Automatic Password Propagation via Cloud Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems fail to automatically propagate password updates across multiple devices using a shared password, requiring users to update their passwords separately on each device.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a (t, n) Shamir secret sharing scheme to calculate and send update data from one device to others, allowing automatic password updates without requiring users to re-enter their old password on each device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user uses a shared password across multiple devices to protect secure keys, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need to manually update passwords on each device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassword managementVSAvoidpassword update process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary that stores password shares and facilitates automatic password propagation. When a user changes their password on one device, the system calculates update data and automatically distributes it to other devices through the cloud server, eliminating the need for manual updates on each device while maintaining security through secret sharing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where password update data is automatically generated and propagated from one device to others. The cloud server receives password change notifications, processes the update data, and distributes it back to all devices associated with the user account, creating a closed-loop system that automatically maintains password consistency across all devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If a user updates password on one device only, then the loss of time is reduced, but the reliability decreases because other devices cannot access secure keys with the new password

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassword update timeVSAvoidpassword consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing update data in the cloud server before it is needed. When a user changes their password, the update data is immediately processed and made available for distribution to all devices. This preliminary preparation ensures that all devices can quickly and reliably obtain the new password information without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cloud server acts as a mediator that ensures reliable password propagation across all devices. It receives the password change notification, validates the update data, and distributes it to all associated devices, ensuring that password consistency is maintained across the entire system while requiring minimal user action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9648012B1Automatic propagation of password updates on multiple devices

Publication Date: 2017.05.09 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

Embodiments are directed to techniques to automatically propagate password updates onto other devices that use a shared password to protect respective secure keys or other secrets. This may be done by calculating update data using a new password and an old password entered onto one device as part of a password change operation, and sending the update data to the other devices for use in updating the password on those devices.