Identity Provider Cross-Application Token Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing identity management systems face inefficiencies in cross-application authorization, particularly in large enterprise systems where multiple applications require access to user data, leading to a time-consuming and complex authorization process.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for cross-application authorization that involves receiving an API access policy supporting cross-application authorization between two applications associated with an identity provider (IdP), requesting and exchanging tokens to enable seamless access to APIs across applications, thereby reducing the need for manual user authorization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate authentication procedures are performed for each application to access user data, then security and access control are maintained, but the authorization process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by obtaining user credentials and generating authorization tokens before the actual data access operations. The identity provider authenticates the user once and issues tokens that are stored and reused for subsequent application access, eliminating the need for repeated authentication procedures while maintaining security controls
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an identity provider as an intermediary component between users and multiple applications. This intermediary handles authentication and authorization by issuing and managing tokens that applications use to access user data, thereby centralizing security control and eliminating the need for separate authentication procedures at each application
2Reliability
If individual authentication procedures are required for each application integration, then proper authorization is ensured, but the integration complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The identity provider serves as a universal authentication service that handles authorization for multiple applications through a single standardized token mechanism. Instead of implementing separate authentication logic in each application, the system uses a universal token-based approach where the identity provider manages authentication and issues tokens that work across all integrated applications, significantly reducing integration complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The identity provider acts as an intermediary that standardizes the authorization process across multiple applications. By introducing this intermediate layer that handles authentication and token issuance, the system eliminates the need for complex point-to-point integration between applications while maintaining proper authorization controls
3Ease of operation
If manual user authorization is performed for each application access, then user control over data access is maintained, but user intervention time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by obtaining user credentials and generating authorization tokens before the actual data access operations. The identity provider authenticates the user once and issues tokens that are stored and reused for subsequent application access, eliminating the need for repeated authentication procedures while maintaining security controls
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service authorization where the identity provider automatically manages token issuance and renewal based on pre-configured policies. Once the user performs initial authentication, the system automatically handles subsequent authorization requests by validating and reusing existing tokens without requiring further user intervention, while still maintaining user control over access permissions
Data Source
AI summary
An identity provider (IdP) may receive an application programming interface (API) access policy that supports cross-application authorization between a first application and a second application associated with the IdP that may be configured to issue tokens on behalf of a user of the first application and second application. The IdP may then receive a request for a first token from the first application to obtain a second token where the request may be on behalf of a user. Based on receiving the request, the IdP may transmit the first token to the first application in accordance with the API access policy. Further, the IdP may exchange the first token provided by the first application for the second token which may be usable to access an API of the second application in accordance with the API access policy.