Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Benjamin A Hutz

Cristian Marius Ilac

Sterling M Reasor

Klaus U Schutz

Eric C Perlin

Eric R Flo

John Scott Stephens

Stefan N Richards

Chris J Guzak

Brian D Wentz

David Ruzyski

James H Hong

Brian K McNeil

Stefan Richards

Systems and/or methods are described that enable a credential interface. These systems and/or methods may build a credential user interface enabling a user to choose between multiple credentials and submit an authenticator for a chosen credential. These systems and/or methods may also gather information about arbitrary credentials and build a user interface for submission of authenticators for these arbitrary credentials.

Credential interface

A credential is translated with one of different credential provider modules each translating a corresponding different type of credential into a common protocol. The translated credential is communicated through an API to a logon UI module to an operating system (OS) of a local machine. An OS logon module is called by the logon UI module to authenticate the translated credential against a credential database. A user identified by the translated credential is logged on to access the local machine when the authentication is successful. The credential can also be used with a selection received from the logon UI module via a corresponding one of different pre-log access provider (PLAP) modules that each communicate with the API. The API establishes a network session with an access service specified by the selected PLAP module when the credential is authenticated with the credential database.

Interoperable credential gathering and access modularity

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Providence, RI, United States of America

Benjamin A Hutz