API Handler Authentication for Secure Database Access Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in securely and efficiently managing access to large databases containing sensitive data from autonomous vehicles, as direct user access leads to data leakage, inefficient query design, and difficulty in controlling access to vast amounts of data.
Innovation Solution
A multi-step authentication process involving a User Authorization Token followed by an Access Credential Server to obtain a Service Key for accessing the database, ensuring controlled access and data encapsulation through an API Handler.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If direct user access to the database is allowed, then ease of operation is improved, but data security deteriorates due to data leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an API Handler as an intermediary component between users and the database. The API Handler receives user requests, performs authentication and authorization checks, and mediates database access operations. This intermediary layer enables users to access data through controlled API endpoints without direct database connections, maintaining ease of operation while preventing data leakage by enforcing access policies and masking sensitive information.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple authentication steps are implemented, then data security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional authentication components
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into distinct functional components: User Authorization Token validation, Service Key generation, and credential verification. Each component handles a specific aspect of authentication, allowing the system to enforce multiple security checks while maintaining modular architecture. This segmentation enables comprehensive security validation without creating a monolithic complex system, as each segment can be independently configured and maintained.
3Productivity
If direct database access is permitted, then productivity is improved through efficient data retrieval, but loss of information increases due to uncontrolled data exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The API Handler implements local quality control by applying different access policies and data masking rules to different data fields and user roles. Sensitive information is selectively masked or transformed based on user authorization levels, while non-sensitive data is returned in full. This approach enables efficient data retrieval for authorized users while preventing information loss through controlled exposure, allowing productivity gains without compromising data protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable media for authenticating access by a user to a database using a multi-step process. A User Request is received at a Gateway API for accessing a Database (or other type of controlled resource), the User Request including a User Authorization Token, a Request Identification (ID), and an Event Date. The user is authenticated by the Gateway API based on the User Authorization Token. In response to the user not being authenticated at the Gateway API based on the User Authorization Token, user access to the Database is denied. In response to the user being authenticated at the Gateway API based on the User Authorization Token, an Authenticated Request is provided from the Gateway API to an API Handler based on the User Request. Based on the Authenticated Request, the API Handler obtains, from an Access Credential Server, a Service Key for accessing the Database by the API Handler. The API Handler accesses the Database using the Service Key.