Abstract

In Content Delivery Networks (CDN), as the customer base increases, a point is reached where the capacity of the network and the content server become inadequate. In extreme cases (e.g., world class sporting events), it is impossible to adequately serve the clientele, resulting in extreme customer frustration. In these circumstances, multicast content delivery is an attractive alternative. However, the issue of maintaining control over the customers is difficult.

In addition to controlling the access to the network itself, in order to control the access of users to the multicast session, an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting Framework was added to the multicast architecture. A successful authentication of the end user is a prerequisite for authorization and accounting. The Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) provides an authentication framework to implement authentication properly, for which more than thirty different available EAP methods exist.

While distinguishing the multicast content delivery requirements in terms of functionality and security, we will be able to choose a smaller set of relevant EAP methods accordingly. Given the importance of the role of the ultimate chosen EAP method, we will precisely compare the most likely to be useful methods and eventually pick the Extensible Authentication Protocol - Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling (EAP-FAST) framework as the most suitable one.

Based on the work on receiver participant controls, we present a validation of the security of the exchanges that are required to ensure adequate control and revenue recovery.