Wireless Interface Access Control via ACL
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication technologies, such as Bluetooth, pose security risks as they can be monitored and accessed by unauthorized devices, allowing potential unauthorized access to connected hardware, necessitating restricted access to prevent unauthorized communication.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an access control list (ACL) to restrict direct access to wireless communication interfaces, allowing only administrative and system accounts to access the radio driver, while providing indirect access through a smart card reader service application to ensure secure communication with specific devices like smart card readers, and disabling discoverability and connectability to reduce security threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication interfaces are made accessible to users, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to potential unauthorized access and monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an access control list (ACL) that acts as an intermediary layer between users and wireless communication interfaces. The ACL intercepts and filters access requests, allowing only authorized applications and users to communicate wirelessly. This mediator mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling legitimate user access while blocking unauthorized access attempts, thus maintaining both ease of operation for authorized users and security against unauthorized access.
2Ease of operation
If direct access to radio drivers is allowed for user accounts, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to potential misuse of wireless hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments access rights by implementing an access control list that divides permissions into different categories: administrative accounts have full access, system accounts have limited access, and standard user accounts have no direct access to radio drivers. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing appropriate access levels - administrative users can directly access hardware when needed, while standard users must use approved applications, thus maintaining both operational ease for administrators and system security.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless discoverability is enabled, then adaptability is improved for connecting to devices, but security is worsened due to increased vulnerability to unauthorized connection attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the access control list continuously monitors and evaluates incoming connection requests against authorized device criteria. When a discoverable device attempts to connect, the system provides feedback by either allowing or blocking the connection based on ACL permissions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining discoverability for authorized devices while automatically rejecting unauthorized connection attempts, thus preserving adaptability for legitimate connections while enhancing security.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Users (112) of a computer (200) are prevented from directly accessing certain hardware (216) for which a driver (224) is installed on the computer (200). The users (112) are provided a limited, indirect manner to access the hardware (216) for a specific purpose or to do a specific job. One example of such hardware is a wireless hardware communication interface (216). The wireless activity of the computer (200) may be restricted so that the wireless hardware communication interface (216) is prevented from communicating with any devices (104) compatible with the wireless hardware communication interface (216) other than one or more specific devices (106, 108).