Patent Publication Number: US-9892244-B2

Title: System and method for installing authentication credentials on a network device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/047,985, filed Apr. 25, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in it&#39;s entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In the past, video conferencing devices have been connected to a private network operating a Video Management System (VMS) by technicians or network (system) administrators employed by the owners of the private network or by local Information Technology (IT) professionals employed by the user of the video conferencing devices. Video conferencing devices may provide authentication credentials to the private network in order to get access to the private network (e.g., the video network). Installers of the credentials may view the authentication credentials in order to install the credentials on the local video conferencing device. 
     Allowing a local IT professional or user to view the authentication credentials may allow this untrusted entity or person to have unauthorized access to an otherwise secure private network. Since the credentials may not be tied to a specific device, this may allow the credentials to be used or misused by the local IT professional for purposes adverse to the purpose and security of the private network. There are numerous ways authentication credentials which are viewable by a local IT professional or user can be used jeopardize the privacy and security of the private network. 
     Furthermore, the private network administrators can have difficulty installing the credentials remotely without a local IT professional because the video conferencing devices may not be accessible remotely since the devices are remote and are not currently on the private network. 
     Some prior solutions for installing credentials include installing Network Access Control (NAC) credentials (authentication credentials) via remote connections, web interfaces, telnet, Secure Shell (SSH), or dataports. These methods use authentication credentials (e.g., 802.1x credentials) that are accessible by local IT professionals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a network device and an intermediary computing device used for installing authentication credentials in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a method for installing authentication credentials on a network device using an intermediary computing device in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method for installing authentication credentials on a network device using a client application in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element. 
     Local IT professionals working with a video conferencing device should not have direct access to the authentication credentials that enable direct access to a private video network. Network Access Control (NAC) credentials should be installed in a secure manner and the credentials should not be visible from the device anytime before or after the credentials are installed. 
     The technicians and network administrators working for the owners of the Video Management System (VMS) private network are generally considered to be trusted entities because they are employed to protect the interests of the private network and the company which owns or manages the network. The local IT professionals or users of the video conferencing devices are generally considered to be untrusted entities, because they do not have similar accountability to protect and keep the private network secure. 
     The present system and method can remotely configure video conferencing devices with authentication credentials in a secure manner. The system and method may use a client application downloaded onto an intermediary computing device or computer by a secure website. The application on the computer may request authentication credentials from a Network Access Control (NAC) credential service and install the received authentication credentials to an endpoint or video conferencing device, without allowing the untrusted entity to view the authentication credentials. The installed authentication credentials on the endpoint may be used to access the Video Management System (VMS) of the private network via a network (e.g., the Internet or a Wide Area Network (WAN)). 
       FIG. 1  provides an illustration of an embodiment of system components used for installing authentication credentials on a network device (endpoint or video conferencing device)  104  using a client application. The system and method may use an intermediary computing device (client computer or intermediary computer)  102  on a network (e.g., the Internet or a WAN)  130  in communication with the endpoint, a secure website  122 , and a Network Access Control (NAC) credential service  124 . 
     The intermediary computing device is enabled to receive or download the application from the secure web server and run the application so the authentication credentials from the NAC credential service can be installed on the endpoint. After the authentication credentials are installed, the endpoint may access the private network services (e.g., video conferencing) by logging into a Video Management System (VMS)  144  using a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server  142  in combination with an authenticating network switch  106 . 
     The Network Access Control (NAC) credential service  124  may use Cisco&#39;s Network Admission Control protocols or other similar network admission protocols. The intermediary computing device  102 , the endpoint  104 , and the authenticating network switch  106  may be components of a user enterprise network  100 . 
     A private network may have a DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ or demarcation zone or perimeter network)  120  with limited access and a standard access network (access for the external user)  140  that allows enhanced access to the private network service. DMZ systems may contain security features and protocols not used in a standard access network to protect the private network and interface with client computers external to or outside the private network. DMZ systems or networks may limit the information stored within the DMZ network to further protect sensitive information from a system breach. 
