Decentralized API Key Provisioning Using DID Credential Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing API provisioning processes require multiple interactions between consumers and providers for authentication, which are inefficient and cumbersome, especially for applications like autonomous learning language models that need to access multiple APIs dynamically.
Innovation Solution
Implementing decentralized identity using consumer and provider DID agents to automate API key provisioning, where API keys are generated as verifiable credentials (VCs) and managed through a distributed identity ledger, enabling seamless authentication and resource access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional API provisioning is used with manual authentication interactions, then authentication security is maintained, but provisioning efficiency and automation level deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service authentication where the consumer's decentralized identity wallet automatically presents credentials to the provider's verification agent. The provider's agent automatically verifies credentials and issues API keys without requiring manual user intervention,从而实现自动化 provisioning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical authentication processes with cryptographic verification mechanisms. Decentralized identity wallets use cryptographic proofs to authenticate consumers, and providers use verification agents with cryptographic validation to issue API keys, eliminating manual interactions
2Reliability
If multiple manual authentication interactions are required, then authentication verification is thorough, but interaction overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication actions by having the consumer's wallet present verified credentials before the API key issuance process begins. The provider's verification agent validates these pre-presented credentials in a single operation, eliminating the need for multiple sequential authentication interactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple authentication verification steps into a single integrated process. The decentralized identity wallet combines consumer identification, credential verification, and API key issuance into one seamless interaction, reducing complexity while maintaining thorough verification
3Extent of automation
If traditional API key provisioning is used, then authentication control is maintained, but automation of dynamic API access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic API access where consumers can request and receive API keys on-demand through decentralized identity verification. The provider's verification agent dynamically issues API keys based on real-time credential validation, enabling flexible and automated access control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces decentralized identity wallets as intermediary components that facilitate automated provisioning. These wallets act as mediators between consumers and providers, automatically presenting credentials and receiving issued API keys without requiring direct manual intervention in the provisioning process
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for automating API provisioning for API consumers and API providers using decentralized identity. In various examples, an application that uses APIs to access a resource needed by the application obtains an API key for authentication based at least in part on communications between a consumer decentralized identifier (DID) agent associated with the consumer entity and a provider DID agent associated with the API provider. The provider DID agent can verify the API consumer and generate an API key that can be used by the API consumer for resources requests using the API associated with the API provider. An API service provider can authenticate the API consumer and provide the resource to the API consumer during a session in which the API consumer is authenticated.