Credential Manager for Multi-Device Password Propagation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Employees often forget to update passwords across multiple devices and applications, leading to lockouts when trying to access work networks, as password changes on one device do not automatically propagate to others.

Innovation Solution

A credential manager system that receives password modifications on one device and automatically updates the same across multiple applications and devices, maintaining a login history to ensure seamless access without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If employees manually update passwords on each device individually, then security compliance is improved, but user convenience and time efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity complianceVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service credential propagation where the credential manager automatically detects password changes on one device and propagates them to other devices without requiring user intervention. The system monitors for credential changes and automatically updates affected devices, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user action on each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The credential manager acts as an intermediary component that sits between multiple applications and devices, automatically managing credential synchronization. It intercepts credential changes, processes them through its propagation logic, and distributes updated credentials to relevant devices, eliminating the need for users to manually update each device while maintaining security compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If employees manually update passwords on multiple devices, then credential synchronization is improved, but time consumption and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecredential synchronizationVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting credential changes and automatically propagating them to other devices before users need to access those devices. This advance action prevents lockout scenarios and eliminates the need for users to spend time manually updating passwords on multiple devices, thereby improving productivity while maintaining synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The credential manager implements continuous monitoring and automatic propagation of credential changes across all connected devices. This continuous action ensures that credential synchronization is maintained constantly without interruption, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly manually update passwords and significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining reliable synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If automatic credential propagation is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but system complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The credential manager is designed as a universal component that can operate across multiple applications and device types through standardized interfaces. By implementing multi-functionality that handles various credential formats and device protocols through a single unified system, the complexity is centralized and managed efficiently rather than distributed across multiple separate systems, making the overall system more manageable despite its comprehensive capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If password changes are propagated automatically, then access reliability is improved, but security risk deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess reliabilityVSAvoidsecurity risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the credential manager monitors credential changes, verifies their legitimacy, and only propagates authenticated changes to affected devices. This feedback loop ensures that only valid credential updates are distributed, maintaining access reliability while preventing unauthorized changes from compromising security across the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11283785B2Systems and methods for credential control among a plurality of client devices

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein includes a system, a method, and a device for credential control among a plurality of client devices. A server can receive a modification to a credential for an identifier associated with a user of an application accessed via a first client device. The credential can be used for authenticating to the application by the user. The server can store the modification to the credential to a login history for the user. The login history can identify client devices and one or more applications accessed via the client devices by the user using the credential. The server can identify, using the login history, client devices through which applications are accessed by the user using the credential. The server can communicate the modification to the credential to the client devices to indicate to the user to update the credential using the modified credential on each of the client devices.