     The RADIUS server  142  and the VMS  144  may be components of the standard access network  140 . The secure website  122  and the NAC credential service  124  may be components of the DMZ. The NAC credential service may further include a server  126 , a database  128 , firmware, a processing unit, software, and other components necessary to manage the process of installing authentication credentials on the endpoint (video conferencing device). 
     Network components may use Ethernet, RG-45, CAT5, wireless connections, or other means utilized to connect devices to a network. Other network devices and couplings may exist in the path between the network components (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     In an embodiment, the secure website  122 , the NAC credential service  124 , the RADIUS server  142 , and the VMS  144  may function as separate server systems. In a further embodiment, some of the systems (the secure website, the NAC credential service, the RADIUS server, and the VMS) may be combined and some of the systems may function as separate server systems that may communicate with each other. 
     The method of using the private network may be initiated by a user purchasing or obtaining a private network service (e.g., video conference service). The purchased private network service may utilize authentication credentials, port-based network access control, or both as a means to access the external user portion or video conferencing service of the private network  140 . 
     The user may initially be given a website address to the secure website  122  and website validation information that can be used to successfully login to the secure website. The website validation information may provide the user permission to download an application from the secure website. The website validation information may be a username, a customer account number, a password, or any other means to uniquely identify a user or customer that can be used to securely log into a website. The website validation information may have a limited use (e.g., single use) or expire after predetermined time, so the website validation information may no longer be used to log into the secure website after the predetermined time. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that the user may login  210  to the secure website  122  with the website validation information. After logging into the secure website, the user may download  220  the application from the secure website onto the intermediary computing device  102 . Downloading the application from the secure website onto the intermediary computer may include the steps of purchasing the private network service, receiving the website address and website validation information, and logging into the secure website using the website validation information. Logging into the secure website and downloading the application may use encryption protocols to transmit the data or application. The encrypted protocol may use secure shell (SSH), Secure State Processing (SSP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS or HTTP over Secure Socket Layer), or other similar encryption protocols. 
     The intermediary computing device  102  may be a client computer, a personal computer (PC), or a laptop computer utilized by a user. The client application may be a web application, a software program, or an agent enabled to install or assist in the installation of authentication credentials on an endpoint using the client computer. 
     In another embodiment, logging  210  into the secure website  122  may include providing a user-entered endpoint identifier to the secure website. The secure website may transfer the user-entered endpoint identifier to the NAC credential service  124  to validate the endpoint  104  when the application requests authentication credentials. For example, the user may indicate the endpoint that is expected to be used with the video conferencing service by providing the MAC address (user-entered endpoint identifier) of the endpoint when the user logs into the secure website. The MAC address provided by the user may later be compared with the MAC address electronically retrieved from the endpoint using the downloaded application. The comparison may be made by the NAC credential service. 
     The network device  104  may be an endpoint (EP), a video conferencing device, a remote networking device, a hardware appliance, an audio-visual device used for video conferencing, a camera with a monitor, or a supplicant in a port-based network access control system. The VMS  144  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) may allow a user to use any video conferencing device enabled to use the communication protocols supported by the VMS. The video conferencing device may also be enabled to store authentication credentials in an encrypted format. 
     With the application on the intermediary computer  102 , the application may automatically locate the Network Access Control (NAC) credential service  124  and request  230  authentication credentials from the NAC credential service. The NAC credential service may interface with the application on the client computer and manage the process of installing authentication credentials on the endpoint. The request for authentication credentials may include the NAC credential service receiving a user-entered endpoint identifier from the application running on the client computer. 
     The NAC credential service  124  may store  240  the user-entered endpoint identifier provided by the application on a NAC credential service database  128 . The NAC credential service database may store a plurality of user-entered endpoint identifiers. Specifically, the NAC credential service database may store a listing of user-entered end point identifiers received from several applications downloaded to various client computers. 
     As part of the process of storing the user-entered endpoint identifier, the NAC credential service  124  may also request customer account information or user account information from the secure website  122  or system used to purchase the private network service. The customer account information may be an account number, username, password, and other information associated with a customer. 
