Asset Sharing via Encrypted Credential Mediation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sharing content or functionality between User Equipment (UE) devices are inefficient, as they require users to manually locate and connect with suitable devices, limiting the pool of potential sharers and imposing a burden on communication network bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a server to receive and encrypt credentials from a sharing UE, facilitating their distribution to authorized UEs via peer-to-peer communication protocols like Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth, allowing secure and automated access to shared assets without the need for users to directly connect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually locate and connect with suitable devices for sharing, then direct peer-to-peer sharing can be established, but the process is time-consuming and limits the pool of potential sharers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that receives credentials from sharing UEs and distributes them to requesting UEs. This mediator eliminates the need for users to manually locate and connect with potential sharers, as the server automatically manages the credential distribution process, significantly reducing connection time and expanding the pool of accessible sharers.
2Productivity
If credentials are distributed openly for peer-to-peer sharing, then direct access is enabled, but security and authorization control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a secure intermediary that receives credentials from sharing UEs, encrypts them, and distributes only to authorized requesting UEs. This maintains security control while enabling efficient sharing, as the server validates and manages credential distribution rather than allowing open credential broadcasting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies encryption to transform credentials into a secure format that can be safely distributed through the network. By changing the parameter of credential state from plaintext to encrypted form, the system enables network distribution while maintaining security, allowing efficient sharing without compromising authorization control.
3Quantity of substance
If centralised server distribution is used for content sharing, then bandwidth requirements are met, but communication network bandwidth is heavily consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the credential distribution function from traditional centralized content distribution. Instead of using the centralized server for high-bandwidth content delivery, the system uses it only for lightweight credential exchange, then enables direct peer-to-peer content sharing between UEs. This separates the authentication function from the content delivery function, reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining distribution capacity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method (100)is disclosed for enabling sharing of an asset by an authorised User Equipment device (UE) with other authorised UEs, the asset comprising at least one of content or functionality on the sharing UE. The method comprises receiving, from the sharing UE, credentials for connection to the sharing UE over a peer to peer communication protocol (110), encrypting the received credentials using an encryption key corresponding to a decryption key available to authorised UEs (130), and facilitating distribution of the encrypted credentials to at least one other authorised UE (140). Also disclosed is a method (200), performed in an authorised UE, for accessing an asset shared by another authorised UE. The method comprises receiving encrypted credentials for connecting to the sharing UE over a peer to peer connection protocol (120), decrypting the received encrypted credentials (220), connecting to the sharing UE using the decrypted credentials (230) and accessing the asset (240). Also disclosed is another method (300), performed in an authorised UE, for sharing an asset with another authorised UE. The method comprises identifying an asset on the authorised UE for sharing with other authorised UEs (310) and sending to a server credentials for connection to the authorised UE over a peer to peer communication protocol (320). Also disclosed are a server (400, 700) and UE (500, 600, 800) configured to carry out methods for sharing an asset, accessing an asset and enabling sharing of an asset. Also disclosed is a computer program product configured to carry out methods for sharing an asset, accessing an asset and enabling sharing of an asset.