Application-Specific API Keys for Granular User Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional authentication systems for APIs rely on single-factor trust, leading to security vulnerabilities such as password compromise and unrestricted access, making it difficult to revoke access to individual third parties without affecting all, and exposing user data to phishing and malicious applications.
Innovation Solution
Implement a multi-layered authentication system using unique application and customer data keys, requiring separate transactions for activation, and incorporating additional security measures like multi-factor authentication to control access to user data and services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional single-factor authentication is used for API access, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments authentication into multiple independent factors: application credentials, customer credentials, and device identifiers. Each factor provides a layer of security, and all must be present for successful authentication. This multi-factor approach maintains ease of operation while significantly improving security against phishing and credential compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that mediates between the application and the protected resource. Instead of direct password-based authentication, the system uses multiple credentials that act as intermediaries, verifying both the application's identity and the customer's authorization without exposing sensitive information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If broad access credentials are shared with third party applications, then adaptability is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments access control by requiring separate credentials for each application-customer-device combination. Instead of sharing broad credentials, each third-party application receives specific credentials tailored to its needs, limiting the impact of credential compromise to a single application rather than all access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making credentials specific to particular applications, customers, and devices rather than universal. Each credential set is optimized for its specific context, providing appropriate access rights while minimizing security risk exposure.
3Ease of operation
If resource owner credentials are stored by applications, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the credential storage function from the application and places it on the server side. Applications no longer store sensitive customer credentials locally; instead, the system manages credentials securely on servers, eliminating the security vulnerability of local credential storage while maintaining ease of operation through automated authentication.
4Device complexity
If single-factor authentication is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments authentication into multiple independent factors that work together: application credentials, customer credentials, and device identifiers. This segmentation provides comprehensive security without significantly increasing device complexity, as each factor can be implemented independently and the system manages the coordination automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for providing access to data of a user or services relevant to a user. A customer data key is created by a server that is specific to an application, the user of the application, and the device upon which the application resides. The server may receive an application programming interface call to create the customer data key; however, any call accessing or affecting user-specific data which does not contain a valid and authorized customer data key may be rejected. To authorize the access to the offered data or services, the user conducts an entirely separate transaction not mediated by the application. During this separate transaction, the customer data key may be activated, permitting access to the data or services using the activated customer data key.