Providing communications including an extended protocol header

摘要

A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing communications including an extended protocol header is presented. A message is provided in a communication protocol, the message having a header. An extension is included in the header, the extension including additional information wherein the additional information comprises authentication information. The message is transmitted to a recipient, wherein the recipient is capable of utilizing the additional information contained in the extension to the header to perform initial user authentication before routing the message further.