Patent ID: 7539862

Claim:
A method comprising: performing, in a first service access provider, operations including, receiving an access request from a client access device, the access request requesting access to a network, wherein a user associated with the client access device is a subscriber of a second service access provider, wherein the second service provider is physically distinguished from the first service provider; establishing a communications link with the client access device to authenticate and authorize the user, including delivering an agent to the client access device, the agent operable to identify the client device configuration; receiving client device configuration data from the agent over the communications link during an authentication and authorization exchange; transmitting the client device configuration data destined for the second service access provider, wherein the second service access provider is operable to process the client device configuration data and selectively grant the client access device access to the network based upon the client device configuration data; and receiving an indication about whether the client access device is granted access to the network, the indication originating from the second service access provider.