Gateway Certificate Control Using Context-Based Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital security certificate systems lack granular control over communication contexts, users, content, locations, and times, often enabling or disabling all communications based on a blanket authorization.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device configures and distributes instance-based certificates with custom data, including communication context, user, time, location, and application limitations, monitoring user activity to issue, modify, or revoke certificates for granular control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If blanket certificate authorization is used to enable secure communications, then communication ease is improved, but granular control over communication context, content, users, locations, and times deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blanket certificate authorization into instance-based certificates with custom data fields that separately control communication context, content types, users, locations, and times. Each certificate is divided into manageable authorization components rather than treating all communications as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different authorization rules to apply to different aspects of communication. Custom certificate data enables specific control over communication context, content categories, user identities, geographic locations, and time periods, rather than applying uniform authorization across all communication dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If instance-based certificates with custom data are implemented, then granular control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device automatically generates instance-based certificates with custom data fields based on communication requests and policies. The system self-manages certificate issuance, validation, and revocation without requiring manual configuration for each communication instance, reducing operational complexity despite increased functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device performs multiple functions including acting as a certificate authority, policy enforcement point, and communication monitor. By consolidating these functions in a single device, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to distributing these functions across multiple separate components.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring and certificate management is implemented, then security control is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device pre-generates instance-based certificates with embedded custom data and authorization rules before communications occur. By preparing authorization credentials in advance rather than evaluating policies in real-time during communication, the system reduces processing time while maintaining security control.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device creates certificate copies with specific custom data for each communication instance rather than repeatedly validating the same certificate against multiple policy rules. This copying approach reduces the computational overhead of real-time policy evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
Gateway certificate management can include detecting, at a gateway device located at a premises, a connection between the gateway device and a user device located at the premises. The connection can be created to request communications between the user device and a resource that is not located at the premises. The gateway device can determine if a certificate should be issued for the communications and can analyze a profile associated with the user device and a context associated with the communications, wherein the context comprises information identifying a type of data to be communicated via the communications. The gateway device can generate the certificate, the certificate including custom certificate data including communication context data that defines the type of data. The gateway device can enable the communications to allow the user device to communicate with the resource via the gateway device to send and receive the type of data.