Modular Authentication Framework for Multi-Device Web Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication mechanisms for client devices accessing web services are inefficient due to duplication of effort in implementing device-specific authentication schemes and user confusion from multiple URLs for different device types, with existing workarounds not being universally supported.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a server stores device-type specific authentication modules, extracts a device type identifier from client requests, and selects the appropriate authentication module to authenticate the device, allowing multiple device types to access a single web service using their respective authentication schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate web services are provided for each device type with device-specific authentication mechanisms, then each device type can be authenticated using its native authentication scheme, but there is substantial duplication of effort and multiple URLs causing user confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal web service that can handle multiple device types through a single interface. The server extracts device type identifiers from requests and dynamically selects appropriate authentication modules, allowing one web service to serve multiple device types without requiring separate services for each device category.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication selection server that sits between client devices and web services. This intermediary extracts device type information from requests, determines the appropriate authentication mechanism, and routes the authentication process accordingly, eliminating the need for device-specific service endpoints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate web services are provided for each device type, then device-specific authentication can be implemented, but there is duplication of effort in implementing each authentication scheme
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication functionality into separate, modular authentication modules that can be independently selected and executed. Each authentication module handles a specific device type or authentication scheme, but they are all managed through a single web service interface, eliminating the need to implement complete separate services for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from having separate services for each device type to a single service that dynamically changes parameters based on the device type identifier extracted from the request. The server selects different authentication modules based on the device type, allowing flexible adaptation without code duplication.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide a requesting device with access to a service, in one implementation, a server receives a request to access a service, and the request includes a device type identifier of a device requesting access to the service. The server extracts the device type identifier from the request and determines a corresponding device type for the requesting device. An authentication module is selected from a plurality of authentication modules based on the device type identifier, and the selected authentication module implements an authentication scheme for the device type of the requesting device. The server authenticates the request using the selected authentication module to determine whether the requesting device is permitted to access the service, and provides access to the service based on at least a determination that the requesting device is authorized to access the service.