Credential Synchronization Management for Multi-Device Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack an efficient method for synchronizing authentication credentials and data, such as digital certificates, across multiple user devices, requiring manual installation and management, which is time-consuming and inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A networked environment with a synchronization application that replicates authentication credentials and data across devices using secure protocols like HTTPS, REST, and TLS, ensuring that changes are automatically synced between registered client devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If manual installation of authentication credentials is used, then security control is maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime consumptionVSAvoidmanual installation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service synchronization of authentication credentials across multiple devices. The synchronization service automatically detects credential changes on one device and replicates them to other registered devices without requiring manual user intervention, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual installation while maintaining security through automated verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the synchronization service continuously monitors credential storage changes on client devices, detects modifications, and automatically propagates updates. This feedback loop ensures that authentication credentials are kept up-to-date across all devices without requiring manual re-installation, directly addressing the time loss issue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If automatic synchronization is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic sync capabilityVSAvoidsynchronization system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronization service is designed as a universal system that handles multiple functions including credential detection, change monitoring, data replication, and security verification across different device types. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional service, the system achieves automatic synchronization capability while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization service acts as an intermediary between client devices and the credential storage system. It mediates the complexity by providing a centralized layer that handles automatic detection, verification, and replication of credentials, shielding the complexity of these operations from the end user while enabling automatic synchronization functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If credential replication across devices is enabled, then user convenience increases, but security risks may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsecurity risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary security verification actions before replicating credentials. It verifies the authenticity and validity of credentials on the source device, checks device registration status, and ensures proper authorization before initiating replication. This preliminary verification prevents unauthorized or malicious credential propagation, maintaining security while enabling convenient cross-device synchronization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality control by verifying and validating credentials individually on each client device before replication. Each device's credential storage is independently monitored and verified, ensuring that only valid and authorized credentials are replicated. This localized verification approach maintains security standards while enabling convenient automatic synchronization across multiple devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10878080B2Credential synchronization management
Publication Date: 2020.12.29 AMAZON TECH INC
  • US10878080B2 patent drawing
  • US10878080B2 patent drawing
  • US10878080B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are various embodiments for replicating authentication data between computing devices. A computing device detects a change to a user account made by a first client device associated with the user account. The computing device then determines that a second client device associated with the user account comprises locally stored authentication data that fails to reflect the change. The computing device then sends an update to the second client device.