Patent ID: 6574730
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A telecommunications station for use with a telecommunications network, said station performing an authentication process in which said station exchanges authentication signals with the network and permits exchange of telecommunications traffic with the network only when said authentication process is successful, said station comprising:a network termination unit with a network port for connection to said network, and a terminal port for connection to separate non-authenticating user equipment; separate non-authenticating user equipment removably connected to said terminal port; wherein: said network termination unit contains circuitry, connected to said network port, for performing said authentication process automatically upon detection of an off-hook condition indicating initiation of use of said separate non-authenticating user equipment and without further user intervention, and a switch connected between said terminal port and said network port, said switch being responsive to signals from said authentication circuitry to permit exchange of said telecommunications traffic between said user equipment and said network only when said authentication process is successful.