Patent ID: 8505079

Claim:
An authentication system for authenticating the identity of a requester of access by an unauthorized service client to a secured resource, said authentication system comprising: a messaging gateway having a first set of instructions embodied in a computer readable medium, said first set of instructions operable to receive from a requester purporting to be an authorized user of a secured resource a request for access by an unauthorized service client to said secured resource; a server in secure communication with said messaging gateway, said server having a second set of instructions embodied in a computer readable medium operable to determine a key string known to both said secured resource and the authorized user said requestor purports to be, said key string being adapted to provide a basis for authenticating the identity of said requester; a service user interface in communication with said server, said service user interface having a third set of instructions embodied in a computer readable medium operable to receive input from said unauthorized service client; wherein said second set of instructions is further operable to receive an authentication credential from said unauthorized service client associated with said request for access, said authentication credential having been provided to said unauthorized service client by said requestor; and wherein said second set of instructions is further operable to evaluate said authentication credential to authenticate the identity of said requester.