Distributed Authority Verification with Remote Verifier Fallback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices in resource-constrained environments face challenges in verifying the authority of initiating devices due to limited network communication and lack of access to verification information, preventing them from invoking functionalities of other devices.
Innovation Solution
A flexible verification model that relies on a third-party verifier to authenticate the authority of initiating devices by sending challenges and utilizing cryptographically verifiable data structures, even when local verification is insufficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If local verification is used to authenticate initiating devices, then verification speed is improved, but verification capability deteriorates in resource-constrained environments due to limited network communication and lack of access to verification information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a verifier as an intermediary component that mediates between the initiator and recipient when local verification fails. The verifier receives verification requests, attempts to verify the initiator's authority using its own verification information, and communicates the verification result back to the recipient. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain fast local verification while providing a fallback mechanism for resource-constrained environments where local verification information is insufficient.
2Productivity
If verification information is stored locally for fast verification, then verification efficiency is improved, but adaptability deteriorates when encountering initiators without proper verification data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic verification approach where the verification process adapts based on the availability of verification information. The system first attempts fast local verification, and only when that fails does it invoke the slower remote verification process through the verifier. This dynamic switching between verification modes allows the system to maintain high efficiency for common cases while being adaptable to handle edge cases and resource-constrained environments where local verification data may be unavailable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If remote verification through a third-party verifier is implemented, then verification flexibility is improved for resource-constrained devices, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the verifier to be a self-contained component that maintains its own verification information and can independently verify initiators without requiring continuous external assistance. The verifier stores verification information locally and can autonomously determine whether an initiator has the authority to invoke a recipient's functionality. This self-service capability reduces the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for complex distributed verification protocols and multiple external trust authorities.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for securing endpoint devices are disclosed. To secure the endpoint devices, a flexible system for verifying authority may be used. The flexible system may allow data processing system in resource constrained environment to invoke the functionalities of other data processing systems. The flexible system may reduce the resources expended for invoking functionalities of other data processing systems by not requiring that requests for the invocation of the functionalities include sufficient verification for the other data processing systems to verify that the requestors have sufficient authority to invoke the functionalities of the other data processing systems.