     In addition, the NAC credential service  124  may validate  250  the endpoint  104  attempting to install authentication credentials by comparing the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier against the user-entered endpoint identifier contained in the listing of user-entered endpoint identifiers. In validating the endpoint, the NAC credential service may obtain an electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier for the endpoint that is delivered by the application. The application may extract or request the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier from the endpoint or poll the endpoint in order to obtain the endpoint identifier for the NAC credential service. 
     The user-entered endpoint identifier and the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier used to validate the endpoint  104  may be device specific information. Device specific information may be related to the endpoint, the intermediary computing device  102  connected to the endpoint, or both the endpoint and intermediary computing device. Device specific information may include a Media Access Control (MAC) address, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a subnet mask, a gateway address, a H.323 identifier, a serial number, a model number, a device type, hardware configuration, or combination of these identifiers. The requests for device specific information (user-entered endpoint identifier and the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier) may use encryption methods known in the arts (e.g., secure shell). 
     The secure website  122  may request the user-entered endpoint identifier from the user before enabling the application to be downloaded to the intermediary computing device  102 . In another embodiment, the application may request the user-entered endpoint identifier from the user before validating the end point with the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier and installing the authentication credentials. The user-entered endpoint identifier can ensure that the authentication credentials are installed on the intended endpoint  104 . The user-entered endpoint identifier may also be used to ensure the authentication credentials are installed on a single endpoint device. Using the user-entered endpoint identifier can reduce the misuse of authentication credentials and by restricting the authentication credentials to a single network device. 
     The electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier may be device specific information embedded in hardware, firmware, or software of the endpoint  104 . The electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier may also include embedded device specific information for the intermediary computing device  102  running the application used to install the authentication credentials on the endpoint. Device specific information of the intermediary computing device may be logged and used to track multiple authentication credentials installations using the same the intermediary computing device. The application may be enabled to access, extract, or request the embedded electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier from the endpoint and the intermediary computing device, and deliver the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier to the NAC credential service  124 . 
     Validating  250  the end point  104  by comparing the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier against a listing of user-entered endpoint identifiers will now be further explained. When the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier matches a user-entered endpoint identifier in the listing of user-entered endpoint identifiers, then the NAC credential service may grant permission to install the authentication credential and may proceed to the next step in process. When the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier does not match a user-entered endpoint identifier in the listing of user-entered endpoint identifiers, then the NAC credential service may terminate the procedure of installing authentication credentials, alert a private network administrator of the failed validation, attempt to re-validate the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier by querying the endpoint with the application, attempt to re-validate the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier by allowing the user to submit a new or corrected user-entered endpoint identifier, or a combination thereof. Using the endpoint validation step described may add another layer of protection and security to the installation method, providing enhanced security to the private network. 
     In another configuration the NAC credential service  124  may obtain the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier from the endpoint  104  without obtaining a corresponding user-entered endpoint identifier that can be used for comparison. The NAC credential service may link the specific device information of the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier with the authentication credentials, so the authentication credentials will only be valid on the endpoint device providing the electronically-retrieved endpoint identifier. Additionally, the NAC credential service may transmit the device specific information to the RADIUS server  142  so the RADIUS server can use the device specific information for authentication of the endpoint  104 . 
     Next, the application may pass  260  authentication credentials from the NAC credential service  124  through the intermediary computing device  102  to the endpoint  104 . After the authentication credentials are passed through the intermediary computing device to the endpoint, the application may install  270  the authentication credentials on the endpoint. 
     The NAC credential service may also transmit the valid authentication credentials to the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server  142  ( FIG. 1 ) or the Video Management System (VMS)  144  ( FIG. 1 ) to be stored on the RADIUS server or the VMS, respectively. The authentication credentials may be used by the endpoint to access the private network or VMS using the RADIUS server. In another embodiment, user account information for the endpoint device and valid authentication credentials to be installed on that endpoint may be created on the RADIUS server and replicated to the NAC credential service or the VMS. The authentication credentials may be created by a network administrator (a person) or the credentials may be automatically generated by the NAC credential service, RADIUS server, the VMS, or other component of the private network. The authentication credentials may be randomly generated. 
