Patent ID: 8046578

Claim:
A method for granting access to a computer network, comprising: receiving at an access controller a request by a user to access the network using a computing device, the request by the user including a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection request having a source IP address and a destination IP address; determining by the access controller whether the user must login to access the network, including comparing the source IP address with a list of logged in users stored in the access controller, wherein if the source IP address is included on the list of logged in users the user is granted access without logging in, and if the source IP address is not included on the list of logged in users, then determining whether the destination IP address is included in a White List associated with the access controller, wherein if the destination IP address is included in the white list the user is granted access without logging in, and if the destination IP address is not included in the white list, then; the access controller determines the user must login to access the network and provides the user with an option to retrieve a login page; using the access controller to verify user credentials provided by the user on the login page; and granting the user access to the network if the user credentials are verified.