Centralized Access Manager for Single Sign-On Middleware Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing single sign-on authentication across multiple middleware platforms in an enterprise-level computing environment is challenging due to the complexity of managing different security servers and authentication mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a transactional middleware platform with a centralized access manager, where access agents intercept client requests, communicate with a centralized access server to obtain a session token, and store it in the client's execution context for authorization across various middleware platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple security servers are deployed to support different authentication mechanisms, then authentication versatility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized access manager as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple security servers and client applications. The access manager provides a unified interface for authentication requests, managing multiple security servers behind the scenes without requiring applications to directly interact with each security server. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining authentication versatility through multiple security servers while reducing system complexity through centralized management and abstraction.
2Reliability
If separate authentication mechanisms are implemented for each middleware platform, then platform-specific security requirements are met, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal access manager that can handle multiple authentication mechanisms and serve multiple middleware platforms through a single unified system. The access manager provides multi-functional capability to support different authentication types (Kerberos, LDAP, certificates, etc.) and integrates with various middleware platforms (Tuxedo, WebLogic, JBoss, etc.) without requiring separate authentication implementations for each platform. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining platform-specific security requirements through configurable authentication methods while providing ease of operation through a unified access interface.
3Ease of operation
If centralized access management is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication system into distinct modular components: the centralized access manager, multiple security servers, and platform-specific adapters. Each component has a specific responsibility and can be independently configured, deployed, and maintained. The access manager handles high-level authentication logic, while security servers handle specific authentication protocols, and adapters handle platform-specific integrations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing ease of operation through centralized management while reducing integration complexity through modular, loosely-coupled architecture with well-defined interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment, described is a system and method for integrating a transactional middleware platform with a centralized access manager to provide single sign-on authentication in an enterprise-level computing environment. The enterprise-level computing environment can include the transactional middleware platform and one or more SOA middleware platforms. Each middleware platform can include one or more access agents to access the centralized access manager configured to store user identity and security policy information for the enterprise-level computing environment. A request from a client for an application service in the transactional middleware platform can be intercepted by an access agent therein, which can communicate with a centralized access server of the centralized access manager to obtain a session token. The session token can be stored in an execution context of the client, for use in authorizing the client to access resources in each middleware platform in the enterprise-level computing environment.