Token-Based Link Security for Media Stream Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet video publishers face challenges in controlling publication costs and preventing unauthorized access to video streams, as existing technologies lack effective methods to restrict simultaneous and total viewership, leading to increased bandwidth costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing token-based link security systems where a webpage includes a link with an embedded security token generated by a web server using a private key and encryption algorithm, which is verified by a media server to grant access only to authorized clients, thereby controlling access and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a link to a media stream is published without security restrictions, then viewers can easily access the content, but unauthorized users can also access it leading to increased bandwidth costs
Solution Approach 1:
A security token acts as an intermediary between the viewer and the media stream. The token is embedded in the link and must be validated by the media server before granting access. This intermediary mechanism allows legitimate viewers to access content while blocking unauthorized users, thereby controlling bandwidth costs without significantly impacting ease of access for authorized users.
2Loss of energy
If token-based security is implemented in links, then unauthorized access is prevented and bandwidth costs are reduced, but the link structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The security token is generated and embedded in the link in advance, before the user accesses the media stream. This preliminary action of pre-configuring the token in the link structure allows the media server to quickly validate access requests without complex real-time computations, reducing the perceived complexity during actual usage.
3Reliability
If the media server validates security tokens for each access request, then access control is enforced, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security token contains pre-computed validation data that is copied into the link. Instead of performing complex cryptographic validations for each request, the media server can quickly verify the token by comparing it against the pre-configured private key and algorithm, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining reliable access control.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of token-based protection for links to media streams are disclosed. For example, a computing device may receive a media request in response to selection of a link to a media stream. The link may include a first token that is generated based on a private key and an encryption algorithm, and the media request may include the first token. The computing device may grant or deny the media request based on a comparison of the first token and a second token that is generated based on the private key and the encryption algorithm.