Secure client authentication and service authorization in a shared communication network
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- establishing, by a processor of a managing network device, 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;
determining, based at least in part on a service environment characteristic, a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states;
causing the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device contemporaneously with the service matching process, wherein the service matching process includes determining a matching service provider based, at least in part, on a service matching message of the service matching messages;
matching the client network device with the matching service provider;
receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing the matching service provider to service the client network device; and
transmitting the service voucher to the matching service provider to allow the matching service provider to service the client network device.
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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
31 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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establishing, by a processor of a managing network device, 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; determining, based at least in part on a service environment characteristic, a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states; causing the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device contemporaneously with the service matching process, wherein the service matching process includes determining a matching service provider based, at least in part, on a service matching message of the service matching messages; matching the client network device with the matching service provider; receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing the matching service provider to service the client network device; and transmitting the service voucher to the matching service provider to allow the matching service provider to service the client network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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establishing, by a processor of 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 and an indication of a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the number of service matching messages is determined based, at least in part, on a service environment characteristic, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states; 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; contemporaneously with the account authorization process, executing the service matching process with the managing network device and a matching service provider of the communication network, wherein the service matching process includes determining the matching service provider based, at least in part, on a service matching message of the service matching messages; and detecting receipt of service from the matching service provider after completion of the account authorization process and the service matching process. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A managing network device comprising:
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a network interface; and a matching authorization unit executable, at least in part, from a memory by a processor 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; determine, based at least in part on a service environment characteristic, a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states; cause the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device contemporaneously with the service matching process, the service matching process configured to determine a matching service provider based, at least in part, on a service matching message of the service matching messages; match the client network device with the matching service provider; receive a service voucher from the accounting network device authorizing the matching service provider to service the client network device in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorization process; and transmit the service voucher to the matching service provider to allow the matching service provider to service the client network device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A network device comprising:
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a network interface; and a communication unit executable, at least in part, from a memory by a processor 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 via the secure communication channel, identification information associated with the managing network device and an indication of a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the number is determined according to a service environment characteristic, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states; 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; contemporaneously with the account authorization process, execute the service matching process with the managing network device and a matching service provider of the communication network, the service matching process configured to determine the matching service provider based, at least in part, on a service matching message of the service matching messages; and detect receipt of service from the matching service provider after completion of the account authorization process and the service matching process. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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establishing, by a processor of a managing network device, a secure communication channel between a plug-in electric vehicle and the managing network device of a communication network based, at least in part, on a client identifier of the plug-in electric vehicle; determining, based at least in part on a service environment characteristic, a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states; causing the plug-in electric vehicle to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device contemporaneously with the service matching process, the service matching process configured to determine a matching electric charging station based, at least in part, on a service matching message; matching the plug-in electric vehicle with the matching electric charging station; receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing the matching electric charging station to provide electric power to the plug-in electric vehicle in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorization process; and transmitting the service voucher from the managing network device to the matching electric charging station to allow the plug-in electric vehicle to receive the electric power from the matching electric charging station. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor causes the processor 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; determining, based at least in part on a service environment characteristic, a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states; causing the client network device to perform an account authorization process with an accounting network device contemporaneously with the service matching process, wherein the service matching process includes determining a matching service provider based, at least in part, on a service matching message of the service matching messages; matching the client network device with the matching service provider; receiving a service voucher at the managing network device from the accounting network device authorizing the matching service provider to service the client network device in response to the accounting network device executing the account authorization process; and transmitting the service voucher from the managing network device to the matching service provider to allow the matching service provider to service the client network device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor causes the processor 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 via the secure communication channel, identification information associated with the managing network device and an indication of a number of service matching messages to be transmitted during a service matching process, wherein the number is determined based, at least in part, on a service environment characteristic, wherein the service environment characteristic includes at least one member of a group consisting of a number of cables, a number of cable harnesses, and a number of switch states; 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; contemporaneously with the account authorization process, executing the service matching process with the managing network device and a matching service provider of the communication network, wherein the service matching process includes determining the matching service provider based, at least in part, on a service matching message of the service matching messages; and detecting receipt of service from the matching service provider after completion of the account authorization process and the service matching process. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification