Systems and methods for controlling access to a public data network from a visited access provider

Abstract

To allow a user to access a public data network from a region of service operated by a visited access provider, the visited provider is supplied with an identity of a credit provider. The user is redirected to the credit provider, resulting in establishment of a temporary connection with the credit provider. During this temporary connection, the user supplies original user credentials and, in return, receives substitute user credentials if the original user credentials are valid. The substitute user credentials are supplied to the visited provider, which proceeds to have the user authenticated by the credit provider on the basis of the substitute user credentials. In this way, the visited provider authenticates the user with the credit provider before allowing the user to access the public data network, but a secure exchange of the original user credentials between the user and the credit provider prevents unauthorized access to this information by the visited provider.