Patent ID: 8176541

Claim:
A method, performed by an intermediary system, of leveraging a persistent connection with a client to provide the client with access to a secured service, the method comprising: receiving a first request from a client system at an intermediary system, the first request relating to a request for access to the intermediary system; establishing a persistent connection between the client system and the intermediary system in response to the first request from the client system; receiving a second request from the client system at the intermediary system, the second request relating to a request for access to a secured service that is physically distinct of the intermediary system; authenticating the intermediary system to the secured service responsive to the second request; and brokering a direct authenticated connection between the client system and the secured service based on the authentication of the intermediary system to the secured service, the direct authenticated connection between the client system and the secured service being independent of the persistent connection between the client system and the intermediary system.