Inventors:
Yeates, Anthony(Redmond, WA)
Dournov, Pavel (Redmond,WA)
Whitlock, Donna (Seattle, WA)
Belvin, Timothy (Auburn,WA)
O'Meara,Brendan(Bellevue,WA)
Blackwood, Kirk(Bellevue, WA)
Bazlen,Derrick(Woodinville, WA)
Assignee:
Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)
Appl. No.: 10/725,881 Filed: December 2, 2003

An authentication protocol is disclosed for use in enhancing the midphase security of communications between software applications and Internet-based service providers. The protocol incorporates a two level authentication model based on a distribution of authentication responsibilities, wherein the application authenticates users and the service provider authenticates the application and midphase review.

Embodiments of the protocol incorporate public key infrastructure and digital certificate technology using cheap web hosting instruments. Other embodiments of the present invention pertain to applying a corresponding protocol to peer-to-peer communication scenarios.