Patent ID: 8307200
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An authentication apparatus connectable to at least one communication terminal via a first network, connected via a second network to at least one server that provides a function to the communication terminal based on setting data received from the communication terminal, and connected via the second network to a plurality of repeaters that relay the first network and the second network, the authentication apparatus authenticating the communication terminal as a pre-processing of the function provided by the server, the authentication apparatus comprising: a first storage unit configured to store a plurality of pieces of repeater information, each piece of the repeater information containing a repeater ID and processing capability information of one of the plurality of repeaters connected via the second network; a first receiving unit configured to receive a first message for requesting to start an authentication from the communication terminal connected via the first network; an acquiring unit configured to acquire the plurality of pieces of repeater information from the first storage unit when the first receiving unit receives the first message; a processing unit configured to create a second message containing the acquired plurality of pieces of repeater information; a first transmitting unit configured to transmit the second message to the communication terminal; a second receiving unit configured to receive a third message from the communication terminal, the third message containing a first repeater ID selected by the communication terminal out of the plurality of repeater IDs contained in the second message by referring to the plurality of pieces of processing capability information contained in the second message; a third receiving unit configured to receive authentication data for authenticating from the communication terminal; an authentication unit configured to authenticate the communication terminal based on the authentication data; and a second transmitting unit configured to transmit setting data required for providing the function when the authentication unit decides that the communication terminal is authentic, to one of a first repeater corresponding to the first repeater ID contained in the third message and a server to which the first repeater relays a communication.