System and method for synchronizing login processes

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a method for synchronizing login processes in a web environment includes receiving user authentication information for a particular one of a plurality of access points, each access point operable to provide a user system that submitted the user authentication information access to one or more target items. The method includes authenticating the user authentication information to determine whether the user system associated with the user authentication information is authorized to access the one or more target items associated with the particular access point. The method includes initiating a successful login to the particular access point if it is determined that the user system associated with the user authentication information is authorized to access the one or more target items and automatically propagating the successful login to the particular access point to one or more of the other access points based at least on the successful login to the particular access point.

1 . A computer-implemented method of providing login forms for synchronizing login processes in a web environment, comprising:
 generating, by one or more processors of an application server, a first login form that includes one or more first input areas that receives user authentication information to authenticate a user to access a first access point and includes a first hidden form element that indicates whether the user was authenticated to access a second access point;   generating, by the one or more processors of the application server, a second login form that includes one or more second input areas to receive the user authentication information to authenticate the user to access a second access point and includes a second hidden form element that indicates whether the user was authenticated to access the first access point; and   providing, by the one or more processors of the application server, the first login form and the second login form to be displayed on a user system that accesses the first access point and the second access point,   wherein when a first authentication that the user is authenticated to access the first access point using the first login form, the second hidden form element is updated to indicate the first authentication such that the first authentication is propagated to the second login form through the user system and hidden from the user, and wherein when a second authentication that the user is authenticated to access the second access point using the second login form, the first hidden form element is updated to indicate the second authentication such that the first authentication is propagated to the second login form through the user system and hidden from the user.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first login form and the second login form are generated using a login page associated the application server. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the login page comprises at least one of an embedded script document and an HTML page running on the application server. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first hidden form element is initially set to indicate that the first authentication has not occurred. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing, by the one or more processors of the application server, a first target backend server connection indicator that identifies a first target backend server associated with the first access point.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first target backend server connection indicator is stored as one or more first cookies for the login page associated with the first login form. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first access point comprises a portlet. 
   
   
       8 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for providing login forms for synchronizing login processes in a web environment the instructions when executed on one or more processors configuring the one or more processors to:
 generate a first login form that includes one or more first input areas that receives user authentication information to authenticate a user to access a first access point and includes a first hidden form element that indicates whether the user was authenticated to access a second access point;   generate a second login form that includes one or more second input areas to receive the user authentication information to authenticate the user to access a second access point and includes a second hidden form element that indicates whether the user was authenticated to access the first access point; and   provide the first login form and the second login form to be displayed on a user system that accesses the first access point and the second access point,   wherein when a first authentication that the user is authenticated to access the first access point using the first login form, the second hidden form element is updated to indicate the first authentication such that the first authentication is propagated to the second login form through the user system and hidden from the user, and wherein when a second authentication that the user is authenticated to access the second access point using the second login form, the first hidden form element is updated to indicate the second authentication such that the first authentication is propagated to the second login form through the user system and hidden from the user.   
   
   
       9 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first login form and the second login form are generated using a login page associated the application server. 
   
   
       10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the login page comprises at least one of an embedded script document and an HTML page running on the application server. 
   
   
       11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first hidden form element is initially set to indicate that the first authentication has not occurred. 
   
   
       12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , the instructions when executed further configuring the one or more processors to:
 provide a first target backend server connection indicator that identifies a first target backend server associated with the first access point.   
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the first target backend server connection indicator is stored as one or more first cookies for the login page associated with the first login form. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first access point comprises a portlet. 
   
   
       15 . A system for providing login forms for synchronizing login processes in a web environment, comprising:
 an application server comprising one or more processors configured to:
 generate a first login form that includes one or more first input areas that receives user authentication information to authenticate a user to access a first access point and includes a first hidden form element that indicates whether the user was authenticated to access a second access point; 
 generate a second login form that includes one or more second input areas to receive the user authentication information to authenticate the user to access a second access point and includes a second hidden form element that indicates whether the user was authenticated to access the first access point; and 
 provide the first login form and the second login form to be displayed on a user system that accesses the first access point and the second access point, 
 wherein when a first authentication that the user is authenticated to access the first access point using the first login form, the second hidden form element is updated to indicate the first authentication such that the first authentication is propagated to the second login form through the user system and hidden from the user, and wherein when a second authentication that the user is authenticated to access the second access point using the second login form, the first hidden form element is updated to indicate the second authentication such that the first authentication is propagated to the second login form through the user system and hidden from the user. 
   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first login form and the second login form are generated using a login page associated the application server. 
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the login page comprises at least one of an embedded script document and an HTML page running on the application server. 
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first hidden form element is initially set to indicate that the first authentication has not occurred. 
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , the one or more processors of the application server further configured to:
 provide a first target backend server connection indicator that identifies a first target backend server associated with the first access point.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first target backend server connection indicator is stored as one or more first cookies for the login page associated with the first login form. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first access point comprises a portlet.