Portal Server Authentication for Unified Docbase Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise portals face challenges in providing unified access to diverse resources from multiple servers, especially during mergers where different user authentication schemas complicate access to information.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses either a principal login technique, where a portal server uses a superuser password to authenticate users to docbases, or a user mapping technique, where users store and manage their own credentials for access, allowing seamless access to multiple docbases with varying authentication methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a unified portal provides access to multiple resources from different servers with different authentication schemas, then access to information is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portal server as an intermediary component between users and multiple docbases with different authentication schemas. The portal server receives user credentials, determines the target docbase, and handles the authentication process by translating between different authentication methods (principal login or user mapping), thereby shielding users from the complexity of multiple authentication systems while enabling access to diverse resources
Solution Approach 2:
The portal server is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle both principal login and user mapping authentication techniques. It can authenticate users to multiple different docbases using different authentication schemas, making a single unified access point that serves multiple purposes and adapts to various authentication requirements without requiring separate systems for each docbase
2Ease of operation
If principal login technique is used with superuser password, then ease of operation is improved, but security risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different authentication approaches based on the specific docbase and user requirements. Rather than uniformly applying principal login to all scenarios, the system can selectively use user mapping for specific docbases or users where security is paramount, while using principal login where operational simplicity is the priority. This localized application of authentication methods optimizes both ease of operation and security on a per-docbase basis
3Reliability
If user mapping technique is used for authentication, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user mapping technique implements self-service authentication where users maintain their own credentials and authentication mappings in the portal server. This distributes the security management burden from centralized superuser control to individual user accounts, improving security through personalized credentials while the automated mapping process handles the complexity internally, reducing the perceived complexity for users
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple authentication schemas are supported, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring users to adapt to multiple authentication schemas, the patent inverts the approach by having the portal server adapt to the user's single set of credentials. The system determines the appropriate authentication method (principal login or user mapping) based on the target docbase and automatically performs the necessary credential translation or mapping, making the system adaptable while keeping the user experience simple and uniform
Data Source
AI summary
Authenticating a user is disclosed. An indication that an application user wants to access a docbase is received. It is determined whether a user mapping or a principal login technique should be used. Accessing the docbase with a credential based at least in part on the determination is attempted.