Short-Lived Content Certificates for Virtual Machine Lifespan Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing digital content entitlements in distributed computer systems, such as cloud systems, are inadequate for virtual machines due to the short lifespan of these resources, as traditional content certificates are not suited for their transient nature.
Innovation Solution
Implementing short-lived content certificates that are periodically renewed by a subscription management client daemon, which requests and validates identity certificates and entitlements with a subscription management server, allowing for flexible and adaptive consumption of digital content based on the expected lifetime of virtual machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional content certificates are used for virtual machines, then the certificate management system is simple, but the certificates cannot align with the short lifespan of virtual machines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic certificate lifetime management where the certificate lifetime is adjusted to match the expected lifetime of the virtual machine. The system dynamically determines and sets appropriate certificate lifetimes based on VM characteristics, allowing certificates to be short-lived for transient VMs and long-lived for persistent VMs, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of certificate lifetime to align with virtual machine lifespan. By making the certificate lifetime a variable parameter that can be set based on VM expected lifetime, the system achieves adaptability without requiring a completely new certificate management architecture, thus resolving the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If long-lived content certificates are used, then the access is uninterrupted, but the certificates cannot be renewed for short-lived virtual machines
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically sets certificate lifetimes based on the expected lifetime of the virtual machine. For short-lived VMs, short-lived certificates are issued, while for long-lived VMs, long-lived certificates are issued. This dynamic approach maintains continuous access reliability while adapting to different VM lifespans, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by issuing certificates with lifetimes that pre-align with the expected VM lifetime before the VM actually terminates. This ensures that certificates are automatically invalidating at the appropriate time without requiring renewal operations, maintaining reliability while adapting to short lifespans.
3Adaptability or versatility
If short-lived content certificates are used for virtual machines, then the certificates align with their lifespan, but the access may be interrupted during renewal
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-issuing certificates with lifetimes that align with the expected VM lifetime before any termination occurs. This ensures that certificates automatically expire at the appropriate time without requiring renewal operations, maintaining both alignment with lifespan and access continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically managing certificate lifetimes based on VM characteristics without requiring manual intervention. The certificate issuance and expiration are handled automatically by the system, ensuring continuous access while maintaining alignment with VM lifespan, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for managing digital content entitlements in distributed computer systems. An example method may comprise: receiving, by a processor, a request comprising an identity certificate and a digital content identifier; validating an entitlement of a requestor identified by the identity certificate to consume, over an entitlement period of time, the digital content identified by the digital content identifier; determining that a pre-defined authorization period of time does not exceed the entitlement period of time; and transmitting, to the requestor, a response comprising at least one of: a status code and a content certificate authorizing to consume the digital content for the pre-defined authorization period of time.