Wireless Access Point Credential Management with TTL Expiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing credentials across multiple devices for wireless network access are cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly when devices are lost or stolen, requiring new credentials to be created and reconfigured across all affected devices.
Innovation Solution
A wireless access point device implements a credential management system that generates unique credentials with a Time-To-Live (TTL) value, allowing temporary access and automatic removal upon TTL expiration, thereby simplifying credential management and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If shared credentials are used across multiple devices, then device connectivity is enabled, but security is compromised when devices are lost or stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single shared credential into device-specific unique credentials. Each device receives a distinct credential that is bound to its hardware identifier, segmenting the authentication mechanism to prevent compromise of other devices if one device is lost or stolen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a Time-To-Live (TTL) parameter to credentials, making them temporary rather than permanent. Credentials automatically expire after a specified duration, changing the temporal parameter of credential validity to enhance security while maintaining connectivity during the active period.
2Reliability
If new credentials are created and reconfigured across all affected devices, then security is restored, but administrative burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs credential management automatically without requiring manual intervention. When a device joins the network, credentials are automatically generated, bound to the device's hardware identifier, and configured through automated processes, eliminating the need for administrators to manually create and reconfigure credentials on each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-configuring credential parameters such as TTL values and automatic expiration policies before devices need to connect. This allows the system to handle credential rotation and revocation proactively without requiring reactive administrative intervention when security issues arise.
3Stability of the object's composition
If permanent credentials are used, then connectivity stability is maintained, but security flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static permanent credentials into dynamic temporary credentials with TTL values. Credentials are valid only for a specified period and automatically expire, allowing the system to adapt credential validity based on time-based policies while maintaining stable connectivity during the active credential period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of credential validity from infinite (permanent) to finite (time-limited). By introducing TTL as a configurable parameter, the system achieves security flexibility through automatic expiration while maintaining connectivity stability during the credential's valid period, balancing both requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing credential management across multiple devices for wireless network access. In examples, in response to receiving, from a client device, an authentication request for connection to a wireless network, a wireless access point device sends, to an administrator device, an authorization request for establishing a connection between the client device and the wireless network; receives, from the administrator device, an authorization response; and, when the authorization response indicates to provide access, generates and associates a credential for and with the client device, sets one or more time-to-live (“TTL”) values for the credential, and sends the credential to the client device. In response to receiving another authentication request from the client device, including the credential, the wireless access point device determines whether a first TTL value is valid; when the first TTL value is valid, approves the authentication request and establishing the connection.