Multiplex communications – Communication techniques for information carried in plural... – Combining or distributing information via time channels
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-19
2001-10-02
Chin, Wellington (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Communication techniques for information carried in plural...
Combining or distributing information via time channels
C370S304000, C370S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298072
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the synchronization of authentication-type data among peer systems in a telecommunications network environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
As telecommunications and other network systems have become large and, often, geographically dispersed, servicing client populations and maintaining accurate, up-to-date authentication information has become extremely difficult. For example, providing system access to a client population in a wide are network (WAN) environment from multiple access points usually involves having to be able to authenticate and govern the access of users at corresponding, multiple points within the WAN. If one particular access point is not able to properly authenticate a particular user (e.g., as a result of system failure, etc.), another authentication system must be able to immediately respond, authenticate the user, and provide the user with an access path to the resources he seeks within the WAN.
Accordingly, there is a significant problem associated with providing authentication and authorization of users within large network environments such as within corporate WANs that may include geographically dispersed access and authentication systems which allow for remote access by users within a client population. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that authentication and authorization data must be globally accessible and up-to-date in order to effectively authenticate users within a particular client population.
To address the aforementioned problems in the typical telecommunications network environment, for example, peer authentication systems often have to engage in complex database redundancy operations to ensure that state data (e.g., state change data related to user account profiles such as client identification and accounting profiles) and other data relating to a particular client population are synchronized and replicated among actual peer systems that may service the client population. Such database redundancy operations, unfortunately, often are slow and provide only a very limited set of failure recovery capabilities.
Accordingly, there exists a serious need to provide systems and methods that enable synchronization of authentication information among distinct authentication systems within a network environment such as within a telecommunications network. To be effective, such systems and methods must allow for real-time transaction processing without relying on traditional, inefficient database management principles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing comments related to the related art, it is the principal object of the present invention to solve the aforementioned problems.
It is another object of the present invention to enable real-time synchronization of network authentication systems.
It is another object of the present invention to enable transaction requests from users within a client population to be efficiently and effectively processed during times when regular transaction processing systems are unavailable.
It is still another object of the present invention to enable authentication systems to be effectively added to and removed from an active network without disruption of services within that active network.
By achieving the aforementioned objects, the present invention provides certain benefits not heretofore realized. For example, the present invention will allow management organizations to deploy authentication systems that can efficiently offload transaction processing tasks to other systems during infrastructure enhancements and system failures. Additionally, administrators of systems implemented in accordance with the present invention may now be alerted to system resource unavailability before client populations are negatively affected. Finally, since transactions may be mirrored (synchronized) in real-time among peer authentication systems according to the present invention, there is no need for execution of complex database redundancy processes which are often slow and which have heretofore plagued telecommunications network systems.
The present invention achieves the above-stated objects and delivers the aforementioned benefits by providing a system for synchronizing transaction data within a network environment. The system includes a first authentication subsystem having a first synchronizing subsystem. The first authentication subsystem is operative to receive a service request from a network user, and to authenticate the network user within said network environment. The first synchronizing subsystem is operative to transmit a synchronization request in real-time within the network environment. The synchronizing request corresponds to the service request. Also included is a second authentication subsystem that is coupled to the first authentication subsystem and has a second synchronizing subsystem. The second synchronizing system receives the synchronization request from the first synchronizing subsystem. The synchronizing request allows the second authentication subsystem to subsequently authenticate the network user within the network environment.
According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is system for synchronizing transaction data in real-time within a network environment. The system includes a plurality of authentication subsystems. Each authentication subsystem has a data storage subsystem and a processor. The processor is operative to receive a service request from a network user, and to authenticate the network user within the network environment in accordance with the service request. The service request causes a state stored within the data storage subsystem and related to the network user to change. The processor is further operative to transmit a synchronization request in real-time within the network environment, to receive another synchronization request from another authentication subsystem of the plurality of authentication subsystems, and to allow the processor to subsequently authenticate the network user within the network environment in accordance with the other synchronization request.
According to a final aspect of the present invention, provided is a method for synchronizing transaction data within a network environment. The method includes the steps of receiving a service request from a network user, authenticating the network user within the network environment, and transmitting a synchronization request in real-time within the network environment. The synchronizing request corresponds to the service request. The method also includes the steps of receiving the synchronization request, and subsequently authenticating the network user within the network environment based on the synchronization request.
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patent: 5721780 (1998-02-01), Ensor et al.
patent: 5799084 (1998-08-01), Gallagher et al.
patent: 5901284 (1999-05-01), Hamdy-Swink
patent: 6134673 (2000-10-01), Chrabaszcz
Chin Wellington
MCI Communications Corporation
Pham Brenda H.
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