HTTP Authentication Optimization via Stored Credential Cookies
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Solution Overview
Problem
HTTP header-based authentication introduces latency and processing overhead due to frequent 401/407 challenges, which require additional round trips between the client and server for credential verification.
Innovation Solution
An application management computing device optimizes authentication by checking for stored user network identification information; if available, it uses this information to complete authentication, reducing the need for multiple challenges by utilizing a stored cookie with current authentication details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HTTP 401/407 challenge is sent for each new TCP connection, then authentication security is maintained, but latency and round trip time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by storing user network identification information (cookies) during the initial login process. This stored information is then reused for subsequent requests, eliminating the need to repeat the full authentication challenge-response cycle and reducing latency while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the authentication credentials in the form of a cookie that is stored on the client device. This copy allows the client to present proof of authentication without requiring the server to re-verify credentials, thus reducing round trip time while maintaining authentication integrity.
2Reliability
If server verifies credentials for each request, then authentication reliability is ensured, but processing overhead on server increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the credential verification step from every request processing cycle. Instead of verifying full credentials on each request, the server only validates the previously issued cookie, which is a much simpler operation. This extraction significantly reduces server processing overhead while maintaining authentication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system transitions to a self-service model where the client device maintains its own authentication state through stored cookies. The server only needs to validate these self-generated proofs rather than actively managing credential verification for every interaction, thereby reducing processing overhead.
3Reliability
If multiple 401/407 challenges are exchanged, then authentication completeness is achieved, but number of round trips increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complete authentication exchange is performed preliminarily during the initial login sequence, with the result (cookie) being stored for future use. This preliminary completion of authentication eliminates the need for repeated challenge-response round trips, reducing the number of exchanges while ensuring authentication completeness through the stored proof.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and application management computing device includes receiving at an application management computing device a request from a client computing device which requires authentication. A determination is made by the application management computing device whether user network identification information currently is stored for the requesting client computing device. The stored user network identification information for the authentication is obtained by the application management computing device when the user network identification information is determined to be currently stored for the requesting client computing device. The authentication is completed by the application management computing device with the obtained user network identification information.