Secure Content Sharing via Encrypted Access Links
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sharing electronic information lack control over access and convenience for recipients to provide changes or annotations, often requiring manual reconciliation of revisions and management of user accounts.
Innovation Solution
A computing device encodes a link with encrypted access information, including a password and access rights, allowing secure access to restricted content without creating or modifying user accounts, by matching the encrypted password with a provided password and limiting access to a specified time window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If copies of electronic information are shared via email or message forms, then sharing convenience is improved, but access control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (content sharing system) that mediates between the sender and recipient. The system generates time-limited access links with embedded credentials that enable convenient sharing while maintaining centralized access control. The intermediary manages authentication and authorization without requiring direct account management between parties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates access credentials (links with embedded passwords and tokens) that replicate authorization without copying the actual content. These credential copies can be distributed freely via email or messaging while the system maintains control over the original content and can revoke access centrally.
2Reliability
If user accounts are created and managed for content sharing, then access control is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication credentials (passwords, tokens, expiration data) from the user account system and embeds them directly in time-limited links. This separates the access control mechanism from account management, allowing temporary access without creating permanent user accounts or modifying existing account structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates disposable, time-limited access links that expire automatically after use or a set time period. These single-use credentials replace complex account management for temporary access scenarios, eliminating the need to create, maintain, and secure permanent user accounts for one-time sharing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If revisions are shared through separate email attachments, then sharing flexibility is improved, but time efficiency is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple versions and revisions of content under a single centralized storage location. All parties access the same content through time-limited links, ensuring that revisions are automatically synchronized without manual merging. The system handles version control centrally while maintaining the flexibility of electronic sharing.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device is disclosed for securely sharing restricted content. The computing device includes a memory storing computer readable instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions configure the one or more processors to, collectively, receive a share request to share the restricted content; in response to the share request, encode a link with encrypted access information, the access information including a first password and identifying the restricted content; receive an access request for access to the restricted content from a client device executing the link, the access request including the encrypted access information; receive a second password from the client device in association with the access request; and grant the client device access to the restricted content in response to determining the first password matches the second password. A method and a computer readable medium are also disclosed.