Patent ID: 7249177
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of authenticating a connection for a client to a network access device wherein said client is coupled to a biometric sensor, said method comprising the steps of: said client signaling a request to said network access device; said network access device initiating a point-to-point LAN authentication protocol between said network access device and said client, wherein said point-to-point LAN authentication protocol is comprised of extensible authentication protocol (EAP); said network access device requesting biometric data from said client via said LAN authentication protocol; said client capturing biometric data of an attendant user of said client; said client transmitting said captured biometric data to said network access device via said LAN authentication protocol; said network access device encapsulating said biometric data in said LAN authentication protocol into an authentication server protocol and forwarding said encapsulated biometric data to an authentication server, wherein said authentication server protocol is comprised of remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS); said authentication server comparing said biometric data to a biometric template stored in conjunction with said authentication server for making a determination whether said attendant user should be granted access to said network access device; said authentication server sending either an access-accept message or an access-deny message in said authentication server protocol to said network access device in response to said determination; and said network access device granting access to said client only after receiving an access-accept message.