     In an embodiment, the application may pass the authentication credentials through the intermediary computing device  102  and install the authentication credentials onto the endpoint  104  using encrypted data. Using encrypted data to transmit and store the authentication credentials enhances security by not allowing the application on the client to handle non-encrypted authentication credentials in the installation process. The encrypted data can prevent a user from viewing the authentication credentials in the transmission and installation process. The encryption may utilize device specific information so the authentication credentials cannot be used on another endpoint. The encrypted data may use secure shell (SSH), Secure State Processing (SSP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS or HTTP over Secure Socket Layer), or other encryption protocols. 
     The authentication credentials may be stored in an area or storage location of the endpoint  104  that is hidden or inaccessible to a user or local IT professional. The authentication credentials may be a user name, password, or any other information used in authentication. The authentication credentials may use an Institute of Electrical &amp; Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1x standard or protocol. 
     A VMS IP address may also be installed when the credentials are installed. The VMS IP address may be used by the VMS  144  to manage the endpoint after authentication by the RADIUS server  142 . 
     Using the NAC credential service  124 , the application may verify or validate the installation of authentication credentials on the endpoint  104 , after the authentication credentials have been installed to ensure the installation was complete. If the authentication credentials were not properly installed, the NAC credential service may re-install the credentials, alert an administrator of the private network of the failed installation, terminate the procedure for installing authentication credentials, or perform a combination thereof. 
     After the authentication credentials have been installed on the endpoint  104 , the endpoint may be connected to a port of an authenticating network switch  106  with the authentication protocols of the port enabled. In another embodiment, the endpoint may be connected to the port of the authenticating network switch, but access to a private network service (e.g., VMS  144 ) using a RADIUS server  142  may only occur after the authentication credentials are installed. 
     Installed authentication credentials on an endpoint allow users to use a third party&#39;s private network video management system, which is explained below. 
     In order to use the endpoint  104  to video conference with another video conferencing device over a network, a Video Management System (VMS)  144  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) may be used to manage the connection and interchange of information and data between the devices. Video management systems may be administered by a third party&#39;s private network  120  &amp;  140 , which may be separate and distinct (separated by a firewall) from the private networks of the users of the video conferencing devices. The user&#39;s private network and the VMS&#39;s private network may be connected together by a larger network  130 , such as the Internet or a WAN, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In order to maintain the security and privacy of the video conference and the VMS  144 , the private network  140  of the VMS may use port-based network access control as a means to access the private network. Port-based network access control can use a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server  142  in conjunction with an authenticating network switch  106  to authenticate the identity of the endpoint  104  for use by the private network or the VMS of the private network. The authenticating network switch may have ports to provide the endpoint with a connection to a Local Area Network (LAN), the network  130 , a WAN, or the Internet. The ports of the authenticating network switch may be enabled to use authentication protocols so the endpoint may only access the VMS or the private network via the RADIUS server with valid authentication credentials stored on the video conferencing device. A video conferencing device initially may not have valid authentication credentials installed on the device. Valid credentials may be a user name and password. The user name and password may not be assigned to a particular endpoint. The present system and method may assist a user and the private network administrator in securely installing these authentication credentials installed on the endpoint, so a user cannot view the credentials before, during, or after installation. 
     Using a port-based network access control can provide secure and encrypted communication to the VMS  144  using the protocols of the authenticating network switch  106 . The port may be enabled to set authentication protocols so communication with the VMS or the private network  120  &amp;  140  can occur after the remote device successfully logs into the RADIUS server  142 . Until the endpoint  104  has been authenticated by the RADIUS server, the authentication protocols of the enabled port may only respond to communication from the endpoint allowing for the submission of authentication credentials. For example, the system and method may use a Procurve Switch as the authenticating switch. The authentication protocols may use an IEEE 802.1x standard, and the authenticating network switch may be enabled to use 802.1x authentication protocols. A port&#39;s authentication protocols may be normally enabled on the switch, so only data conforming to 802.1x authentication protocols may be transmitted to a private network. Other port-based network access control standards and protocols may also be used. 
