Identity Token Mediates Device Access Across Computing Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for device communication across computing regions are limited by the need for devices to be registered in each region, leading to complexities in maintaining registration records and security credentials, and do not allow unregistered devices to access computing resources without pre-registration.
Innovation Solution
The technology enables devices to obtain identity or migration tokens from a registered computing region, allowing them to communicate with or migrate to another computing region, using these tokens to authenticate and authorize access to computing resources without the need for multiple registrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices are registered in each computing region, then security and access control are improved, but device complexity and administrative burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a token as an intermediary credential that mediates between the device and computing regions. Instead of requiring direct registration in each region, the token serves as a portable authentication credential issued by a home region that the device can present to access other regions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining security through authenticated tokens while eliminating the complexity of multiple registrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal token system that works across multiple computing regions without requiring region-specific registration. A single token issued by the home region can be used to access any authorized computing region, making the authentication mechanism universal rather than region-specific. This reduces administrative burden while maintaining security through the token validation process.
2Reliability
If devices must be pre-registered in each region, then access control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The token acts as a portable intermediary credential that carries the device's authentication information. Instead of requiring the device to be physically or logically registered in each region's database, the token contains the necessary authorization information that can be presented anywhere in the federation. This maintains access control through token validation while dramatically improving ease of operation and device portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The home region performs preliminary authentication and issues the token in advance, so that when the device needs to access other regions, the authentication work has already been done. The token encapsulates the result of preliminary authentication actions, allowing the device to access authorized regions without repeating the registration process.
3Reliability
If multiple registration records are maintained, then security credentials are improved, but loss of time in maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The token serves as a single intermediary credential that replaces the need to maintain multiple registration records across regions. Instead of updating and synchronizing security credentials in each region's database, the home region issues tokens that contain the necessary security information. This maintains security credentials through token validation while eliminating the time-consuming maintenance of multiple registration records.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential authentication information from multiple region-specific registration records and consolidates it into a single token issued by the home region. This extracted token contains the necessary security credentials that would otherwise be distributed across multiple registration systems, reducing maintenance overhead while preserving security.
Data Source
AI summary
A technology is described for device communication with computing regions. An example method may include receiving a request for an identity token at a first computing region, where the identity token enables a device to communicate with a second computing region. In receiving the request, the device associated with the request may be authenticated using authentication credentials for the device. A determination may be made that the device is authorized to communicate with the second computing region and an identity token may be generated to indicate that the device is authorized to communicate with the second computing region. The identity token may be provided to the device and the device may present the identity token to the second computing region, allowing the device to communicate with the second computing region.