Local Web Server Secure Content Access via Challenge-Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online content management systems face security issues and performance limitations when accessing and interacting with local data using a web browser, particularly due to the risks of SSL certificate distribution, DNS redirection, and man-in-the-middle attacks, which compromise the security and integrity of data access.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a challenge-response protocol between the client application and the web browser to establish a secure communication channel, using a local web server that runs a HTTPS web server bound to a loopback address, ensuring only legitimate browsers can respond to challenges and authenticate with the client application, thereby securing data access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SSL certificate distribution is used for secure communication, then security is improved, but vulnerability to man-in-the-middle attacks and DNS redirection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a challenge-response protocol as an intermediary authentication mechanism between the client application and web browser. This mediator verifies identities before establishing secure communication, preventing unauthorized intermediaries from intercepting or redirecting traffic. The protocol acts as a trusted third party that validates both endpoints before data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements authentication challenges before actual data transmission occurs. The client application issues challenges to the web browser prior to establishing the secure communication channel, ensuring that both parties are legitimate before any sensitive information is exchanged. This preliminary verification prevents man-in-the-middle attacks by confirming identities in advance.
2Ease of operation
If web browser is used to access online content management system, then ease of operation is improved, but performance deteriorates due to network dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content management system into local and remote components. The client application maintains a local web server that serves cached or synchronized data locally, while the remote server handles storage and synchronization. This segmentation allows the web browser to access data locally without network dependency, improving speed while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The client application acts as an intermediary between the web browser and the remote content management system. It provides a local web server that the browser can access directly, mediating between online and offline access needs. This intermediary enables fast local access while maintaining the ability to synchronize with the remote system when needed.
3Productivity
If local web server is implemented for offline access, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The client application serves multiple functions: it acts as a native application for file management, a local web server for browser access, and a synchronization client for remote communication. By making the client application universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while enabling offline productivity.
4Reliability
If challenge-response protocol is implemented for security, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The challenge-response protocol is implemented within the client application itself, which already has access to security credentials and authentication mechanisms. The client application serves itself by verifying the web browser's identity and establishing secure channels without requiring external authentication infrastructure. This self-service approach minimizes additional complexity while improving security.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for securely accessing locally stored synchronized content using a local web server. A client application on a client device may receive from a web browser on the client device a request to access a local content stored on a client device. The client application may be configured to synchronize the local content with a remote content stored in an online content management system. The client application may issue a challenge for the web browser. The client application or the online content management system may then receive a response to the challenge. If the response is a valid response to the challenge, the web browser may be allowed to access the local content via the client application.