     Three distinct roles existing within a port-based network access control interaction are: Authenticator, supplicant, and authentication server. The authenticator is the port device that wishes to enforce authentication before allowing access to services that are accessible via that port. The supplicant is the device or system wishing to access the services via that port. The authentication server performs the authentication function necessary to check the credentials of the supplicant on behalf of the authenticator and authorizes the supplicant to use the authenticator&#39;s services via the authenticator&#39;s port. The ports on the authenticating network switch  106  may adopt the role of the authenticator. The endpoint (video conferencing device)  104  may adopt the role of the supplicant. The RADIUS server  142  may adopt the role of the authentication server in the port-based network access control interaction. 
     The RADIUS server  142  may block all communication to the private network  140 , except communication involving authentication of authentication credentials of the endpoint  104  via the port. After the endpoint provides proper authentication credential to the RADIUS server, the endpoint may be able to access the other parts of the private network, such as the VMS. Utilizing the VMS allows the endpoint to connect with any other video conferencing devices coupled to the VMS via the network  130 , WAN, or Internet. 
     The method may also include the application or a user rebooting the endpoint  104 . Rebooting the endpoint may cause the endpoint to recognize and use the authentication protocols when the endpoint is connected to the port of the authenticating network switch  106 . In addition, the method may include disconnecting the intermediary computing device  102  from the endpoint after installing the authentication credentials. 
     In another embodiment, the NAC credential service or application may automatically abort the installation of the authentication credentials when a pre-determined maximum time for installing the authentication credentials has been exceeded. The pre-determined maximum time may be from the time the application requests authentication credentials to the time the authentication credentials are installed. In another configuration, the application may only run for a specified time from the time the application is downloaded to the intermediary computing device. 
     After the authentication credentials have been installed on the remote network device the device may be enabled to access the private network and the VMS using port-based network access control (the RADIUS server and authenticating network switch), such as 802.1x authentication. Once a device has authentication credentials the device may be moved to any port of any authenticating network switch and still be able to access the private network. 
     After the authentication credentials have been installed on the remote network device, the remote network device has permanent or enduring credentials and may be managed by the VMS. The present system and method allows the network device without valid authentication credentials to obtain valid credentials, so that the user or local IT professional is unable to view the authentication credentials. 
     Some of the results of the system and method described are that the method can be automated to install NAC credentials (authentication credentials) on video conferencing devices in a secure manner. The method does not require on-site IT professionals to have knowledge of the authentication credentials needed to obtain access to a private network. In addition, security risks to the private network can be minimized by not having the authentication credentials known by unauthorized or untrusted personnel (a user or local IT professional), by validating the device specific information of the endpoint, and by validating the completion of the installation process. 
     The method and system for installing authentication credentials on an endpoint may be implemented using a computer readable medium having executable code embodied on the medium. The computer readable program code may be configured to provide the functions described in the method. The computer readable medium may be a RAM, ROM, EPROM, floppy disc, flash drive, optical drive, magnetic hard drive, or other medium for storing electronic data. 
     Another embodiment provides a method  300  for installing authentication credentials on a network device using a client application, as shown in the flow chart in  FIG. 3 . The method includes the operation of downloading  310  the application from a secure website onto an intermediary computing device. The operation of requesting  320  authentication credentials from a Network Access Control (NAC) credential service using the application can be performed. 
     The method  300  further includes passing  330  the authentication credentials from the NAC credential service through the intermediary computing device to an endpoint using the application. The intermediary computing device may be coupled between the NAC credential service and the endpoint. After passing through the authentication credentials to the endpoint, the operation of installing  340  the authentication credentials on the endpoint with the application follows. 
     While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.