Authentication Server Power Interruption Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users risk losing access to network devices and services due to sudden power interruptions, as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) have limited capacity and cannot sustain power long enough for servers to shut down properly, potentially leaving users unable to access devices or services.
Innovation Solution
An authentication server equipped with a UPS, storage for user and authentication information, and a processor that transmits authentication information to client devices before shutting down, ensuring continued access during power interruptions by calculating remaining power time and prioritizing data transmission based on user registration, device accessibility, and priority levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the server is equipped with a UPS to supply power during interruption, then the server can maintain operation for a period, but the limited power capacity cannot sustain the server long enough for proper shutdown preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively transmitting authentication information to client devices before the authentication server shuts down. When the UPS indicates remaining time is sufficient, the system pre-sends authentication data to multiple client devices, ensuring users can access devices/services even after the server goes offline. This prevents the reliability problem by preparing in advance rather than waiting for shutdown to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the authentication process by distributing authentication information to multiple client devices simultaneously. Instead of relying on a single server instance, the system divides the authentication data across multiple client devices, so that if one device becomes unavailable, users can still authenticate through other devices that received the segmentation of authentication information.
2Reliability
If the server transmits authentication information to multiple client devices, then user access is maintained, but network traffic and data transmission load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively transmitting authentication information only to client devices that meet specific criteria. The system evaluates multiple factors including user registration status, device accessibility, and priority levels to determine which devices receive authentication data. This partial transmission approach maintains user access reliability while avoiding the energy waste of broadcasting to all possible devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of authentication information transmission by adapting the transmission strategy based on UPS remaining time and device priority levels. When remaining time is sufficient, the system transmits to higher-priority devices first; when time is limited, it prioritizes essential devices only. This dynamic parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between access continuity and energy consumption.
3Reliability
If the server prioritizes data transmission based on user registration and device priority, then critical authentication information is delivered, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different priority levels and characteristics to different client devices based on their specific attributes. Each device is evaluated individually for user registration status, accessibility, and priority level, creating localized quality differences in transmission priority. This allows the system to deliver critical authentication information to the most important devices while managing complexity through structured, attribute-based differentiation rather than uniform treatment.
Data Source
AI summary
An authentication server is connected to a client device via a network and includes: an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that supplies power to the authentication server upon interruption of a main power supply; a storage that stores a database including: a piece of user information of a user of the client device; and a piece of authentication information for the user to log into the client device or a predetermined server on the network via the client device; and a processor that, once the UPS starts to supply the power to the authentication server, transmits to the client device the piece of authentication information corresponding to the piece of user information before the authentication server is shut down.