Usage authentication via intercept and challege for network services

Abstract

A security broker (SB) that provides network based authorization of secure VoIP services, triggered upon attempted user access. The security broker (SB) intercepts a SIP transaction during session setup to transmit a network based security challenge to a SIP application attempting to access (secure) IP based services. A network based security challenge is transmitted to a participating SIP application on both the origination and termination legs of a SIP transaction. The network based security challenge prompts a SIP application to return subscriber authorization/authentication credentials (e.g. a username/password combination). If credentials returned by the SIP application are valid, the security broker (SB) authorizes the network to permit session completion, and access to secure IP services is granted. Alternatively, if credentials returned by the VoIP application are invalid, the security broker (SB) terminates the corresponding session attempt, hence preventing unauthorized access to (secure) IP based services.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.