SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING USER AUTHENTICATION AND SERVICE AUTHORIZATION TO ACHIEVE SINGLE-SIGN-ON TO ACCESS MULTIPLE NETWORK INTERFACES

摘要

A single-sign-on to access multiple networks residing at multiple domains is disclosed. In particular the single-sign-on features refers to the authentication and the authorization process carried out among the different network administration domains so that the terminal using the end service need not explicitly initiate the authentication process each time it accesses a new service. This invention's single-sign-on feature can be extended for usage in a federated domain environment and non-federated domain environment. The non-federated domains are able to form an indirect federation chain through other domains in order to utilize this invention. Therefore discovery of intermediate domains to form a federation chain is also covered. The management of user credentials to allow a Visited Domain to perform authetication is also covered in this invention.