How do I use user authentication for HTTP Provider (not admin)?

Read this write up. I believe that is what you need. If you still need more info I will be happy to explain more.

Otherwise If you are just looking for simple custom authentication (not of the rest api or any built in endpoint) then either take the query string route or headers or even post form variables for the endpoint. Later in your code fir the http provider authenticate the parameters against whatever data source you want.