Method and apparatus for authentication for a multiplicity of services6983485Abstract A method is provided for authentication for a multiplicity of services, where each service is called via a service-specific and/or subscriber-specific access authorization, and for authentication in an intelligent network for a multiplicity of IN services. The corresponding apparatus for authentication for a multiplicity of services has an authentication server with a memory and a comparison device that compares an authorization input with a stored access authorization. Claims I claim: Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In other words, each of the services is called via a service-specific and/or subscriber-specific access authorization. An authentication server is provided, at least one service-specific and/or subscriber-specific access authorization for a service is stored in the authentication server, a multiplicity of authentication codes assigned to users are stored in the authentication server, each authentication code is assigned to the service-specific and/or subscriber-specific access authorization or authorizations of a user, and in the event of a service being requested, the authentication server carries out authentication by means of a received authentication code in such a way that the received authentication code is compared with all the authentication codes stored in the authentication server and the central authentication server sets up a connection to the requested service if the comparison result is positive. In this method it is advantageous that all the access authorizations of a user for a multiplicity of services are stored centrally in an authentication server. In this case, the authentication server may be part of a telecommunications network and be dialed up, for example, by a user for use of particular services of the telecommunications network via a number provided for this purpose. As soon as a connection exists between a subscriber terminal of the user and the authentication server, the user can request one of the particular services of the telecommunications network for example by inputting a service-specific code. To that end, the service-specific code may be formed as part of a call number for setting up a connection to the authentication server or the authentication server has "prompt & collect" functionality, in which a service-specific code is communicated by the user and the user thereupon authenticates himself/herself by transmitting his/her authentication code. The authentication code corresponds, as it were, to a central access key to the individual access authorizations for services. The user thus requires only the authentication code in order to request services. In order to increase the security, the transmission of the authentication code to the authentication server may additionally by encrypted, in particular with respect to time. With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for universal authentication in an intelligent network for a multiplicity of IN services each callable via a service-specific and/or subscriber-specific access authorization. The method comprises the following steps: In the context, therefore, of the intelligent network and its IN services, the authentication server is provided in a service control point of the intelligent network. At least one service-specific and/or subscriber-specific access authorization for an IN service is stored in the authentication server, a multiplicity of authentication codes assigned to users are stored in the authentication server, each authentication code is assigned to the service-specific and/or subscriber-specific access authorization or authorizations of a user, in the event of an IN service being requested, the authentication server carries out authentication by means of a received authentication code in such a way that the received authentication code is compared with all the authentication codes stored in the authentication server and the authentication server sets up a connection to the requested IN service in the event of a positive comparison result. There is further provided, in accordance with the invention, an apparatus for authentication for a multiplicity of services, comprising:
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method and apparatus for authentication for a multiplicity of services, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating access to different services via different accesses; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating access to a bank server via an electronic payment terminal; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating access to a police data server via a terminal; and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the authentication server. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a detail of an intelligent network with a service switching point 1 (SSP) and a service control point 2 (SCP). The service switching point 1 constitutes the interface between the intelligent network and the public telephone network (PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network). The various services of the intelligent network can be accessed via the service switching point via a multiplicity of different devices. Such devices may be, for example, a mobile radio telephone 3 or an analog telephone 4 and a digital telephone 6, which are both connected via a private branch exchange (PBX) 5 to the service switching point 1, a computer with a modem 7, a computer with a LAN connection 8 or an electronic payment terminal 9. The above-mentioned list is not exhaustive; further devices for access to services of the intelligent network are conceivable and lie within the invention. The service switching point 1 is connected to a service control point 2 of the intelligent network. In this case, the service control point 2 performs the services of the intelligent network, the so-called IN services. To that end, the service control point 2 sets up a connection to a service server, which performs a corresponding IN service, and requests the service from the latter. The following, for example, may be provided as service server: a bank server 10, a universal personal telecommunication SCP 11, a virtual private network 12, a home location register/corporate network 13, a data VPN 14 and a credit card server 15, which are connected to the service control point 2. Furthermore, an authentication server 16, which is provided for authentication of accesses to the IN services, is connected to the service switching point 1 and to the service control point 2. If, by way of example, a connection to a bank server 10 is requested via a computer with modem 7 for e.g. a financial transaction, then the service switching point 1 forwards the service request to the authentication server 16, which authenticates the access by comparing an authentication code of a user communicated by the computer with modem 7 with stored authentication codes and requesting the IN service at the bank server 10 via the service control point 2 in the event of a positive comparison result. After successful authentication, there is thus a connection available between the computer with modem 7 and the bank server 10. Access via the computer with modem 7 to an IN service of the credit card server 15, for example, proceeds analogously. The access also proceeds similarly when another device is chosen for the access, for example the mobile radio telephone 3. For this purpose, the mobile telephone transmits the authentication code to the authentication server 16. In the event of access via a computer, the authentication code may be input by a user by means of the keyboard, or be stored on a SMART card, for example. If an access device has a fingerprint sensor, for example, then the authentication code can be stored as encrypted fingerprint in the authentication server 16, so that a user authenticates himself/herself by his/her fingerprint. To that end, data concerning the fingerprint and also the associated encryption information serving for encrypted transmission of the fingerprint data are stored in the authentication server. FIG. 2 outlines how a bank server 52 is accessed via an authentication server 51 via an arbitrary terminal 50, for example a computer terminal. In this respect, the communication of the authentication code from the terminal 50 to the authentication server 51 takes place by means of encrypted transmission. This prevents unauthorized accesses to the authentication code such as, for example, interception measures on the transmission link 53 between the terminal 50 and the authentication server 51. For additionally increased security, the encryption algorithm changes over time. This application is suitable for example for transferring amounts of money to an electronic purse or for payment by credit and/or account card. The access—illustrated in FIG. 3—to the data of a police data server 102 proceeds similarly. On the one hand, the access is possible without authentication by means of a police terminal 103, which is accessed exclusively by persons authorized to do so, such as police officials, for example; on the other hand, the data of the police data server 102 can likewise be accessed via a terminal 100 and an authentication server 101. This facilitates for example access to police data via a mobile terminal in a police car or by a police patrol. In this case, encrypted transmission 104 between the terminal 100 and the authentication server 101 is again provided. FIG. 4 outlines the structure of the authentication server. The authentication server has an access authorization memory 150, in which a multiplicity of authentication codes are stored. The services for which a user is authorized are additionally stored for each authentication code. A comparison device 151 compares a communicated authentication code with all the authentication codes stored in the access authorization memory 150 and, in the event of a positive comparison, signals to a connection setup device 152 which service is to be requested.
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