Universal Authentication Handler for Social Profile Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Developers face significant challenges in implementing and testing code for multiple authentication services like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to retrieve social user profile data for displaying targeted content, making it difficult to provide personalized experiences.

Innovation Solution

An Adobe CQ web experience management system with an authentication configuration engine and social connect engine allows websites to authenticate users using OAuth protocols, enabling the retrieval of social profile data from trusted services like Facebook and Twitter, and using this data to deliver personalized content through a simplified integration process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If developers implement authentication code for multiple authentication services manually, then the system can retrieve social user profile data from multiple services, but the implementation and testing complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to retrieve social profile data from multiple servicesVSAvoidauthentication code implementation and testing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal authentication handler that can process multiple authentication protocols (OAuth 1.0, OAuth 2.0, and other SAML-based protocols) through a single unified interface. This handler serves multiple functions by adapting to different service requirements while maintaining consistent interaction patterns, eliminating the need for separate authentication code implementations for each service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an authentication service configurator as an intermediary component that mediates between the website and multiple authentication services. This configurator manages the complexity by providing a standardized interface for configuring and testing authentication handlers, acting as a buffer that simplifies the integration process with various social media platforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system integrates multiple authentication protocols, then it can authenticate users from different social media platforms, but the coding requirements and integration effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for multiple authentication protocolsVSAvoidintegration effort and coding requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the authentication functionality into distinct, independently configurable authentication handlers, each responsible for a specific protocol or service. This segmentation allows developers to implement and test each handler separately, then combine them through the universal interface, reducing the overall integration effort compared to implementing all protocols in a monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication service configurator utilizes parameter changes to adapt the authentication handlers to different services. By configuring handlers with service-specific parameters through a standardized interface, the system can support multiple protocols without requiring separate code paths, thereby reducing coding requirements while maintaining protocol-specific functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If developers manually configure each authentication service, then the system can be customized for specific services, but the time required for implementation and testing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capability for specific servicesVSAvoidimplementation and testing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by providing pre-configured authentication handler templates and a structured configuration interface. Developers can quickly set up service-specific authentication by selecting from pre-defined handlers and configuring parameters through the authentication service configurator, eliminating the need to build authentication logic from scratch for each service and significantly reducing implementation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9483623B2Displaying targeted website content based on social user profile data

Publication Date: 2016.11.01 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Displaying targeted website content based on social user profile data is disclosed. In some embodiments, the displaying of targeted website content based on social user profile data includes requesting social profile data for a user from an authentication provider using a token associated with the user; and generating a rule for web site customization using the social profile data.