Methods and systems are provided which convey access control information
from a first server to a second server through an end user device, for example
in a system in which these servers and devices are all connected to the Internet.
The method starts after the first server receives a message from the end user device.
The first server in response to this message from the end user device sends a response
message to the end user device containing the access control information to be
conveyed to the second server, optionally after performing authentication. The
response message also contains an instruction for the end user device to post a
second message to the second server containing the information. The information
is preferably contained in a content portion of the message. A hidden form may
be used in the response message to contain the information. Optionally, the end
user may be presented with an option to post the second message or not. This may
allow conformance with data privacy laws requiring end user consent of data transfer.
The instruction to post to the second server may consist of active content within
the response message's content portion. This can be used to cause an end user device
to store a cookie in association with a number of servers in different domains
thereby implementing a multiple domain single sign-on function.