Intermediary Command Validation for Inline Authorization Offload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing server systems face high costs and resource consumption due to the need for a heavyweight authentication and authorization system to handle numerous client device requests, leading to overburdening and reduced capacity for providing services.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an intermediary device with an inline authentication and authorization engine that performs authentication and authorization tasks for client devices, reducing the burden on server systems by handling these tasks before they reach the server, and utilizing cloud computing resources on demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heavyweight authentication and authorization system is deployed on-premises to handle numerous client device requests, then authentication and authorization capabilities are improved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device positioned between client devices and server systems that handles authentication and authorization requests. This intermediary captures commands from client devices, performs authentication and authorization locally, and forwards only authorized commands to server systems, thereby reducing the burden on both clients and servers while maintaining security capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the authentication and authorization functionality from the server systems and places it in a separate intermediary device. This extraction allows server systems to focus on their primary functions while the intermediary handles security-related tasks, reducing overall system complexity and resource requirements.
2Reliability
If a heavyweight authentication and authorization system is deployed on-premises to handle numerous client device requests, then authentication and authorization capabilities are improved, but cost increases due to hardware and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary device is designed to work with multiple server systems and support various authentication protocols, making it a universal solution that can serve multiple purposes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate authentication systems for different server systems, thereby lowering overall deployment costs.
3Extent of automation
If authentication and authorization tasks are handled by server systems, then centralized control is maintained, but server system capacity for providing services is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary device acts as a mediator that handles authentication and authorization tasks locally, preventing these resource-intensive operations from consuming server system capacity. The intermediary maintains centralized security policies while allowing server systems to focus on service delivery, thereby preserving both control and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an intermediary device receives, from a client device, a command associated with a secure protocol that secures a connection between the client device and a server system, where the intermediary device includes an inline authentication and authorization service between the client device and the server system. The authentication and authorization service at the intermediary device determines, based on command enforcement policy information, whether to authorize the command received from the client device.


