Sensor-Web Authentication via Intermediary Server and Tokens
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless mesh networks used for data collection and storage, ensuring secure access to sensor data while maintaining network reliability and redundancy is challenging, particularly when sensitive data needs to be protected from unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system for authenticating requesting devices before allowing access to sensor-collectable data, using a server-side model that considers unique identifiers and other factors, and denying access if the data is associated with a predetermined value or range, ensuring secure data sharing within a collaborative ecosystem.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If authentication systems are implemented to protect sensor data, then data security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an authentication server as an intermediary component that handles authentication requests between requesting devices and sensor devices. This mediator centralizes authentication logic, preventing the complexity from being distributed across all network devices while maintaining strong security through server-side credential verification and token management.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system is segmented into distinct functional components: authentication credentials stored on sensor devices, authentication requests handled by requesting devices, and verification logic centralized on the authentication server. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple while the overall system provides comprehensive security.
2Reliability
If access control is enforced for sensitive sensor data, then data security is improved, but network operation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs authentication actions in advance by issuing access tokens to requesting devices before they access sensor data. Once authenticated, the token can be used for multiple data requests without repeating the full authentication process, thereby maintaining security while improving subsequent access speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication token enables continuous data access without repeated authentication interruptions. The useful action of data retrieval can proceed continuously once the initial authentication is complete, maintaining network operation speed while security is enforced through the token-based access control.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a method for distributing sensor data. The method includes receiving, from a requesting device, a request to access first sensor-collectable data associated with at least one package. The requesting device is authenticated to access the first sensor-collectable data. And when second sensor-collectable data is associated with a predetermined value, the method also includes denying the request for access.