Delegated Authorization Token Management for Cloud Resource Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments, managing controlled access to resources for third-party applications while ensuring user privacy and security is challenging, especially when integrating these applications into shared computing resources without exposing end users' credentials.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a delegated authorization protocol like OAuth, where an organizational administrator registers and grants permissions to third-party applications or services, allowing them to access end-user resources within the cloud compute environment, ensuring that only authorized access is permitted through the use of unique credentials and permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If third-party applications are integrated into the cloud computing environment to access user resources, then functionality and service delivery are improved, but security risks and credential exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary authorization system that mediates between third-party applications and user resources. Instead of direct access, applications must obtain authorization tokens through a standardized protocol (OAuth), which acts as a secure intermediary layer. This mediator verifies application credentials, enforces permission scopes, and manages token lifecycle, thereby enabling third-party integration while preventing direct credential exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the authentication and authorization process into distinct components: client credentials verification, user consent management, access token issuance, and resource access control. By dividing the authorization flow into discrete steps with separate security checks at each stage, the system enables granular control over what third-party applications can access, limiting the scope of potential security breaches.
2Ease of operation
If traditional client-server authentication is used where clients use their credentials to access resources, then access control is simple, but user privacy is compromised when third parties are involved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a copying mechanism where instead of sharing actual user credentials with third-party applications, the system creates and issues access tokens that copy the necessary authorization information. These tokens contain encoded permission scopes and are valid only for specific resources and time periods. The applications use these token copies for authentication, eliminating the need to handle or store actual user passwords while maintaining authentication functionality.
3Reliability
If OAuth protocol is implemented to enable delegated authorization, then user privacy and security are enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authorization framework that handles multiple authorization scenarios through a single standardized OAuth protocol implementation. The same protocol serves client credentials flow, user consent flow, refresh token mechanisms, and scope-based permission control. By consolidating these diverse authorization needs into one multi-functional system, the patent reduces the number of separate authentication mechanisms needed, thereby managing complexity while maintaining comprehensive security.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to manage access to end user-protected resources hosted in a shared pool of configurable computing resources, such as a cloud computing environment, begins by registering a particular application or service into the environment. The application or service is one that is being permitted to access resources on behalf of end users via a delegated authorization protocol, such as OAuth. For at least one end user associated with the organization, a permission is set, preferably by an organization entity, such as an organization administrator. The permission determines whether the application or service is permitted to access one or more resources associated with the end user. Then, in response to a request by the third party application to access a resource, where the request is received via the delegated authorization protocol, the permission is then used to determine whether the third party application is permitted to access the resource.