Authentication Translation System for Legacy Server Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often face tedious experiences when providing credentials, leading to insecure practices like password re-use due to the complexity of authentication processes, and existing systems lack efficient methods for secure authentication that can be widely deployed, including on legacy systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an authentication translation system that uses biometric data to authenticate users, allowing them to bypass typing credentials directly into devices, with secure storage and renegotiation of SSL keys to protect against malware, and compatibility with legacy servers through cache cookies and user agent information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users provide credentials manually through traditional authentication methods, then authentication can be performed, but the process becomes tedious and users resort to insecure practices like password re-use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual credential entry (mechanical typing of passwords) with biometric authentication (fingerprint, facial recognition, or other physiological traits). This substitution eliminates the need for users to remember and type complex passwords, thereby improving both security (unique biometric traits cannot be reused) and convenience (automatic authentication through biological features).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an authentication translator as an intermediary component that bridges legacy systems and modern biometric authentication. This translator intercepts authentication requests, translates biometric data into credential formats that legacy systems can understand, and manages the authentication process, allowing secure biometric authentication without requiring modifications to existing legacy infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If users select simpler passwords for ease of use, then authentication becomes more convenient, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely replaces the password-based authentication mechanism with biometric authentication. Instead of relying on user-chosen passwords (which are inherently weak for security), the system uses unique physiological traits that are difficult to replicate or steal. This eliminates the trade-off between password simplicity and security entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of authentication from something users know (passwords) to something users are (biometric traits). This parameter change fundamentally alters the security-convenience trade-off, as biometric traits are both unique to individuals (high security) and inherently easy to present (high convenience).
3Reliability
If biometric authentication is implemented, then security is enhanced and user experience is simplified, but compatibility with legacy systems becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an authentication translator as an intermediary layer between biometric authentication systems and legacy servers. This translator receives biometric authentication requests, translates them into credential formats compatible with legacy systems, and manages the communication protocol differences, thereby enabling seamless integration without modifying legacy infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication translator is designed with multi-functionality to handle various authentication protocols and legacy system requirements. It can translate between multiple authentication formats (passwords, tokens, biometric data) and adapt to different legacy system architectures, making the biometric authentication system universally compatible across diverse legacy environments.
4Reliability
If SSL keys are renegotiated for security protection, then protection against malware is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication translator serves as an intermediary that centralizes SSL key management and renegotiation logic. Instead of distributing complex key management responsibilities across multiple components, the translator handles SSL certificate verification, key exchange, and renegotiation in a centralized manner, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high security standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary SSL key establishment and verification through the authentication translator before actual authentication occurs. By pre-establishing secure communication channels and verifying certificates in advance, the system reduces the complexity of ongoing key management during authentication operations, as the foundational security infrastructure is already in place.
Data Source
AI summary
Authentication translation is disclosed. A request to access a resource is received at an authentication translator, as is an authentication input. The authentication input corresponds to at least one stored record. The stored record is associated at least with the resource. In response to the receiving, a previously stored credential associated with the resource is accessed. The credential is provided to the resource.