Smart Home Credential Sharing With OS-Mediated User Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The ease of sharing credentials for smart home devices among applications poses security and privacy risks, as malicious actors can discover device information for unauthorized purposes, leading to potential vulnerabilities and privacy invasion.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secure architecture that requires user authorization before sharing access credentials, using device filters to ensure only matching smart home devices are revealed to requesting applications, and providing credentials only after explicit user consent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If credential sharing is enabled for smart home devices, then application convenience is improved, but security vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an operating system as an intermediary between applications and smart home device credentials. The OS manages credential storage, validates filter criteria, and controls the sharing process, preventing applications from directly accessing credentials without proper authorization. This intermediary layer resolves the contradiction by enabling convenient credential sharing while maintaining security through centralized control and validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary validation of filter criteria before credentials are shared. The operating system checks whether the requested credentials match the provided filter characteristics (device type, vendor, etc.) before allowing access. This preliminary action ensures that only appropriate credentials are shared, preventing security vulnerabilities while maintaining ease of use for legitimate applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device information is revealed to requesting applications, then application functionality is improved, but privacy invasion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of information access to different applications based on their specific needs and authorization. Rather than universally revealing all device information, the system selectively shares credentials only when filter criteria are met and user authorization is obtained. This resolves the contradiction by enabling necessary application functionality while protecting user privacy through selective information disclosure.
3Loss of time
If automatic credential sharing is implemented, then user time is reduced, but security control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic credential sharing process that adapts to each request based on filter criteria validation and real-time user authorization. Rather than static automatic sharing, the system dynamically evaluates each credential request against provided filters and requires user confirmation. This dynamic approach reduces user time investment while maintaining strong security control, resolving the contradiction between automation and security.
Data Source
AI summary
Various arrangements for sharing access to a smart home device are presented herein. A control device can receive, from a requesting application being executed on the control device, a credential share request, wherein the credential share request comprises zero, one, or more than one smart home device filter characteristics. The control device can determine one or more smart home devices that match the one or more smart home device filter characteristics from the credential share request. In response to determining one or more smart home devices match the one or more smart home device filter characteristics, the control device can request user input indicating that access credentials for the one or more smart home devices is authorized to be shared with the requesting application. In response to consenting user input, access credentials can be provided to the requesting application.