SSO Disposition Engine Centralizes Routing Logic

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current single sign-on (SSO) systems face challenges in routing unauthorized SSO requests, as each federated web application defines its own rules and parameters, leading to inefficiencies and lack of centralized management.

Innovation Solution

An SSO disposition engine determines where to route unauthorized SSO requests based on criteria such as user roles, source URLs, and device types, using an XML-based configuration file to direct requests to appropriate services, thereby centralizing the decision-making process and managing requests across multiple web services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If each federated web application defines its own routing rules and parameters, then the system allows flexible routing decisions at the application level, but the system complexity increases and centralized management is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized disposition engine as an intermediary component that receives SSO requests, evaluates routing criteria, and determines the appropriate destination service. This mediator consolidates the routing decision-making function that was previously distributed across multiple federated web applications, thereby reducing system complexity while preserving routing flexibility through configurable evaluation criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a centralized disposition engine is introduced to manage SSO requests, then centralized management and reduced complexity are achieved, but the system requires additional infrastructure components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem management complexityVSAvoidrequest processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The disposition engine performs preliminary evaluation of SSO requests against predefined criteria before routing them to destination services. By pre-configuring evaluation criteria and performing assessments in advance, the system streamlines the request processing flow and avoids ad-hoc decision-making at each federated application, thereby improving overall processing efficiency despite the added infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If SSO requests are routed based on multiple criteria, then accurate request disposition is achieved, but the evaluation process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverequest routing accuracyVSAvoidrequest processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the routing decision-making process into distinct evaluation criteria that can be independently assessed. The disposition engine evaluates multiple criteria (such as user identity, resource type, security requirements) in a structured sequence, allowing for accurate request disposition while managing processing time through systematic breakdown of the evaluation task into manageable segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3117578B1Disposition engine for single sign on (SSO) requests
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3117578B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3117578B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3117578B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Systems and methods are described for evaluating disposition of an SSO request. In one example, the method includes receiving the SSO request, the SSO request for accessing a secure service, the request having been denied authorization to access a first service, determining, based upon one or more criteria, where to direct the SSO request, and routing the SSO request to a second service, the routing based on the determining where to direct the SSO request.