{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853962","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853962","title":"Flexible authentication framework","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-10-20T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04L","G06F","G06F","G06F","G06F","G06F","G06F","G06F","G06F","G06F","H04L","H04L","H04L"],"num_claims":17,"abstract":"A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety of sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security attributes to be received at query time, for example, in order to provide real-time secure access to enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Flexible Authentication Framework patent addresses the critical need for secure and efficient data access within enterprises. It offers a flexible and extensible architecture that simplifies the search experience while maintaining robust security. The core innovation lies in its ability to crawl and search diverse data sources, regardless of their adherence to conventional user role models, and to apply security attributes in real-time during the query process.\n\nTraditional enterprise search solutions often struggle with data silos and inflexible security policies. This technology overcomes these limitations by providing a unified search experience that adapts to changing user roles and security contexts. By receiving security attributes at query time, the system ensures that users only access authorized data, reducing the risk of data breaches.\n\nThe technical approach involves a combination of crawling, query processing, and access control mechanisms. The crawler indexes various data sources, while the query processor transforms user queries to incorporate security attributes. The access control engine then enforces security policies based on these attributes, ensuring that only authorized data is returned to the user. Dynamic querying capabilities further enhance the system by providing more current and relevant results compared to static queries.\n\nThe business value of this technology lies in its ability to improve user productivity, enhance data security, and reduce administrative overhead. By providing a unified and secure search experience, it empowers users to find the information they need quickly and easily. The reduced risk of data breaches and the streamlined management of security policies contribute to significant cost savings.\n\nThe market opportunity for this innovation is substantial, as enterprises across various industries grapple with the challenges of securing and managing their data. The Flexible Authentication Framework offers a compelling solution that can help organizations unlock the full potential of their data assets while maintaining the highest levels of security.","layman_explanation":"The Flexible Authentication Framework addresses the challenge of securely accessing information within a company. Imagine a large organization with many different departments, each using its own system to store data. These systems might have different rules about who can see what, creating a complex and often inefficient environment. This patent provides a way to search across all these systems in a secure and unified manner.\n\nThe problem it solves is twofold: first, it makes it easier for employees to find the information they need, regardless of where it's stored. Second, it ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive data, preventing unauthorized access and data breaches. Existing solutions often fall short because they are either too inflexible or too complex to manage.\n\nThis technology works by creating a system that can 'crawl' or index all the different data sources within an organization. When a user performs a search, the system dynamically checks their permissions and security attributes to ensure they are authorized to see the results. This happens in real-time, so the user only sees the data they are allowed to access. Think of it like a security guard at a concert who checks your ticket before letting you in. But instead of just checking once, the guard checks every time you try to access a different area.\n\nThis matters because it can significantly improve productivity and reduce the risk of data breaches. Employees can find the information they need quickly and easily, without having to navigate complex and disparate systems. At the same time, the organization can be confident that its sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access. The market impact is substantial, as enterprises are increasingly focused on improving data security and compliance. The potential ROI is high, as it can lead to cost savings, improved efficiency, and reduced risk.\n\nIn the future, we can expect to see this technology integrated with other security solutions, such as identity management systems and threat detection platforms. The adoption timeline will depend on the complexity of the organization and the maturity of the technology, but it is likely to become increasingly prevalent as enterprises prioritize data security and access control. Investment implications are positive, as companies that adopt this technology are likely to see improved security posture and increased efficiency.","technical_analysis":"The Flexible Authentication Framework patent presents a novel approach to secure enterprise search, deviating from traditional role-based access control (RBAC) systems. The architecture is designed to provide a flexible and extensible framework for crawling, indexing, and searching diverse data sources while enforcing granular security policies.\n\nAt the heart of the system is a crawler capable of ingesting data from various sources, regardless of their underlying structure or security model. This crawler extracts metadata and content, which are then indexed for efficient searching. The query processor plays a crucial role in transforming user queries to incorporate security attributes. These attributes, which can include user roles, group memberships, and other contextual information, are used to dynamically filter search results.\n\nThe access control engine is responsible for enforcing security policies based on the security attributes associated with each query. This engine evaluates the attributes against predefined rules to determine whether a user has access to a particular resource. The system supports a variety of access control models, including RBAC, attribute-based access control (ABAC), and time-based access control.\n\nOne of the key technical innovations is the use of dynamic querying techniques. The system transforms user queries in real-time to incorporate security attributes, ensuring that only authorized data is returned to the user. This approach is more flexible and scalable than traditional static querying methods, which can be difficult to maintain and update.\n\nThe implementation of this technology requires careful consideration of several factors, including data governance policies, security requirements, and performance considerations. The system must be designed to handle large volumes of data and user queries while maintaining low latency and high availability. Integration with existing identity management systems and security infrastructure is also crucial.\n\nThe adoption of the Flexible Authentication Framework can have significant implications for enterprise security and data management. By providing a unified and secure search experience, it can empower users to find the information they need while reducing the risk of data breaches. The flexible architecture also allows for easy integration with new data sources and security technologies, ensuring that the system remains adaptable to changing enterprise needs.","business_analysis":"The Flexible Authentication Framework patent presents a significant business opportunity in the enterprise security and data management market. The increasing complexity of data environments and the growing threat of data breaches have created a demand for more flexible and secure access control solutions.\n\nThe market opportunity for this technology is substantial. Enterprises across various industries are grappling with the challenges of managing and securing their data. Traditional access control systems are often inflexible and difficult to maintain, leading to data silos and security vulnerabilities. This technology offers a compelling alternative by providing a unified and secure search experience that adapts to changing user roles and security contexts.\n\nThe competitive advantages of this innovation include its flexibility, scalability, and ease of integration. The flexible architecture allows for easy integration with new data sources and security technologies. The scalability of the system ensures that it can handle large volumes of data and user queries. The ease of integration reduces the cost and complexity of deployment.\n\nThe revenue potential for this technology is significant. Potential business models include licensing the technology to enterprises, offering it as a managed service, or integrating it into existing security products. The strategic positioning of this technology is strong, as it addresses a critical need in the enterprise security market.\n\nROI projections for this technology are highly favorable. By reducing the risk of data breaches and improving user productivity, it can generate significant cost savings for enterprises. The increased efficiency of data access can also lead to improved decision-making and better business outcomes.\n\nHowever, there are also some risks associated with this technology. The market is competitive, and there are other access control solutions available. The adoption of this technology may require significant changes to existing data governance policies and security infrastructure. It is crucial to address these risks through effective marketing, sales, and customer support strategies.","faqs":null,"topics":["enterprise search","data security","access control","authentication","dynamic queries","flexible","framework"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Flexible Authentication Framework - Secure Enterprise Search Patent","description":"Explore the Flexible Authentication Framework patent for secure enterprise search. Discover real-time access control, dynamic queries, and enhanced data security. Read the full analysis.","keywords":["enterprise search","data security","access control","authentication","dynamic queries","patent","patent US-9853962"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853962","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853962","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Flexible authentication framework\" (US-9853962). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853962","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853962","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853962","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T21:10:03.591Z"}