Access Token Reuse with Invalidation Flags for Protected Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems require clients to repeatedly request access tokens for protected resources, leading to inefficient use of bandwidth and processing resources due to the expiration of access tokens.
Innovation Solution
A system that stores access tokens with an associated invalidation flag, allowing reuse of valid tokens and minimizing the need for immediate deletion, thereby optimizing bandwidth and processing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If access tokens are stored for reuse, then bandwidth and processing resources are optimized, but the risk of using expired or invalid tokens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing access tokens with their expiration metadata before they become invalid. The token store proactively manages tokens by tracking their validity periods and removing expired tokens in advance, preventing the client from attempting to use invalid tokens. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining productivity through token reuse while ensuring reliability through pre-validation and proactive cleanup of expired tokens.
2Quantity of substance
If access tokens are immediately deleted upon invalidation, then storage efficiency is improved, but processing overhead increases due to frequent deletion operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by treating invalidation flags as cheap, ephemeral markers. Instead of performing complex deletion operations, the system simply sets a boolean flag on the token object. This flag is lightweight and requires minimal processing resources. The token remains in storage with the flag set, allowing for efficient tracking without the overhead of immediate deletion, thus resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and processing overhead.
3Reliability
If the client repeatedly requests new access tokens, then token validity is ensured, but bandwidth and processing resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation by checking the invalidation flag status before the client attempts to use a stored token. This pre-check prevents unnecessary token requests to the authorization server. By validating token status in advance locally, the system ensures reliability (only valid tokens are used) while conserving bandwidth and processing resources (no redundant requests are made), thus resolving the contradiction.
4Device complexity
If access tokens are stored without invalidation tracking, then processing overhead is reduced, but the system cannot detect or respond to token invalidation
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the critical validity information from the token itself by implementing a separate invalidation flag mechanism. Instead of storing complex validation data within the token, the system extracts and stores only the essential invalidation status as a simple boolean flag. This minimal extraction approach maintains low processing overhead while preserving the necessary information about token validity, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and information completeness.
Data Source
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AI summary
A client system comprises processing circuitry configured to receive, from a user device, a first access request comprising a first instruction to access a protected resource; transmit a token request for an access token to be used for accessing the protected resource; and receive an access token in response to the token request, the access token having a corresponding time to expire. The client system comprises a token storage unit configured to store the access token. The processing circuitry is further configured to receive a rejection message indicating that the access token is not valid for receiving the protected resource; and store, at the token storage unit, an invalidation flag associated with the stored access token, in response to receiving the rejection message.