Patent ID: 8078715

Claim:
A method comprising: generating a new unique identification value (UIV) for a new network connection initiated by a request from a current user to log in to a data communications network; comparing the new UIV to a master list of a plurality of entries, each entry including: an established UIV for an established network connection through a respective port on one of one or more network access servers (NASs) in the data communications network, the established network connection resulting from a previous request from a user to log in to the respective port; and respective group identification information for the user associated with the previous request to log in to the respective port; identifying an existing entry in the master list indicating an abnormal disconnection of a previously logged in user; changing a first counter to indicate a first group of users contains one less logged in user, the first group identified by group identification information in the existing entry; and authorizing the new network connection if a predetermined maximum number of sessions for a second group of users has not been met, the current user belonging to the second group of users.