Patent ID: 7356697

Claim:
A method for authenticating a first user in a protected network to an application shared concurrently with a second user in an unprotected network, said method comprising the steps of: the first user supplying a userID and a password to a first server within said protected network for authentication for said application, said application residing in a third network configured as a buffer between said protected network and said unprotected network; said first server determining that said userID and password are authentic, and in response, said first server forwarding to said application an authentication key for said first user and a selection by said first user pertaining to said application, said password not being sent from said protected network into said third network to access said application; said application determining that said key is authentic, and in response, said application complying with said selection by said first user; and said second user supplying another userID and another password to said application, said application determining that said other userID and said other password are authentic, and in response, said application complying with a selection made by said second user pertaining to said application.