Application Portal Instance for Secure Ad Hoc Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collaboration services face challenges in facilitating secure and seamless communication between registered and non-registered users, as non-registered users often need to create accounts, download applications, and log in, making ad hoc collaboration cumbersome and disruptive.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a first server to host a collaboration service, with a second server deploying an application portal instance for non-registered users, enabling direct communication through a hidden indirect connection, allowing users to collaborate without installing software or creating accounts, using a private network for secure communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-registered users are required to create accounts and install applications to access collaboration services, then security and service management are improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an application portal instance as an intermediary component that sits between the collaboration service server and non-registered users. This portal instance provides a web-based interface that allows non-registered users to access collaboration services without creating accounts or installing applications, while still maintaining security through the server's authentication and authorization mechanisms. The portal instance acts as a mediator that translates user requests into service operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the registration and application installation requirements from the access process for non-registered users. By separating the authentication mechanism from the access requirement, the system allows users to join collaboration sessions through a simplified web portal without going through the full registration workflow, thus improving accessibility while maintaining service security through alternative authentication methods.
2Ease of operation
If non-registered users can access collaboration services without accounts or applications, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and security management worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collaboration service access architecture into distinct components: the main collaboration service server for registered users, and separate application portal instances for non-registered users. This segmentation allows the system to handle different user types through specialized interfaces while maintaining a unified security model at the server level, reducing the perceived complexity for each user group.
Solution Approach 2:
The application portal instance is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a web interface for non-registered users and a connection gateway to the collaboration service. This universal component handles user authentication, session management, and service access coordination, reducing the need for separate complex systems for different user types.
3Productivity
If ad hoc collaboration is enabled for non-registered users, then productivity is improved, but loss of time for setup and onboarding worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring application portal instances with necessary service access permissions and authentication credentials before non-registered users arrive. The portal instances are pre-established with connections to the collaboration service server, so when users access them, they are immediately connected to collaboration sessions without requiring setup time for accounts or applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables non-registered users to skip the traditional account creation and application installation steps by providing direct access through web-based portal instances. Users can rush through the access process by simply clicking a link or scanning a QR code, immediately joining collaboration sessions without the time-consuming setup procedures that registered users must follow.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for facilitating communication between users of a collaboration service on a private network are presented. A first server is configured to host the collaboration service. A first client device corresponds to a registered user of the collaboration service. The first client device is in direct communication with the first server to use the collaboration service. An application portal instance is configured and deployed by a second server. The application portal instance is configured to directly connect to the first server. The application portal instance provides an indirect connection to the first server. The indirect connection is hidden from users of the system. A second client device corresponds to a non-registered user of the collaboration service. The second client device connects directly to the application portal instance. The first client device and the second client device communicate over the private network using the collaboration service.