Zero Sign-On Authentication via Gateway Trust Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of user devices accessing media services through various platforms, such as satellite, broadcast, and cable television, poses security challenges for service providers, as they need to secure devices with non-proprietary operating systems and multiple communication mediums, leading to increased processing burdens and the need for sign-on based authentication processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a zero sign-on authentication system that relies on the level of trust associated with gateways rather than user devices, where access is granted based on the trustworthiness of the gateway, eliminating the need for users to input passwords or provide certificates, and reducing security processing demands on both user devices and service providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sign-on based authentication processes are implemented to address security concerns, then security is improved, but processing burden on user devices and service providers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication decision-making function from user devices and relocates it to the service provider's server. The server determines whether a user device is authorized to access media services without requiring the device to perform complex authentication processing, thereby reducing the processing burden on user devices while maintaining security through centralized authentication logic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism where the service provider's server acts as a mediator between the user device and media services. Instead of direct authentication between user devices and services, the server intermediates by receiving access requests, determining authorization based on service subscription information, and granting or denying access accordingly
2Reliability
If certificates are assigned to each user device for authentication, then security is improved, but device complexity and processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirement for user devices to store, manage, and transmit authentication certificates. Instead, the server maintains authentication information and makes authorization decisions centrally, eliminating the need for certificate processing at the user device level while preserving security through server-side authentication validation
3Reliability
If manual sign-on with username and password is required, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic authentication where the system itself performs the authorization determination without requiring user intervention. When a user device requests access to media services, the server automatically checks subscription information and grants or denies access without requiring the user to manually sign on with username and password, thereby maintaining security while significantly improving ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
An authenticating system and process for authenticating user devices to a access a service where access to certain portions of the service may be limited according to a access point or other device used by a user device to facilitate interfacing a user with the service. The authentication may be achieved without directly assessing a trustworthiness of the user devices, and optionally, without requiring a user thereof to complete a sign-on operation.