Wireless Handheld Device Security in Data Centers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Data centers face challenges in securing wireless handheld devices accessing sensitive information handling systems, as existing solutions lack robust authentication and encryption mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and ensure secure communication within the data center environment.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing a mobile device with long and short range wireless communication controllers, a primary access controller, a validation server, and a data center management system, which authenticates devices through unique security credentials and establishes secure communication links using encryption keys, ensuring only authorized devices can access and control data center resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless handheld devices are allowed to access data center resources, then device connectivity and user access capability are improved, but security risks and vulnerability to unauthorized access increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice connectivityVSAvoidunauthorized access risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by validating security credentials (MAC address, encryption keys) before allowing wireless devices to access data center resources. The primary access controller pre-establishes trusted device identities and cryptographic keys, ensuring that only authenticated devices can connect to the wireless network and access information handling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The primary access controller acts as an intermediary between wireless handheld devices and data center resources. It mediates all authentication requests, validates security credentials, and manages encryption key distribution, preventing direct unauthenticated access to information handling systems while enabling controlled connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If authentication and encryption mechanisms are implemented for wireless devices, then security and prevention of unauthorized access are improved, but system complexity and authentication overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The primary access controller performs multiple functions including authentication validation, encryption key management, and wireless network access control within a single centralized system. This multi-functional approach consolidates security operations, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems for each function and managing complexity through centralization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Wireless handheld devices self-configure with security credentials and encryption keys obtained through the authentication process. The devices automatically establish secure communication channels using the provided cryptographic materials, reducing manual configuration complexity and enabling automated security enforcement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If security credentials and encryption keys are validated for each device, then unauthorized access prevention is improved, but authentication processing time and system overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoidauthentication processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Security credentials and encryption keys are validated in advance during the initial authentication phase before wireless devices are granted network access. The primary access controller pre-verifies device identities and establishes cryptographic trust relationships, so that subsequent communications can proceed without repeated full authentication cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9877200B2System and method for wireless handheld device security in a data center environment

Publication Date: 2018.01.23 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A data center includes an access controller with a short range wireless communication controller, and an access point with a long range wireless communication controller. The access point is coupled to the access controller via a secure link. The access controller, receives a security credential from a mobile device via the short range wireless communication controller, authenticates the mobile device, receives access information for the mobile device via the short range wireless communication controller in response to authenticating the mobile device, and provides the access information to the access point via the secure link. The access point uses the access information to connect to the mobile device via the long range wireless communication controller.