Patent ID: 7752434

Claim:
A secure communication hardware module implemented in a computer coupled to a network, the computer comprising a processor for executing instructions stored in a computer readable memory, the secure communication hardware module for securing authentication between a client application and a web service, the secure communication hardware module comprising: an authentication identifier provider for providing to the client application a plurality of authentication identifiers over a secure communication channel established over the network, individual authentication identifiers of the plurality of authentication identifiers for use in validating subsequent client application requests to access functionality provided by a first web service; and an authentication identifier validator for validating the client application's authorization to access the requested functionality of the first web service using an authentication identifier from the plurality of authentication identifiers received with a client application request to access functionality provided by the first web service; and a communication module for receiving, over an unsecure communication channel established over the network, the client application request and the associated authentication identifier and sending the request to access functionality to the web service when the client application's authorization to access the web service is validated by the authentication identifier validator.