Patent ID: 8001587

Claim:
A method for providing single-credential access to multiple, distinct, restricted imaging device services wherein a unique credential is required for each service, said method comprising: sending credential menu content to an application programming interface (API) on an imaging device (IDev), wherein said credential menu content comprises a prompt for user input of user sign-on credentials and wherein said credential menu content is in the form of a markup language message formatted to be translated by a user interface processor on said IDev; receiving an authenticated user identification, wherein said authenticated user identification is received as user input in response to displaying said credential menu content on a display of said IDev and wherein said user input is authenticated at an accounting application (AcctApp) remote to said IDev; maintaining a user credential data table relating a plurality of unique service credentials to said authenticated user identification; generating a single-sign-on (SSO) token, in response to said receiving an authenticated user identification, wherein said SSO token relates, using said user credential data table, said authenticated user identification to said plurality of unique service credentials for a user identified in said authenticated user identification and wherein said SSO token can be exchanged by one of said unique services for a corresponding one of said unique user service credentials; sending said SSO token to said IDev; receiving said SSO token from one of said unique services; and sending to said one of said unique services, in exchange for said SSO token, said corresponding one of said unique user service credentials for authentication of the sent unique service credentials at said one of said unique services.