Blockchain Smart Contract Roaming Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user authentication methods for wireless networks, such as those used in Hotspot 2.0, rely on centralized mechanisms and third-party entities, leading to inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities, particularly in providing seamless and secure roaming access to public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Innovation Solution

Employing blockchain technology to enable decentralized user authentication, leveraging smart contracts and immutability to eliminate the need for third-party roaming hubs, allowing wireless access points to directly verify user credentials and roaming agreements on a distributed ledger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If centralized authentication mechanisms with third-party roaming hubs are used, then user authentication can be performed, but latency increases and single-point failures occur reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidauthentication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the third-party roaming hub from the authentication system, replacing it with a decentralized blockchain network. This eliminates the single-point failure and latency issues associated with centralized hubs while maintaining authentication functionality through distributed consensus among network nodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the centralized authentication authority into multiple distributed nodes across the blockchain network. Each node independently verifies authentication requests, eliminating the single-point bottleneck and reducing latency through parallel verification processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If centralized authentication mechanisms are used, then authentication can be performed, but security vulnerabilities increase due to single-point failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces blockchain as an intermediary layer that mediates authentication between wireless access points and users. This decentralized intermediary eliminates security vulnerabilities associated with centralized hubs while the smart contract automation reduces overall system complexity by encoding authentication logic in immutable code.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system performs self-verification through smart contracts on the blockchain, eliminating the need for manual intervention or centralized management. This reduces security vulnerabilities by removing human error points while simplifying system operation through automated consensus mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If third-party roaming hubs are used for authentication, then roaming access can be provided, but device complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroaming access capabilityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal blockchain-based authentication system that serves multiple roaming access scenarios through a single decentralized infrastructure. This eliminates the need for separate authentication mechanisms for different roaming scenarios, reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility across various wireless network environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If conventional authentication methods are used, then user credentials can be verified, but security vulnerabilities arise from centralized storage and processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecredential verification securityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerabilities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions credential verification from a single centralized dimension to a distributed multi-dimensional blockchain network. Credentials are verified across multiple independent nodes simultaneously, eliminating security vulnerabilities of centralized storage while maintaining verification reliability through cryptographic consensus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10812975B1Methods and systems for blockchain smart contract in Hotspot 2.0 network for user authentication while roaming

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

Methods and systems of user authentication for roaming access to a wireless communications network, using blockchain, is described. A wireless access point (WAP) can provide roaming connectivity to a Wi-Fi network for a mobile device, for example at a public hotspot. The disclosed WAP is blockchain-enabled, allowing connectivity to a blockchain network. Accordingly, when a WAP receives a connection request to the Wi-Fi network, the WAP can execute a smart contract in the blockchain to determine whether a user of the mobile device is authenticated for roaming access to the Wi-Fi network. In some cases, the smart contract verifies that service providers of the mobile device and the Wi-Fi network have a roaming agreement. Also, the smart contact can verify that the user is authenticated by the service provider of the mobile device. In some cases, the WAP device functions in accordance with a Hotspot 2.0 (HS2) networking standard.