Exception Handler Authentication Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Developers face the tedious task of writing code to handle user authentication, which can be error-prone and time-consuming, especially when integrating with an authentication server.

Innovation Solution

A development platform that supports user authentication through exception handling, where an application can throw a specific exception to trigger authentication, and an exception handler facilitates redirecting the user to an authentication server and handling the return process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If developers manually write code to handle user authentication, then authentication can be performed, but the process becomes tedious and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication correctnessVSAvoidauthentication code complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that sits between the developer's code and the authentication server. This intermediary handles the complex authentication logic, including throwing exceptions when authentication is needed and managing the authentication flow, thereby shielding developers from complexity while ensuring reliable authentication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system performs self-service by automatically managing authentication flows without requiring developers to write explicit authentication handling code. The system throws exceptions that trigger authentication automatically, and the authentication server handles credential verification and session management autonomously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If developers manually write code to handle user authentication, then authentication can be performed, but it becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication correctnessVSAvoidauthentication implementation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring exception handlers and authentication pathways before runtime. The system is designed in advance to automatically throw exceptions when authentication is required, eliminating the need for developers to write and debug authentication handling code during implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system autonomously manages the authentication process, automatically redirecting users to authentication servers and handling credential verification without developer intervention. This self-service approach significantly reduces implementation time while maintaining authentication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If an exception is thrown to trigger authentication, then authentication flow is automated, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication implementation easeVSAvoidexception handling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The exception handling mechanism serves as an intermediary layer that simplifies authentication implementation for developers. While the underlying system complexity increases due to exception throwing and handling infrastructure, this complexity is abstracted away from developers who only need to insert simple exception-throwing statements to enable authentication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3785151B1Authentication through exception handling
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 SALESFORCE INC
  • EP3785151B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3785151B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3785151B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques are disclosed relating to user authentication. In some embodiments, a computing system maintains an exception handler of a software development platform. The exception handler is executable to process a particular type of exception that causes an authentication of users of applications running on the software development platform. The computing system may receive, at the exception handler, an indication of the particular type of exception thrown by a particular application. In response to receiving the indication of the particular type of exception, the exception handler issues to a web browser interacting with the application, a request that the web browser redirect to an authentication server configured to perform an authentication of a user of the particular application. The computing system receives, from the authentication server, a result of the performed authentication and returns the result to the particular application.