Patent ID: 7512782

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for implementing a multipurpose license for both authorization and authentication, and which provides flexibility to handle different authentication and authorization purposes and mechanism, the method comprising: accessing a multipurpose license, the multipurpose license including: at least one assertion element, wherein each of the at least one assertion elements includes a statement attribute that includes one or more declarative statements describing a key type, and a separate delegate portion identifying one or more conditions under which rights under the multipurpose license can be delegated; and a plurality of signature elements associated with the at least one assertion element, wherein the plurality of signature elements are from a plurality of different authorities, and wherein each of the plurality of different signature elements includes a reason attribute providing an explicit identification of a reason why the signature element is included in the multipurpose license; using the at least one assertion element of the multipurpose license for authentication purposes, by verifying an identity of a source of the assertion in the multipurpose license; using at least one of the signature elements of the multipurpose license for authorization purposes, wherein the multipurpose license is used for a service.