Identity Adapter for Legacy Device Protocol Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy computer devices often use obsolete or rare communication protocols and identity credentials, making it impossible for them to communicate securely with modern systems that require different security protocols and identity credentials.
Innovation Solution
An identity adapter system comprising a first protocol module, an identity associator, a data proxy, and a second protocol module, which enables secure communication between devices using different security protocols by converting and adapting identity credentials and data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If legacy devices use obsolete security protocols, then they can maintain their existing security implementation, but they cannot communicate with modern systems requiring different protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an identity adapter as an intermediary device that sits between the legacy device and the modern network. The adapter translates identity credentials and security protocols, allowing the legacy device to communicate with modern systems without modifying the legacy device itself. The adapter receives credentials from the legacy device, converts them to the required modern format, and forwards them to the target system.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into distinct functional components: the legacy device, the identity adapter, and the modern network system. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently with its own security protocol while the adapter handles the protocol translation, resolving the incompatibility without increasing complexity in the legacy device or modern system.
2Reliability
If modern systems require specific security protocols, then security standards are maintained, but legacy devices are barred from access
Solution Approach 1:
The identity adapter serves as a mediator that preserves security standards while enabling access. It receives less secure credentials from legacy devices, validates and transforms them into the required modern security format, and forwards them to the target system. This ensures that modern systems receive properly formatted secure credentials while legacy devices can still access resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter performs preliminary security credential transformation before communication with the modern system. It pre-processes the identity credentials from the legacy device, converting them to the required format and validating them against modern security standards, so that when the credentials reach the modern system, they are already in the correct secure format.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol translation is implemented, then communication between different security protocols is enabled, but the system requires additional translation components
Solution Approach 1:
The identity adapter consolidates multiple protocol translation functions into a single intermediary device. Rather than modifying each legacy device or each modern system to support multiple protocols, the adapter centralizes the translation functionality, reducing overall system complexity while enabling broad interoperability between different security protocol ecosystems.
Data Source
AI summary
An identity adapter permits the enabling, the receiving, adapting, and sending of identity credentials using the appropriate secure communication mechanisms where one of the devices in the communication utilizes an archaic, obsolete, or rare communication protocol and identity credential. The identity adapter provides for secure communication between a first network device and a second network device, the first network device using a first security protocol, the second network device using a second security protocol using a first protocol module, an identity associator, a second protocol module, and a data proxy.