A method includes receiving, at an access node, a connection request from a device and in response to the connection request, establishing a connection with an identity provider. The device, the access node, the local network, and the identity provider are members of an identity federation. The method also includes, after the device is authenticated with the identity provider, sending or receiving, to or from the identity provider and by the access node, data linking the device to an item and an owner of the device.