Patents by Inventor Chris Ferris

Chris Ferris has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7325128
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are employed depending on the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wood, Paul Weschler, Derk Norton, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson, William R. Soley
  • Publication number: 20070101418
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are employed depending on the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wood, Paul Weschler, Derk Norton, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson, William Soley
  • Patent number: 7117359
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are employed depending on the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient. In addition, an entity can be allocated a new session and associated default credential if the entity's access request indicates an invalid session token or does not indicate a token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wood, Paul Weschler, Derk Norton, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson, William R. Soley
  • Publication number: 20060070114
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are employed depending on the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: David Wood, Paul Weschler, Derk Norton, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson, William Soley
  • Patent number: 6944761
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are employed depending on the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wood, Paul Weschler, Derk Norton, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson, William R. Soley
  • Patent number: 6892307
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are associated with trust levels and a log-on service obtains credentials for an entity commensurate with the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wood, Derk Norton, Paul Weschler, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson
  • Publication number: 20040210771
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are employed depending on the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wood, Paul Weschler, Derk Norton, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson, William R. Soley
  • Patent number: 6763468
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating users. Prior art mechanisms require each individual application (running on an “application server”) that the user is accessing to provide for the ability to use the various authentication mechanisms. One or more embodiments of the invention externalize the authentication mechanism from the application in the form of a login server. Only the login server needs to be configured to handle authentication mechanisms. The application server checks if a request has an active and valid session (e.g., a valid session may exist when there is active communication between a client and server that has not expired). If there is not a valid session, the application server redirects the user to the login server. The login server attempts to authenticate the user using any desired authentication mechanism. Once authenticated, the login server redirects the user back to the application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhay Gupta, Chris Ferris, Alejandro Abdelnur
  • Patent number: 6609198
    Abstract: A security architecture has been developed in which a single sign-on is provided for multiple information resources. Rather than specifying a single authentication scheme for all information resources, the security architecture associates trust-level requirements with information resources. Authentication schemes (e.g., those based on passwords, certificates, biometric techniques, smart cards, etc.) are employed depending on the trust-level requirement(s) of an information resource (or information resources) to be accessed. Once credentials have been obtained for an entity and the entity has been authenticated to a given trust level, access is granted, without the need for further credentials and authentication, to information resources for which the authenticated trust level is sufficient. The security architecture allows upgrade of credentials for a given session. This capability is particularly advantageous in the context of a single, enterprise-wide log-on. An entity (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wood, Paul Weschler, Derk Norton, Chris Ferris, Yvonne Wilson, William R. Soley
  • Patent number: 6429882
    Abstract: A user interface component. One or more embodiments provide a framework to develop a graphical user interface (GUI) for applications and to present information to a user. The framework provides a common look, feel, and usage with a layout that may follow a designated style guide. Aspects of a business (e.g., customers, vendors, or invoices) are created in the form of business objects. An editor that provides the ability to display and modify attributes of each business object (e.g., the address, name and phone number may be attributes of a customer object) is created. A set of commands that implement the changes made in an editor and that are executed upon execution of an event (such as the selection of a button on a display, e.g., a “save” button) are also defined. One or more embodiments of the invention provide for the defining of information relating to a GUI's menu bar, tool bar, and action bar. Such user interface information may be provided in a properties file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro H. Abdelnur, Chris Ferris
  • Publication number: 20010037469
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating users. Prior art mechanisms require each individual application (running on an “application server”) that the user is accessing to provide for the ability to use the various authentication mechanisms. One or more embodiments of the invention externalize the authentication mechanism from the application in the form of a login server. Only the login server needs to be configured to handle authentication mechanisms. The application server checks if a request has an active and valid session (e.g., a valid session may exist when there is active communication between a client and server that has not expired). If there is not a valid session, the application server redirects the user to the login server. The login server attempts to authenticate the user using any desired authentication mechanism. Once authenticated, the login server redirects the user back to the application server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Abhay Gupta, Chris Ferris, Alejandro Abdelnur
  • Patent number: 6226752
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating users. Prior art mechanisms require each individual application (running on an “application server”) that the user is accessing to provide for the ability to use the various authentication mechanisms. One or more embodiments of the invention externalize the authentication mechanism from the application in the form of a login server. Only the login server needs to be configured to handle authentication mechanisms. The application server checks if a request has an active and valid session (e.g., a valid session may exist when there is active communication between a client and server that has not expired). If there is not a valid session, the application server redirects the user to the login server. The login server attempts to authenticate the user using any desired authentication mechanism. Once authenticated, the login server redirects the user back to the application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhay Gupta, Chris Ferris, Alejandro Abdelnur
  • Patent number: D346194
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Chris Ferris