{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853979","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853979","title":"Immediate policy effectiveness in eventually consistent systems","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2013-03-11T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L"],"num_claims":28,"abstract":"Policy changes are propagated to access control devices of a distributed system. The policy changes are given immediate effect without having to wait for the changes to propagate through the system. A token encodes the policy change and can be provided in connection with access requests. Before an access control device has received a propagated policy change, the access control device can evaluate a token provided in connection with a request to determine, consistent with the policy change, whether to fulfill the request."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems patent addresses the challenge of ensuring that policy changes are immediately effective in distributed systems. In essence, this innovation allows for real-time access control updates across various devices without waiting for system-wide synchronization. The problem being solved is the latency inherent in propagating policy changes across distributed systems, which can leave systems vulnerable to unauthorized access during the propagation period. This is achieved through the use of tokens that encode policy changes. Before an access control device has received a propagated policy change, it can evaluate a token provided in connection with a request to determine, consistent with the policy change, whether to fulfill the request.\n\nThe key technical approach involves encoding policy changes into tokens that are then evaluated by access control devices. This allows the devices to make informed decisions about access requests even before receiving the propagated policy updates. This method significantly reduces the window of vulnerability and enhances the overall security posture of the system.\n\nThe business value of this technology lies in its ability to improve security, reduce compliance risks, and enhance operational efficiency. By ensuring immediate policy effectiveness, organizations can minimize the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. The technology can be applied in various industries, including cloud computing, finance, and healthcare, where data security and compliance are paramount.\n\nThe market opportunity for Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems is substantial, given the increasing adoption of distributed systems and the growing need for robust access control mechanisms. The ability to provide immediate policy enforcement positions this technology as a valuable asset for organizations seeking to enhance their security posture and comply with regulatory requirements.","layman_explanation":"The Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems patent addresses a critical challenge in modern computing: ensuring that security policies are enforced immediately across all parts of a distributed system. Think of it like this: imagine a large company with offices around the world. When a new security policy is implemented (e.g., requiring stronger passwords), it takes time for that policy to be communicated and enforced at every office. During this time, the company is vulnerable to security breaches because not all systems are up-to-date.\n\nThis patent solves this problem by using a 'token' system. Instead of waiting for the policy change to be fully communicated to every system, a small piece of information (the token) is created that represents the new policy. When someone tries to access a system, that system checks the token to see if the access is allowed under the new policy. This happens instantly, regardless of whether the system has received the official policy update.\n\nThe innovation matters because it significantly reduces the window of vulnerability between when a policy change is made and when it is fully enforced. This can save companies from data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. It also allows for more agile and responsive security management.\n\nLooking ahead, this technology could be applied to a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, and cloud computing. As companies increasingly rely on distributed systems, the need for immediate policy enforcement will only grow. This patent provides a foundation for future innovations in security and access control. It could lead to new business models, such as subscription-based security services that guarantee immediate policy enforcement.","technical_analysis":"The Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems patent introduces a novel approach to managing access control in distributed environments. The core of this technology revolves around the concept of using tokens to represent policy changes and enabling access control devices to evaluate these tokens before receiving propagated policy updates. This technical analysis delves into the architectural and implementation details of this system.\n\nThe system architecture typically consists of a central policy management server responsible for generating and distributing policy tokens. These tokens contain information about the policy change, such as the affected user or group, the resource being accessed, and the allowed or denied action. The access control devices, which can include firewalls, routers, and application servers, are configured to evaluate these tokens before granting access.\n\nThe implementation of this technology requires careful consideration of several factors. The token format must be designed to be compact and efficient to minimize the overhead of token evaluation. The token distribution mechanism must be reliable and secure to prevent unauthorized access. The access control devices must be able to evaluate the tokens quickly and accurately to avoid performance bottlenecks.\n\nFrom an algorithmic perspective, the token evaluation process involves verifying the authenticity and integrity of the token, extracting the policy information from the token, and applying the policy to the access request. This process must be performed efficiently to minimize the impact on system performance. The patent may provide details on specific algorithms or data structures used to optimize this process.\n\nIntegration patterns for this technology typically involve modifying existing access control devices to support token evaluation. This may require changes to the device's firmware or software. Alternatively, the technology can be implemented as a separate layer that sits in front of the access control devices, intercepting access requests and evaluating the tokens before forwarding the requests to the devices.\n\nThe performance characteristics of this technology depend on several factors, including the size and complexity of the policy tokens, the speed of the token evaluation process, and the network latency between the policy management server and the access control devices. It is important to carefully analyze these factors to ensure that the technology meets the performance requirements of the system.\n\nCode-level implications of this technology involve implementing the token evaluation logic in the access control devices. This may require writing new code or modifying existing code. The code must be carefully designed and tested to ensure that it is secure, efficient, and reliable.","business_analysis":"The Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems patent presents a significant business opportunity in the realm of distributed systems security. The core value proposition of this technology is its ability to ensure that policy changes are immediately effective across distributed systems, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. This business analysis examines the market opportunity, competitive advantages, revenue potential, and strategic positioning of this technology.\n\nThe market opportunity for Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems is substantial, driven by the increasing adoption of distributed systems and the growing need for robust access control mechanisms. As more organizations migrate their applications and data to the cloud, the need for secure and efficient access control becomes even more critical. The size of the access control market is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.\n\nThe competitive advantages of this technology stem from its ability to provide immediate policy effectiveness. Traditional access control systems often suffer from latency issues, where policy changes take time to propagate across the system. This creates a window of vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors. This patent eliminates this latency by using tokens to encode policy changes and allowing access control devices to evaluate these tokens before receiving propagated policy updates.\n\nThe revenue potential of this technology is significant. The technology can be monetized through various business models, such as licensing, subscription, and professional services. Licensing involves granting organizations the right to use the technology in their own systems. Subscription involves providing access to the technology as a cloud-based service. Professional services involve providing consulting, implementation, and support services.\n\nFrom a strategic positioning perspective, this technology can be positioned as a key component of a comprehensive security solution for distributed systems. It can be integrated with other security technologies, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data loss prevention systems, to provide a holistic approach to security.","faqs":null,"topics":["access control","distributed systems security","policy enforcement","security tokens","cloud security","immediate","policy","effectiveness"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems - Patent US-9853979","description":"Discover how the Immediate Policy Effectiveness in Eventually Consistent Systems patent ensures real-time security updates in distributed systems. Full patent analysis, claims, and technical details.","keywords":["access control","distributed systems security","policy enforcement","security tokens","cloud security","patent","patent US-9853979"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853979","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-9853979","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Immediate policy effectiveness in eventually consistent systems\" (US-9853979). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853979","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853979","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853979","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T19:41:35.739Z"}