```ruby
module AuthenticationHelper
  def user_params(attrs = {})
    args = { user_name:  'test',
             first_name: 'Mark',
             last_name:  'Us' }.merge(attrs)
    ActionController::Parameters.new(user: args)
  end

  def get_as(user, action, params = nil, flash = nil)
    session_vars = { 'uid' => user.id, 'timeout' => 3.days.from_now }
    xhr :get, action, params, session_vars, flash
  end

  # Performs POST request as the supplied user for authentication
  def post_as(user, action, params = nil, flash = nil)
    session_vars = { 'uid' => user.id, 'timeout' => 3.days.from_now }
    xhr :post, action, params, session_vars, flash
  end

  # Performs PUT request as the supplied user for authentication
  def put_as(user, action, params = nil, flash = nil)
    session_vars = { 'uid' => user.id, 'timeout' => 3.days.from_now }
    xhr :put, action, params, session_vars, flash
  end

  # Performs DELETE request as the supplied user for authentication
  def delete_as(user, action, params = nil, flash = nil)
    session_vars = { 'uid' => user.id, 'timeout' => 3.days.from_now }
    xhr :delete, action, params, session_vars, flash
  end
end
```

Migrate xhr helper functions in rspec tests
user
```ruby
module AuthenticationHelper
  def user_params(attrs = {})
    args = { user_name:  'test',
             first_name: 'Mark',
             last_name:  'Us' }.merge(attrs)
    ActionController::Parameters.new(user: args)
  end

  def sign_in(user)
    real_controller = @controller
    @controller = MainController.new
    post :login, params: { user_login: user.user_name, user_password: 'x' }
    @controller = real_controller
  end

  def get_as(user, action, params = nil)
    sign_in user
    get action, xhr: true, params: params
  end

  # Performs POST request as the supplied user for authentication
  def post_as(user, action, params = nil)
    sign_in user
    post action, xhr: true, params: params
  end

  # Performs PUT request as the supplied user for authentication
  def put_as(user, action, params = nil)
    sign_in user
    put action, xhr: true, params: params
  end

  # Performs DELETE request as the supplied user for authentication
  def delete_as(user, action, params = nil)
    sign_in user
    delete action, xhr: true, params: params
  end
end
```
assistant