HTTP Proxy Authentication via Custom Headers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Proxy authentication can introduce significant delays in traffic between a client and multiple servers due to the need for redirecting traffic and using cookies, which impedes the smooth and reliable flow of HTTP traffic during an authenticated session.
Innovation Solution
Implementing HTTP proxy authentication using custom headers that include an authentication token, which is generated by the proxy and cached by the local proxy application, allowing the proxy to authenticate requests without redirecting or using cookies, even for encrypted traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the proxy uses cookies and redirects traffic for authentication, then the authentication function is achieved, but significant delay is introduced in traffic flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication token from the cookie mechanism and places it in custom HTTP request headers instead. This removes the need for cookie-based authentication workflows including Set-Cookie headers, cookie storage, and cookie transmission, thereby eliminating the redirects and delays associated with traditional cookie-based proxy authentication while maintaining the authentication function.
2Reliability
If the proxy redirects traffic for authentication, then authentication is performed, but the smooth flow of traffic is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication token is generated and attached to HTTP requests in advance via custom headers before the proxy needs to authenticate the traffic. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time redirects during traffic flow, allowing the proxy to authenticate requests smoothly without interrupting the traffic stream, thus maintaining both authentication reliability and traffic flow smoothness.
3Reliability
If cookies are used for authentication tokens, then authentication state can be maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical cookie management system (including cookie storage, retrieval, and transmission mechanisms) with a simpler header-based authentication system. The authentication token is passed directly in custom HTTP request headers from the client through the proxy to the server, eliminating the need for complex cookie management infrastructure while maintaining authentication state reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) proxy authentication using custom headers. In one embodiment, a method may include authenticating an HTTP session of a client, generating an authentication token that identifies the authenticated HTTP session, sending and intercepting an HTTP response with a custom header that includes the authentication token, caching the authentication token, intercepting one or more HTTP requests, adding the custom header that includes the authentication token to the HTTP requests, sending and intercepting the HTTP requests with the custom header that includes the authentication token, and, in response to intercepting at the proxy the custom header that includes the authentication token with the one or more HTTP requests, sending the one or more HTTP requests to one or more servers according to a policy corresponding to the authenticated HTTP session.