Token Refresh Mechanism for Access Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
In systems that require access tokens for service usage, holding these tokens for long periods increases security risks due to the potential for unauthorized use, as they are not regularly refreshed.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an information processing system that issues both access and refresh tokens with different validity periods, where the refresh token is used to renew the access token when expired, and is discarded based on predetermined conditions to minimize unauthorized use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the access token is held for a long period of time to ensure user-friendliness, then the service usability is improved, but the security risk increases due to potential unauthorized use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication token system into two distinct components: access tokens with short validity periods for service authentication, and refresh tokens with longer validity periods for token renewal. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both security (through short-lived access tokens) and usability (through long-lived refresh tokens) simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by requiring access tokens to be refreshed at regular intervals defined by their validity periods. The refresh token mechanism enables periodic renewal of access tokens, ensuring that no single token remains valid indefinitely, thus reducing security risks while maintaining continuous service access.
2Loss of time
If the access token validity period is extended to reduce refresh frequency, then the user-friendliness is improved, but the opportunity for illegal use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the token validity management into two layers: short-term access tokens that expire quickly to limit exposure window, and long-term refresh tokens that enable periodic renewal. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing infrequent user interactions (improving time loss) while maintaining short effective validity periods for access tokens (reducing illegal use opportunity).
Solution Approach 2:
The refresh token acts as an intermediary between the user and the access token system. It allows the system to maintain long-term authentication state without issuing long-validity access tokens, thus reducing the frequency of user actions needed while limiting the window of vulnerability for each access token.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the access token is regularly refreshed to reduce security risk, then the security is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling automatic token refresh operations. The system automatically issues new access tokens using refresh tokens without requiring manual user intervention, thus maintaining security through regular refreshment while minimizing the operational complexity burden on users. The complexity is shifted to the automated authentication mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The refresh token serves as an intermediary that simplifies the overall system architecture. Instead of implementing complex continuous validation and manual renewal systems, the refresh token mechanism provides a straightforward protocol for automatic token renewal, reducing system complexity while maintaining security.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the refresh token is discarded based on inactivity to reduce security risk, then the security is improved, but the user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the refresh token validity period adjustable based on service usage patterns. The system can dynamically extend or maintain token validity for active users while discarding tokens for inactive users, thus balancing security requirements with user convenience through adaptive behavior rather than fixed rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the validity parameter of refresh tokens based on observed usage patterns. For actively used services, the system maintains or extends refresh token validity to preserve user convenience, while for inactive services, it shortens or discards tokens to improve security, thus adapting parameters to actual usage conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes one or more processors configured to: receive a request for issuance of an access token to be used when a service is used; provide an instruction for issuance of the access token and a refresh token to be used to, when a validity period of the access token has expired, refresh the access token; acquire the access token and the refresh token issued in response to the instruction; refresh the access token, using the refresh token, based on a predetermined refresh condition; and discard the refresh token, based on a predetermined condition on discarding.