Secured URL Link for Privacy-Preserving Content Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for providing access to restricted content from third-party content providers are cumbersome and invasive to user privacy, especially when sharing content with multiple users, as they require submitting identity information and do not facilitate secure, group-based access.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a messaging app that generates a secured URL link, using public and private key encryption to allow only intended users to access content, where the sending user provides a public key to the content provider, which verifies the signature generated by the receiving user, granting access without exposing their identity information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If identity information is submitted to the third-party content provider to allow access to restricted content, then access control is achieved, but user privacy is compromised and the process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
A secured URL link acts as an intermediary between the sender and recipient. The link contains embedded authorization information that allows the third-party content provider to verify access rights without exposing the recipient's identity information. The sender creates a secured URL that includes a unique identifier or token that the content provider can validate, thus maintaining access control while preserving privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The identity verification process is extracted from the content access process. Instead of requiring identity information to be submitted directly to the content provider, the verification is performed through a separate mechanism (the secured URL with embedded credentials). The URL contains the necessary authorization data that is extracted from the identity verification step, allowing access control without direct identity exposure.
2Reliability
If identity information is submitted to the third-party content provider, then access to restricted content is granted, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Authorization information is embedded in the secured URL link before the recipient attempts to access the content. The sender pre-configures the URL with necessary credentials, tokens, or identifiers that will be automatically validated by the content provider's system. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time identity verification during the access process, significantly reducing the time required.
Solution Approach 2:
The secured URL performs self-verification by containing embedded authorization data that automatically proves the recipient's right to access the content. When the recipient clicks the URL, the system automatically validates the embedded credentials without requiring manual identity submission or interaction with support personnel, making the process efficient and self-service oriented.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional access methods are used, then individual user access can be controlled, but group-based access sharing is not facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The secured URL mechanism serves multiple functions: it can be used for individual user access control, group-based sharing, and temporary or permanent access grants. A single URL can be configured with different authorization levels and can be distributed to multiple recipients simultaneously. The same technical mechanism handles both one-to-one and one-to-many access scenarios, providing versatility without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Access management is segmented into independent, shareable URL units. Each secured URL represents a discrete access grant that can be independently created, distributed, and tracked. This segmentation allows the sender to create multiple URLs for different group members or sub-groups, each with appropriate authorization levels. The modular nature of segmented URLs simplifies complex group access management by breaking it down into manageable, independent access tokens.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method for allowing a user at a first client device to provide access to restricted content on a content provider server to a user at a second client device without providing identifying information of the second client device or the user to the content provider. The content provider receives a request from a messaging app on a first client device for sharing of a content item with a second client device and generates a metadata block comprising at least a link to the content item. The metadata block is sent to the first client device and, in response, a public key of a private/public key pair of the second client device is received from the first client device. A request for the content item, is then received and contains a data item digitally signed using the private key of the private/public key pair of the second client device. The public key is then used to verify the digitally signed data item, thereby confirming the identity of the second client device. Thereafter, the requested content item is sent to the second client device.