Backend Widget Authorization With Tenant-Aware Access Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for controlling access and ensuring secure utilization of helper functions like application widgets in multi-tenant cloud environments are complex, often relying on proprietary protocols or custom mechanisms that lack interoperability and scalability, leading to security risks and inefficiencies due to the absence of intrinsic tenant context knowledge.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically manages tenant contexts and provides fine-grained access control through a two-level authorization process, integrating with existing authorization protocols to ensure secure and context-aware operations of helper functions across multi-tenant applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary protocols or custom authorization mechanisms are implemented to control access to helper functions, then security is improved, but device complexity and lack of interoperability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authorization mechanism using standard OAuth 2.0 protocols that can be applied across multiple helper functions, applications, and cloud services. Instead of creating proprietary authorization protocols for each helper function, the system uses a unified OAuth 2.0 framework that provides security while maintaining interoperability and reducing complexity through standardization.
2Reliability
If widgets are given intrinsic knowledge of tenant context for secure access, then security is improved, but loss of information and privacy risks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary authorization mechanism where the cloud service acts as a mediator between the widget and tenant context. Instead of giving widgets direct access to tenant context information, the system uses OAuth 2.0 tokens and authorization codes as intermediaries that convey necessary permissions without exposing sensitive tenant context data to the widget.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing context-specific authorization information only where needed. The OAuth 2.0 framework enables the system to grant widgets precise, limited access to specific tenant contexts based on authorization scopes, rather than providing universal access or requiring widgets to have broad intrinsic knowledge of all tenant contexts.
3Reliability
If cloud services ascertain tenant context without direct instruction from widgets, then security is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring authorization relationships between applications and helper functions using OAuth 2.0. The authorization codes and tokens are established in advance through a registration process, allowing the cloud service to automatically ascertain tenant context without requiring real-time instructions from widgets. This preliminary setup simplifies widget operation while maintaining security.
4Measurement precision
If a two-level authorization process is implemented for fine-grained access control, then security and precision are improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by dividing the authorization process into two distinct levels: application-level authorization (first level) and user-level authorization (second level). This segmentation enables fine-grained access control where each level handles specific aspects of permission verification. The OAuth 2.0 framework supports this segmentation through its multi-stage authorization flow, providing precision while managing complexity through structured separation of concerns.
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a device may obtain a request from a client of an application to utilize a backend widget. The device may determine, based on an identifier of the application and a token associated with the request, whether a user associated with the request is authorized to utilize the backend widget. The device may determine, based on the identifier of the application and an identifier of the client associated with the request, whether the application is authorized to utilize the backend widget. The device may modify, responsive to a determination that the user and the application are authorized to utilize the backend widget, the request to include context for the application to utilize the backend widget.