Patent ID: 7810138
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of authentication of a client over a network, the method to be executed by a processor in the network in which Internet Protocol (IP) packets are exchanged, the method comprising: detecting a request to join the network from the client by monitoring communications associated with a switch; initiating a backoff timer based on the request; if it is determined that the client is 802.1X authentication capable within a backoff time-limit associated with the backoff timer, employing an 802.1X authentication mechanism to authenticate the client; and if the backoff time-limit is exceeded before the client is determined to be 802.1X capable, employing a non-802.1X authentication mechanism to authenticate the client, wherein if the client is determined not to be 802.1X authentication capable, then a port on the switch is configured to disable 802.1X processing, and hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) packets and dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) packets are designated to flow through the port.