a selection of one or more of said potential proxy candidates, including a selection of said user.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said credentials of said administrator include a distinguished name for said administrator.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said credentials of said administrator include identity profile attributes for said administrator.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of associating includes storing an identification of said administrator in a data element used to identify said user.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of associating includes storing an identification of said administrator in a cookie for said user.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of associating includes using an identification of said administrator to identify said user.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of associating includes the steps of:

accessing an Identity System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie stores an identification of said user;

storing said identification of said user from said step of accessing in a second cookie; and

storing an identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie for said user.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to terminate said user being a proxy for said administrator;

accessing said identification of said user in said second cookie; and

storing said identification of said user in said Identity System cookie for said user.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from said user to access said Identity System;

determining whether said Identity System cookie for said user exists;

providing access to said Identity System for said user if said Identity System cookie for said user exists; and

authenticating said user and creating said Identity System cookie if said Identity System cookie for said user does not exist prior to said step of determining, said step of creating includes adding said identification of said user to said Identity System cookie.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said step of allowing includes the steps of:

receiving a request from said user to access a service in said Identity System;

accessing said identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie;

accessing attributes for said administrator based on said identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie; and

providing access to said service in said Identity System based on said attributes for said administrator.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said steps of receiving, associating and allowing are performed without said user providing a password for said administrator.

17. A method according to claim 1;

wherein;

said step of associating verifies that said administrator is a delegated administrator having a right to be proxied.

18. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

delegating a right to be proxied to said administrator, said step of associating verifies that said administrator has said right to be proxied.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said steps of associating and allowing provide for said user to be said proxy for said administrator in said Identity System but does not provide for said user to be said proxy for said administrator in said Access System.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of associating includes the steps of;

accessing an Identity System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie stores an identification of said user, and

storing an identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie for said user;

said Access System uses an Access System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie is separate from said Access System cookie; and

said Access System cookie for said user does not store an indication of said administrator.

21. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user of an integrated Identity System and Access System a request for the user to be a proxy for an administrator of the integrated Identity System and Access System;

associating said user with one or more credentials of said administrator without authenticating said user as said administrator;

allowing said user to use said Identity System as said administrator based on said one or more credentials of said administrator; and

allowing said user to use said Access System to access resources as proxy for said administrator based on one or more credentials of said user but not the one or more credentials of said administrator, wherein said user has all fights and privileges of said administrator while acting as proxy for said administrator.

22. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 21, wherein:

said credentials of said administrator include identity profile attributes for said administrator.

23. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 21, wherein:

said step of associating includes storing an identification of said administrator in a data element used to identify said user.

24. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 21, wherein:

said step of associating includes the steps of;

accessing an Identity System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie stores an identification of said user,

storing said identification of said user from said step of accessing in a second cookie, and

storing an identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie for said user; and

said method further comprises the steps of;

receiving a request to terminate said user being a proxy for said administrator,

accessing said identification of said user in said second cookie, and

storing said identification of said user in said Identity System cookie for said user.

25. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 24, wherein said step of allowing includes the steps of:

receiving a request from said user to access a service in said Identity System;

accessing said identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie;

accessing attributes for said administrator based on said identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie; and

providing access to said service in said Identity System based on said attributes for said administrator.

26. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 21, wherein:

said steps of receiving, associating and allowing are performed without said user providing a password for said administrator.

27. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 21, wherein:

said steps of associating and allowing provide for said user to be said proxy for said administrator in said Identity System but does not provide for said user to be said proxy for said administrator in said Access System.

28. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 21, wherein:

said step of associating includes the steps of;

accessing an Identity System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie stores an identification of said user, and

storing an identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie for said user;

said Access System uses an Access System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie is separate from said Access System cookie; and

said Access System cookie for said user does not store an indication of said administrator.

29. An apparatus comprising:

one or more communication interfaces;

one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices and said one or more communication interfaces, said processors adapted to provide an integrated Identity System and Access System and to perform a method comprising the steps of;

receiving from a user of the integrated Identity System and Access System a request for the user to be a proxy for an administrator of the integrated Identity System and Access System,

associating said user with one or more credentials of said administrator without authenticating said user as said administrator,

allowing said user to use said Identity System as said administrator based on said one or more credentials of said administrator, and

allowing said user to use said Access System to access resources as proxy for said administrator based on one or more credentials of said user but not the one or more credentials of said administrator, wherein said user has all rights and privileges of said administrator while acting as proxy for said administrator.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said credentials of said administrator include identity profile attributes for said administrator.

31. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said step of associating includes storing an identification of said administrator in a data element used to identify said user.

32. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said step of associating includes the steps of;

accessing an Identity System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie stores an identification of said user;

storing said identification of said user from said step of accessing in a second cookie, and

storing an identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie for said user; and

said method further comprises the steps of;

receiving a request to terminate said user being a proxy for said administrator;

accessing said identification of said user in said second cookie, and

storing said identification of said user in said Identity System cookie for said user.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said step of allowing includes the step of:

receiving a request from said user to access a service in said Identity System;

accessing said identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie;

accessing attributes for said administrator based on said identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie; and

providing access to said service in said Identity System based on said attributes for said administrator.

34. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said steps of receiving, associating and allowing are performed without said user providing a password for said administrator.

35. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said steps of associating and allowing provide for said user to be said proxy for said administrator in said Identity System but does not provide for said user to be said proxy for said administrator in said Access System.

36. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said step of associating includes the steps of;

accessing an Identity System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie stores an identification of said user, and

storing an identification of said administrator in said Identity System cookie for said user;

said Access System uses an Access System cookie for said user, said Identity System cookie is separate from said Access System cookie; and

said Access System cookie for said user does not store an indication of said administrator.