Mobile Application Gateway for Secure Device Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices lack the trusted connectivity and security measures of desktop platforms, limiting their use in secure transactions and business environments due to concerns about device misuse and control, especially as they become 'fat' clients with more computational roles.

Innovation Solution

An intermediate gateway is positioned between client devices and mobile application service providers to manage and secure access, enabling device authentication, data encryption, location-based tracking, and remote data erasure, while maintaining version control and providing an audit trail.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices are allowed to perform secure transactions and access confidential information, then the computational capabilities and business functionality of mobile devices are improved, but security risks and vulnerability to device misuse increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebusiness functionalityVSAvoidsecurity risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mobile application gateway as an intermediary component between the mobile device and the mobile application server. This gateway acts as a security mediator that authenticates the mobile device, manages application lifecycle, and controls access to confidential information without requiring the service provider to take direct control of the device. The gateway server mediates all communications and enforces security policies, allowing mobile devices to perform secure transactions while maintaining security through the intermediary layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If service providers implement strict device control and management, then security and data protection are improved, but user autonomy and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protectionVSAvoiduser autonomy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile application gateway serves as an intermediary that enables service providers to enforce security policies and protect data without directly controlling the user's device. The gateway authenticates devices, manages application installation and updates, and controls access to confidential information while leaving the device itself under user control. This intermediary approach maintains user autonomy while ensuring data protection through the gateway's security enforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service mechanisms where the mobile device automatically authenticates itself with the gateway using device-specific credentials, and the gateway automatically manages application lifecycle events. The device and gateway work together autonomously to enforce security policies without requiring continuous user intervention or direct service provider control, thus maintaining ease of operation while ensuring data protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If mobile devices operate as thin clients relying on servers, then security is improved, but computational capability and functionality are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcomputational capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile application gateway acts as an intermediary that enables mobile devices to function as fat clients with enhanced computational capabilities while maintaining security. The gateway provides authentication and security services, allowing mobile devices to perform local computations and access confidential information without compromising security. This intermediary approach bridges the gap between thin-client security and fat-client functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9325683B2Mobile application management framework
Publication Date: 2016.04.26 INFOSYS LTD
  • US9325683B2 patent drawing
  • US9325683B2 patent drawing
  • US9325683B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An intermediate gateway is positioned between a client device and a mobile application service provider. The intermediate gateway can assist in securing and managing accesses from a mobile application on the client device to the mobile application service provider. The intermediate gateway can store a client device identification associated with the client device, which can be used to authenticate the client device. Other parameters can also be used in device authentication.