Credential Server Identity Authentication in P2P Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peer-to-peer overlay networks face challenges in authenticating user identities due to the lack of prior authentication credentials and difficulty in verifying claimed identities, which affects the security and reputation-building within these networks.
Innovation Solution
A method where a credential server receives and verifies user identities from joining peer devices using an identity provider, issuing a signed certificate for authentication, allowing authenticated peer devices to verify identities using the credential server's public key, even if they cannot connect directly to the identity provider.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users claim their own identity in peer-to-peer networks, then user identity can be established without centralized authentication, but the authenticity of claimed identities cannot be verified and security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a credential server as an intermediary that issues signed certificates to users. This mediator enables autonomous identity claiming while providing verifiable authentication through cryptographic signatures, resolving the contradiction between user autonomy and identity verification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identity verification by the credential server before users join the peer-to-peer network. Users receive pre-signed certificates that contain their authenticated identity information, allowing them to autonomously claim verified identities without requiring real-time connection to the credential server during network operations.
2Reliability
If a centralized credential server verifies all user identities, then identity authentication is secure and reliable, but the system requires constant connection to the credential server and reduces peer autonomy
Solution Approach 1:
Identity verification is performed in advance by the credential server before peers join the network. The signed certificates contain all necessary authentication information, allowing peers to operate autonomously without requiring constant connection to the credential server, thus maintaining security while reducing connection complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The credential server creates cryptographic copies of its signing authority in the form of signed certificates distributed to peers. These certificates enable peers to verify identities locally without needing to contact the credential server, copying the authentication capability to edge devices.
3Measurement precision
If peers verify identities directly with the identity provider, then verification is accurate, but peers cannot verify identities if they cannot establish connection with the identity provider
Solution Approach 1:
The credential server performs identity verification in advance and embeds the verified identity information in signed certificates. Peers can then verify identities using these pre-signed certificates without needing to establish connections with the identity provider during network operations, maintaining verification accuracy while enabling connection independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The credential server acts as an intermediary that bridges the identity provider and peer-to-peer network. It obtains verified identity information from the identity provider and distributes it through signed certificates to peers, allowing peers to verify identities without direct access to the identity provider.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for user identity authentication for a peer device joining a peer-to-peer overlay network. In the method, a credential server of the overlay network receives a registered user identity from a joining peer device. The credential server verifies the registered user identity with an identity provider. Upon receiving, at the credential server, successful verification of the registered user identity from the identity provider, the credential server issues to the joining peer device a signed certificate for use by an authenticated peer device in the overlay network to authenticate the registered user identity of the joining peer device, wherein the signed certificate is signed by a private key of the credential server.