diff --git a/src/application/controllers/api/v1/API_V1_Controller.php b/src/application/controllers/api/v1/API_V1_Controller.php
index 7a053d0b..9b06fc2c 100644
--- a/src/application/controllers/api/v1/API_V1_Controller.php
+++ b/src/application/controllers/api/v1/API_V1_Controller.php
@@ -11,8 +11,48 @@
  * @since       v1.2.0
  * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-class API_V1_Controller extends CI_Controller {
+use \EA\Engine\Types\NonEmptyString;
 
+/**
+ * API V1 Controller 
+ *
+ * Parent controller class for the API v1 resources. Extend this class instead of the CI_Controller
+ * and call the parent constructor.
+ *
+ * @package Controllers
+ * @subpackage API
+ */
+class API_V1_Controller extends CI_Controller {
+    /**
+     * Class Constructor 
+     *
+     * This constructor will handle the common operations of each API call. 
+     *
+     * Important: Do not forget to call the this constructor from the child classes.
+     *
+     * Notice: At the time being only the basic authentication is supported. Make sure 
+     * that you use the API through SSL/TLS for security.
+     */
+    public function __construct() {
+        if (!isset($_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER'])) {
+            return $this->_requestAuthentication();
+        }
+
+        $username = new NonEmptyString($_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER']);
+        $password = new NonEmptyString($_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_PW']);
+        $authorization = new \EA\Engine\Api\V1\Authorization($this); 
+        $authorization->basic($username, $password); 
+        parent::__construct();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets request authentication headers.
+     */
+    protected function _requestAuthentication() {
+        header('WWW-Authenticate: Basic realm="Easy!Appointments"');
+        header('HTTP/1.0 401 Unauthorized');
+        echo 'You are not authorized to use the API.';
+    }
 }
 
 /* End of file API_V1_Controller.php */