Device Fingerprinting for Automatic Client Application Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual input of login credentials for users accessing remote services, such as cloud data storage, is inconvenient, especially on small touchscreen devices and becomes cumbersome when accessing services on multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
Associating a device fingerprint with a user account, allowing the client application to pair with the user account automatically without user input by matching device context information from the web browser with the client application, using a generated target device fingerprint and application device fingerprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually input login credentials for each device, then security is maintained, but user convenience and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing device fingerprint information (hardware identifiers, software characteristics, configuration data) during the initial device registration process. This pre-collected information is stored and later used to automatically identify and authenticate the device without requiring users to re-enter credentials, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the device's unique characteristics by generating a device fingerprint that replicates the device's identity. This fingerprint copy is then used for authentication purposes, replacing the need for users to manually input credentials while maintaining security through accurate device identification.
2Ease of operation
If automatic device pairing is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a device fingerprinting module as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between simple device identification and complex authentication protocols. This intermediary captures and processes device characteristics, converting them into usable authentication data, thereby enabling automatic pairing without significantly increasing the perceived complexity for end users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables devices to perform self-service authentication by automatically generating and presenting their own fingerprints for verification. This self-identifying capability allows devices to pair automatically with services without requiring manual credential input or complex user-mediated authentication processes.
3Productivity
If device fingerprinting is implemented, then productivity improves, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device fingerprint is constructed as a composite of multiple device attributes including hardware identifiers, software version information, configuration data, and system characteristics. By combining multiple measurement points into a single composite fingerprint, the system achieves both high productivity through rapid authentication and high precision through multi-factor device identification.
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples disclosed herein relate to acquisition of a device fingerprint from an instance of a client application. Examples include association of a target device fingerprint, based on device context information, with a target user account in a remote service, and acquisition of an application device fingerprint from an unpaired instance of a client application.