Patent ID: 7536543
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for authenticating and authorizing a user to log onto to a network element in a telecommunications network, the method comprising: receiving by a network element a log-on communication from a user system, the log-on communication including a user identifier and user authentication information associated with a user who is attempting to log onto the network element; generating, by the network element, an authentication request having the user identifier and user authentication information, for transmission to a centralized authority; detecting, by the network element, failure in an attempt to transmit the authentication request to the centralized authority; generating, by the network element, a challenge in response to detecting failure in the attempt to transmit the authentication request to the centralized authority; transmitting, by the network element, the challenge to the user system; receiving at a networks operation center (NOC) the challenge from the user; authenticating the user by the NOC; providing, to the user by the NOC, a response to the challenge in response to authenticating the user; receiving, from the user system by the network element, the response to the challenge; and authorizing, by the network element, the user to log on to the network element based on the response to the challenge received from the user system.