Unified Access Device Credential Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous computing environments, users face inconvenience due to the need to provide different user credentials for multiple applications on various devices, leading to repeated authentication processes, which complicates access control and hinders usability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a device identifier to authenticate users once, allowing subsequent applications to access platforms without requiring additional credentials, by storing a login identifier associated with the device identifier and expiring it for security measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users provide credentials for each application separately, then security is maintained through individual authentication, but user convenience deteriorates due to repeated authentication processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple application credentials into a single device-level credential. The access device stores a unified credential associated with the device identifier that can be used by multiple applications, eliminating the need for separate credentials while maintaining security through centralized authentication management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal credential system where a single credential stored at the access device can serve multiple applications. The device identifier-based credential acts as a multi-functional key that enables different applications to access their respective services without requiring application-specific credentials
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple credentials are stored for different applications, then application-specific access control is improved, but device complexity increases due to credential management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts credential management from the individual applications and centralizes it at the access device. Instead of each application managing its own credentials, the access device stores and manages all credentials centrally, associating them with the device identifier, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual applications and the user device
Solution Approach 2:
The access device serves as an intermediary between the user device and multiple applications. It mediates authentication by storing credentials associated with the device identifier and providing them to applications as needed, simplifying the overall system architecture by introducing a centralized credential management layer
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling access to multiple applications on a computing device are provided. One embodiment of a system includes an access device configured to: receive a request to access a first application and a device identifier; authenticate the user using a user credential associated with the user and store the device identifier in association with a login identifier in response to authentication of the user. The access device can be further configured to receive a request to access a second application and the device identifier. The access device can allow access to the second application based on the previous authentication of the user.