Method for processing a request for access to a data network
First Claim
1. A method of processing requests at an access server arrangement for a data terminal operated by an end user to access a data network, said method comprising:
- receiving requests from data terminals at the access server arrangement for access to the data network;
comparing each request with a table comprising a plurality of different rules and identifying a matching rule comprising a primary choice procedure and a default procedure, the primary choice procedure specifying a remote authentication server;
in the event that a predetermined criterion, which is indicative of a possibility of a failure relating to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule, is not satisfied;
(i) attempting to forward the access request to the authentication server specified in the matched rule;
(ii) if a response is received from the authentication server, dealing with the access request in accordance with the response; and
(iii) if a response is not received from the authentication server, dealing with the access request in accordance with the default procedure specified in the matched rule; and
in the event that the predetermined criterion, which is indicative of a possibility of a failure relating to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule, is satisfied, dealing with each access request matching the matched rule in accordance with said default procedure, as specified in the matched rule, for a predetermined number of times and then attempting to forward a subsequently received access request, matching the same rule, to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network access arrangement for connecting an end user'"'"'s computer to the Internet includes a network access server and a proxy server. When an end user requests to be connected to the Internet, the network access server forwards the access request to the proxy server. The proxy server authenticates some requests itself but forwards other requests to authentication servers for authentication. After receiving a response from one of the servers, the proxy server forwards the response to the network access server. If the proxy server does not receive a response from one of the authentication servers, it follows a default procedure. This can be to authenticate the request in the proxy server or simply to accept the request. The proxy server has a counter associated with each of the servers. Each time the proxy server receives a response from one of the servers, it decrements the appropriate counter. Each time it does not receive a response, it increments the appropriate counter. When one of the counters reaches a threshold value, the proxy server then follows the default procedure for a pre-set number of requests which would normally be forwarded to the appropriate server. After following the default procedure for this predetermined number of access requests, the proxy server forwards the next access requests, which would normally be forwarded to the relevant server, to that server.
36 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of processing requests at an access server arrangement for a data terminal operated by an end user to access a data network, said method comprising:
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receiving requests from data terminals at the access server arrangement for access to the data network; comparing each request with a table comprising a plurality of different rules and identifying a matching rule comprising a primary choice procedure and a default procedure, the primary choice procedure specifying a remote authentication server; in the event that a predetermined criterion, which is indicative of a possibility of a failure relating to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule, is not satisfied; (i) attempting to forward the access request to the authentication server specified in the matched rule; (ii) if a response is received from the authentication server, dealing with the access request in accordance with the response; and (iii) if a response is not received from the authentication server, dealing with the access request in accordance with the default procedure specified in the matched rule; and in the event that the predetermined criterion, which is indicative of a possibility of a failure relating to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule, is satisfied, dealing with each access request matching the matched rule in accordance with said default procedure, as specified in the matched rule, for a predetermined number of times and then attempting to forward a subsequently received access request, matching the same rule, to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An access server arrangement for controlling access by a data terminal operated by an end user to access a data network, said access server arrangement comprising:
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receiving means for receiving requests from data terminals at the access server arrangement for access to the data network; and processing and transmitting means for comparing each request with a table comprising a plurality of different rules and identifying a matching rule, comprising a primary choice procedure and a default procedure, the primary choice procedure specifying a remote authentication server and, in the event that a predetermined criterion, which is indicative of a possibility of a failure relating to the authentication server specified in the primary choice procedure of the matched rule, is not satisfied; (i) attempting to forward the access request to an authentication server specified in the matching rule; (ii) if a response is received from the authentication server dealing with the access request in accordance with the response; and (iii) if a response is not received from the authentication server dealing with the access request in accordance with a default procedure specified in the matched rule; and in the event that the predetermined criterion is satisfied, dealing with each access request matching a particular rule in accordance with the default procedure specified in the matched rule for a predetermined number of times and then attempting to forward a subsequently received access request matching the same rule to the authentication server specified in the matched rule wherein the table comprises a plurality of different rules. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification