Distributed Output Device Credential Caching for Secure Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large physical spaces like offices and enterprises, users face inconvenience and security risks due to the manual authentication process required for accessing output devices and protected systems, which often necessitates repeating the authentication process across multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of distributed output device credential caching, where an output device authenticates users and retrieves credentials by querying peer devices within a defined peer group, allowing credentials to be shared and validated across the group.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual authentication is used at each output device, then security control is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates and authentication time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication at the first output device and caches the credentials locally. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated manual authentication at subsequent devices, maintaining security while improving user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the authenticated credentials and stores them in a local cache on the output device. This copy allows the device to present credentials automatically without requiring the user to manually re-enter them at each device, resolving the contradiction between security and convenience.
2Productivity
If credentials are cached locally at each output device, then authentication speed improves, but security risk increases due to potential attack vectors
Solution Approach 1:
The credential cache is implemented with local quality by storing credentials only on the specific output device where authentication occurred, rather than in a centralized location. This localized storage improves authentication speed while limiting the attack surface to individual devices rather than a central repository.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the credential storage across multiple distributed output devices rather than centralizing it. Each device maintains its own local cache independently, which speeds up authentication at each location while reducing the overall security risk by avoiding a single point of failure or target.
3Reliability
If credentials are device-specific, then security is maintained, but usability deteriorates when users move between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The credential cache system provides universality by enabling the same authenticated credentials to be used across multiple output devices within the peer group. The cache stores credentials in a format that can be presented to any peer device, making the authentication mechanism universally applicable across the distributed system while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The local credential cache acts as an intermediary between the user's initial authentication and the subsequent access requests to peer devices. This intermediary stores the credentials locally and automatically presents them when needed, bridging the gap between device-specific authentication and cross-device usability.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is provided for distributed output device credential caching. An output device authenticates a user for accessing the output device. The output device receives a request to access a protected remote resource. The output device determines that credentials, for accessing the protected remote resource, are not stored at the output device. The output device retrieves data that specifies output device peers. The output device obtains the credentials by querying the output device peers specified by the data that specifies the output device peers. The output device verifies that the credentials are currently valid for the protected remote resource. The output device services the request by accessing the protected remote resource using the credentials.