Credential String Authentication for Service Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication methods in secure networks are computation-intensive, vulnerable to denial of service attacks, and lack fine-grained control over client access to applications, making them inefficient and insecure.
Innovation Solution
A server-based authentication system that uses a credential string and authorization database to validate service requests, allowing for flexible credential allocation, delegation, and revocation, with minimal computational overhead and reliable client-to-application tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional digital signature authentication based on public key cryptography is used, then authentication security is improved, but computational overhead increases and the system becomes vulnerable to denial of service attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, computation-intensive digital signature verification with cheap, simple credential string matching. Each credential string is a disposable token that can be quickly validated through simple comparison operations rather than complex cryptographic calculations, dramatically reducing computational overhead while maintaining security through the use of unique, hard-to-guess credential strings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses credential strings that are simple copies or representations of authorization information stored in databases. Instead of performing complex cryptographic operations, the system creates and validates simple string copies that represent authorized access rights, enabling fast authentication without intensive computation.
2Ease of operation
If username/password authentication is used, then ease of operation is improved, but the system lacks fine-grained control over client access to specific applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by making each credential string specific to a particular application or service rather than using a general username/password pair. Each credential is tailored to the specific resource it accesses, enabling fine-grained control where different applications can have different credential requirements and access policies while maintaining simple string-based validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the authentication system by creating separate credential strings for different applications, services, or resources. Instead of a single username/password pair controlling all access, the system divides authentication into multiple independent credential units, each governing access to specific resources, thereby enabling precise control over client access rights.
3Device complexity
If conventional authentication schemes are used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but the system cannot reliably track which client made which request
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by making each credential string unique and non-symmetric to other credentials. Unlike symmetric username/password pairs where multiple clients share the same credentials, each credential string is asymmetric and specifically tied to one client, enabling reliable tracking of which client made which request while keeping the validation mechanism simple and straightforward.
Data Source
AI summary
A server processes a service request message (SRM) including a credential string and information (I) specifying a requested service. The server determines (305) whether or not the received credential string is valid, by comparing the received credential string and a key in an authorization database (FIG. 1 Auth DB; Table 1) that is associated with the server. Records of the authorization database include the key, and zero or more parameters constituting respective restrictions on performing the requested service for the service requester associated with the credential string that matches the key. The server tests (305, and FIG. 4A) any parameter values against the restrictions to judge whether or not the restrictions are met, and causes (322) performance of the requested service if the credential string is determined to be valid and the restrictions are judged to be met. An alternative method involves receiving (352) a credential string, and determining (354) whether or not the received credential string is valid, by comparing the received credential string and an authorization database string from an authorization database (FIG. 1 Auth DB; Table 1) that is associated with the server and that includes a set of records including respective authorization database strings. If the received credential string is determined to be valid, the method further involves receiving (372) the SRM that includes information (I) specifying a requested service, and causing (374) performance of the requested service.