Authenticating multiple network elements that access a network through a single network switch port
US7962954B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/1466
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is disclosed for authenticating multiple network elements that access a network through a single network switch port. Certain authentication protocols, such as EAPoE, leave a port of a network switch indefinitely opened when one particular host is authenticated and authorized to transmit network frames through the port. In one embodiment of the invention, a network frame from a second host that is received by the open port is not automatically transmitted to the network. Instead, techniques are employed locally by the network switch to grant or deny transmission of the network frame received from the second host. An authentication server is contacted only when the network switch cannot locally employ techniques to authorize the transmission of the network frame received from the second host.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.