Adaptive authentication in spreadsheet interface integrated with web service

Abstract

An example method facilitates authenticating a client-side program, such as a spreadsheet, for access to and use of protected server-side data and/or functionality provided via a web service, such as a REpresentational State Transfer (REST) service or Application Programming Interface (API). The example method uses an add-in or plugin to the spreadsheet (which may run on a mobile device, desktop computer, other client system) to interrogate, negotiate with, or otherwise test or poll the web service to be accessed, so as to determine an authentication method used by the web service when authenticating clients; and to implement an authentication flow in accordance with the authentication method, thereby facilitating authentication of the spreadsheet for interaction with the web service in accordance with permissions associated with the authenticated client software, i.e., spreadsheet.