QUEUE MANAGEMENT AND LOAD SHEDDING FOR COMPLEX AUTHENTICATION SCHEMES

• US 20150381598A1
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Koved, Lawrence, Zhang, Bo
• Granted Patent: US 10,652,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

Using a stochastic queuing model to determine adjustments to be made to authentication system operation. In light of operational parameter values and the stochastic queuing model, a determination is made that adjusting the value of a particular parameter for handling authentication requests is likely to improve some aspect of system performance, and the request handling parameter is adjusted accordingly.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a stochastic queuing model of a computerized authentication system, a set of preferences for handling authentication requests, and a set of operational parameter values;

determining, based at least in part on the model and the operational values, that adjusting a value of a first request handling parameter will improve a probable degree to which the authentication system will meet the set of preferences; and

responsive to the determination that adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter will improve the probable degree to which the authentication system will meet the set of preferences, adjusting the first request handling parameter of the computerized authentication system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining comprises generating the stochastic queuing model of the computerized authentication system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of preferences includes information related to at least one of the following:

authentication method confidence, authentication method usability, or authentication method cost.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter comprises adjusting at least one of:

request service type, request service timing, or request processing resources.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the first request handling parameter relates to request service type; and

the adjustment of the first request handling parameter includes replacing a first authentication method with a second authentication method.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the set of preferences includes information related to authentication method usability; and

the authentication method usability information includes a maximum acceptable authentication request service delay.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the stochastic queuing model includes stochastically modeling authentication request arrival rates for multiple classes of authentication requests.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the stochastic queuing model includes stochastically modeling service request delays for multiple authentication service types.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of operational parameter values relate to at least one of system context and user context.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of operational parameter values includes value(s) for at least one of:

user historical access patterns, authentication system load, network delays, user device location, authentication queue processing history, estimated arrival rates of authentication requests, and risk associated with making an erroneous authentication decision.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter includes applying load shedding to a first authentication request.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the load shedding includes presenting a passive authentication challenge for the first authentication request to a point in time that precedes the first authentication request.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the load shedding includes replacing a first set of authentication challenges with a second set of authentication challenges; and

the first set of authentication challenges contains at least one challenge not in the second set of authentication challenges.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon:

first instructions executable by a device to cause the device to obtain a stochastic queuing model of a computerized authentication system, a set of preferences for handling authentication requests, and a set of operational parameter values;

second instructions executable by a device to cause the device to determine, based at least in part on the model and the operational values, that adjusting a value of a first request handling parameter will improve a probable degree to which the authentication system will meet the set of preferences; and

third instructions executable by a device to cause the device to adjust, responsive to the determination that adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter will improve the probable degree to which the authentication system will meet the set of preferences, the first request handling parameter of the computerized authentication system.

15. The product of claim 14 wherein the stochastic queuing model includes stochastically modeling authentication request arrival rates for multiple classes of authentication requests and service request delays for multiple authentication service types.

16. The product of claim 14 wherein adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter includes applying load shedding to a first authentication request.

17. A computer system comprising:

a processor(s) set; and

a computer readable storage medium;

wherein;

the processor set is structured, located, connected and/or programmed to execute instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium; and

the instructions include;

first instructions executable by the processor set to cause the system to obtain a stochastic queuing model of a computerized authentication system, a set of preferences for handling authentication requests, and a set of operational parameter values;

second instructions executable by the processor set to cause the system to determine, based at least in part on the model and the operational values, that adjusting a value of a first request handling parameter will improve a probable degree to which the authentication system will meet the set of preferences; and

third instructions executable by the processor set to cause the system to adjust, responsive to the determination that adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter will improve the probable degree to which the authentication system will meet the set of preferences, the first request handling parameter of the computerized authentication system.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein obtaining the stochastic queuing model comprises generating the stochastic queuing model.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter comprises adjusting at least one of:

request service type, request service timing, or request processing resources.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein adjusting the value of the first request handling parameter includes applying load shedding to a first authentication request.