Credential Module for Multi-Stack Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
When client devices communicate with servers using multiple protocol stacks, users are often prompted to provide credentials multiple times, leading to an annoying and confusing experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a credential module on the client device that stores credentials locally and retrieves them as needed, allowing each protocol stack to use the same credential without prompting the user multiple times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each protocol stack maintains a separate session state and prompts the user for credentials independently, then each protocol stack can authenticate with the server, but the user experience deteriorates due to repeated credential prompts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the credential storage and management functionality across multiple protocol stacks into a single shared credential store. Instead of each protocol stack maintaining separate session states with independent credential prompts, the system combines credential management at a higher level, allowing all protocol stacks to access the same stored credentials. This eliminates repeated user prompts while maintaining authentication reliability across different protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal credential store that serves multiple protocol stacks simultaneously. This single credential management component provides multi-functional support for authentication across WebDAV, FTP, and other protocols, replacing the need for protocol-specific credential handling. The universal credential store maintains authentication state that can be reused by any protocol stack requiring credentials for the same server.
2Ease of operation
If a credential store is implemented to avoid repeated prompts, then user experience improves, but device complexity increases due to additional credential management components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary credential store component that sits between the protocol stacks and the user. This mediator handles credential storage, retrieval, and management automatically, shielding the complexity of credential handling from both the protocol stacks and the user. The intermediary maintains session state and manages credential lifecycle operations, reducing overall system complexity by centralizing these functions in a single managed component.
Solution Approach 2:
The credential store is designed to be self-managing, automatically storing credentials when received from the user or protocol stacks and retrieving them when needed. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex credential management logic in each protocol stack, as the credential store independently handles storage, retrieval, validation, and reuse of credentials across different protocol contexts.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device provides an application that uses multiple protocol stacks to communicate with a server. The server requires messages from each of the protocol stacks to include a credential for a user of the computing device. The credential is a set of information that includes identification and proof of identities that is used to gain access to a resource. However, the user is not prompted for the credential more than once. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by storing the credential at the computing device for retrieval by the protocol stacks when the application uses the protocol stacks to communicate with the server.