Mobile SSO Integration via Authorization Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions inadequately support mobile devices for accessing third-party web services, leading to inefficient and insecure authentication processes, requiring manual account creation and synchronization, which negates the benefits of SSO and poses security risks.

Innovation Solution

Integration of client-side SSO authentication infrastructure with a mobile authorization protocol, using authentication tokens to provide seamless, secure access to third-party services, supporting various encryption mechanisms and minimizing client customization, allowing access through both native applications and web browsers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If current SSO solutions are used for mobile devices, then web-based services can be accessed, but manual account creation and synchronization is required which negates SSO benefits

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAuthentication process simplicityVSAvoidTime for manual account management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mobile authorization server as an intermediary between the mobile device and third-party service providers. This server handles authentication tokens and authorization codes, enabling automatic SSO authentication without manual account creation. The authorization server mediates the communication between the client system's SSO infrastructure and mobile devices, translating web-based SSO protocols into mobile-compatible authentication flows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary authentication actions by obtaining authorization codes and access tokens before the mobile device needs to access third-party services. The authorization server pre-establishes trusted relationships with service providers through client credentials, so that when a mobile user needs access, the authentication is already prepared and can be completed automatically without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If current SSO solutions are used for mobile devices, then access to third-party services is enabled, but security risks arise from account synchronization delays

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccess to third-party servicesVSAvoidSecurity of authentication data
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the authentication token management functionality from the mobile device itself and places it on the server side (authorization server). By taking out the sensitive authentication logic and token storage from the mobile device, the system eliminates security risks associated with device loss, theft, or local storage vulnerabilities. The authorization server centrally manages all authentication credentials, ensuring that revoked access rights are immediately propagated without synchronization delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The authorization server implements real-time feedback mechanisms where changes to user credentials, access rights, or revocation status are immediately reflected in the authentication tokens. The system continuously monitors and updates authorization states, ensuring that the mobile device always has current authentication information without relying on periodic synchronizations that create security gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual account creation is required for each service, then service access is granted, but the benefits of SSO framework are negated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveService access capabilityVSAvoidAccount management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The authorization server implements a universal authentication mechanism that works across multiple third-party service providers through a single interface. Instead of requiring separate account management for each service, the system uses a unified OAuth 2.0-based authorization framework that can authenticate to any service provider that supports standard OAuth flows. This multi-functional approach allows a single mobile application to access diverse services without manual account creation for each one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2984589B1System and method for mobile single sign-on integration
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 GLOBOFORCE LTD
  • EP2984589B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2984589B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2984589B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Improved methods and systems for integrating client-side single sign-on (SSO) authentication security infrastructure with a mobile authorization protocol are disclosed that provide clients with secured SSO mobile access to third-party services. Embodiments of the present invention leverage SSO authentication protocols that are utilized at many client-side systems already and integrate these SSO authentication protocols with a mobile SSO authorization protocol, thereby effectively extending the SSO framework to mobile service requests of web services at third-party service provider systems. Embodiments of the present invention provide a secure and automated solution which may be implemented in any existing client-side SSO frameworks with minimum cost and time, while providing a lightweight and secure solution that provides users using either native applications or mobile web application to access third-party web services.