Adaptive Authentication for Spreadsheet Cloud Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack efficient mechanisms for authenticating client-side software with cloud-based web services, requiring manual configuration and expert knowledge, and are inflexible when authentication methods change, leading to access issues and errors.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive authentication method and add-in for spreadsheet programs that automatically determines the authentication method used by a web service, adapting the user interface to collect credentials and enabling secure access without manual configuration, supporting methods like BASIC and JSON Web Token.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration parameters are provided for authentication, then authentication can be performed, but user burden and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The client-side software automatically performs authentication by executing tests against the web service and self-configuring the appropriate authentication method without requiring manual user input. The system serves itself by autonomously determining authentication requirements and configuring parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary testing actions by sending test requests to the web service before actual authentication. These tests预先 determine the authentication method required, allowing the system to prepare the correct authentication configuration in advance rather than requiring manual setup.
2Reliability
If authentication method is hard-coded in client-side software, then authentication is reliable, but adaptability to changing web services is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication method is made dynamic rather than static. The client-side software automatically adapts its authentication approach by executing tests against the web service and adjusting the authentication method based on the service's requirements. This allows the system to remain reliable while adapting to different and changing authentication methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes authentication parameters dynamically by modifying the authentication method, credentials, and configuration based on the results of test executions against the web service. This allows the client software to adapt to different authentication schemes without requiring hard-coding.
3Reliability
If expert knowledge is required to configure authentication, then authentication security is maintained, but accessibility to non-experts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically determining the appropriate authentication method through test execution. Non-expert users simply need to provide basic credentials, while the system autonomously handles the complex task of determining and configuring the correct authentication method, maintaining security without requiring expert knowledge.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple authentication methods are supported, then versatility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The client-side software is designed with universal authentication capability that can handle multiple authentication methods through a unified interface. By using a common testing mechanism to determine the required authentication method, the system achieves multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Tests are transmitted from a client device to server-side software located on a server device. Results of the tests are received from the server-side software. An authentication sub-flow is selected, based on results of the tests, from a plurality of authentication sub-flows enabling a client-side program to operate on cloud-based data associated with server-side software. Client authentication is facilitated for the client-side program to operate on the cloud-based data using the selected authentication sub-flow. The cloud-based data is operated on from the client-side program using the client-authentication.