Abstract:
A token or other storage device uses Internet identities to set file access attribute rights. Subsequently, requests to access a file can be controlled by confirming the Internet identity of the requestor by either validating the request with a known public key or retrieving the public key from an Internet identity provider. Files may be stored encrypted and may be re-encrypted with the public key associated with Internet identity making the request.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application No. 13/682,346, filed on Nov. 20, 2012, which is a divisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/971,215, filed on Jan. 9, 2008. The content of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Access control has been used for decades to create a list of users that can access a file or service, and to what extent a user can interact with that file or service. Some users may be granted read-only access to a file, while others have read and edit rights. Still other users may have the ability to read, edit, and delete a file. 
         [0003]    Access control lists are maintained by an operating system. In some cases, transferring a file from one computer to another may transfer the access control list associated with a file, but if the receiving computer does not have corresponding accounts, or does not enforce access control, the file may either be permanently locked and inaccessible, or unlocked and fully available to any account holder. 
         [0004]    When a file is transferred to another type of computer system, for example, from a PC to a UNIX machine, the access control list may be meaningless. 
         [0005]    The widespread use of portable media, from early one megabyte floppy disks to multiple gigabyte USB drives, has exacerbated this problem. Entire data sets may be moved quickly and easily, but the controls associated with access to those data sets can become both troublesome and irritating on one hand, and ineffective on the other. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A portable storage device enforces access control, not based on the operating system and local accounts of a host computer, but rather uses Internet-based identities for uniform enforcement of access privileges. The processor-type and operating system of a host computer does not affect access control because the portable storage device, or storage token, depends on a trusted service to provide identity confirmation. 
         [0007]    When a requesting entity seeks access to protected data, the request may incorporate a trusted identity, such as an authenticated cookie, that is evaluated locally at the storage token for use in determining whether access should be granted. 
         [0008]    The trusted identity may be established when the requesting entity logs in to a trusted site, provides its credentials and is then provided with a time-limited voucher, such as the authenticated cookie. The authenticated cookie can then be used during its duration for access. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a computer and associated elements illustrating a platform supporting trusted Internet identities; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a storage token supporting trusted Internet identities; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a topology of a system supporting trusted Internet identities; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a method of performing file access control using a trusted Internet identity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
         [0014]    It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______ ’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph. 
         [0015]    Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principles are best implemented with or in software programs or instructions and integrated circuits (ICs) such as application specific ICs. It is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. Therefore, in the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring the principles and concepts in accordance to the present invention, further discussion of such software and ICs, if any, will be limited to the essentials with respect to the principles and concepts of the preferred embodiments. 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system for implementing the claimed method and apparatus includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer  110 . Components shown in dashed outline are not technically part of the computer  110 , but are used to illustrate the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . Components of computer  110  may include, but are not limited to, a processor  120 , a system memory  130 , a memory/graphics interface  121 , also known as a Northbridge chip, and an I/O interface  122 , also known as a Southbridge chip. The system memory  130  and a graphics processor  190  may be coupled to the memory/graphics interface  121 . A monitor  191  or other graphic output device may be coupled to the graphics processor  190 . 
         [0017]    A series of system busses may couple various system components including a high speed system bus  123  between the processor  120 , the memory/graphics interface  121  and the I/O interface  122 , a front-side bus  124  between the memory/graphics interface  121  and the system memory  130 , and an advanced graphics processing (AGP) bus  125  between the memory/graphics interface  121  and the graphics processor  190 . The system bus  123  may be any of several types of bus structures including, by way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus and Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus. As system architectures evolve, other bus architectures and chip sets may be used but often generally follow this pattern. For example, companies such as Intel and AMD support the Intel Hub Architecture (IHA) and the Hypertransport™ architecture, respectively. 
         [0018]    The computer  110  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer  110  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by computer  110 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media. 
         [0019]    The system memory  130  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  131  and random access memory (RAM)  132 . The system ROM  131  may contain permanent system data  143 , such as identifying and manufacturing information. In some embodiments, a basic input/output system (BIOS) may also be stored in system ROM  131 . RAM  132  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processor  120 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . 
         [0020]    The I/O interface  122  may couple the system bus  123  with a number of other busses  126 ,  127  and  128  that couple a variety of internal and external devices to the computer  110 . A serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus  126  may connect to a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory  133  containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  110 , such as during start-up. 
         [0021]    A super input/output chip  160  may be used to connect to a number of ‘legacy’ peripherals, such as floppy disk  152 , keyboard/mouse  162 , and printer  196 , as examples. The super I/O chip  160  may be connected to the I/O interface  122  with a low pin count (LPC) bus, in some embodiments. Various embodiments of the super I/O chip  160  are widely available in the commercial marketplace. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, bus  128  may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or a variation thereof, may be used to connect higher speed peripherals to the I/O interface  122 . A PCI bus may also be known as a Mezzanine bus. Variations of the PCI bus include the Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express (PCI-E) and the Peripheral Component Interconnect—Extended (PCI-X) busses, the former having a serial interface and the latter being a backward compatible parallel interface. In other embodiments, bus  128  may be an advanced technology attachment (ATA) bus, in the form of a serial ATA bus (SATA) or parallel ATA (PATA). 
         [0023]    The computer  110  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 1  illustrates a hard disk drive  140  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media. Removable media, such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory  153  or CD/DVD drive  156  may be connected to the PCI bus  128  directly or through an interface  150 . Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. 
         [0024]    The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  110 . In  FIG. 1 , for example, hard disk drive  140  is illustrated as storing operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . Operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  20  through input devices such as a mouse/keyboard  162  or other input device combination. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processor  120  through one of the I/O interface busses, such as the SPI  126 , the LPC  127 , or the PCI  128 , but other busses may be used. In some embodiments, other devices may be coupled to parallel ports, infrared interfaces, game ports, and the like (not depicted), via the super I/O chip  160 . 
         [0025]    The computer  110  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  180  via a network interface controller (NIC)  170 . The remote computer  180  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  110 . The logical connection between the NIC  170  and the remote computer  180  depicted in  FIG. 1  may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or both, but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet. The remote computer  180  may also represent a web server supporting interactive sessions with the computer  110 . 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the network interface may use a modem (not depicted) when a broadband connection is not available or is not used. It will be appreciated that the network connection shown is exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used. 
         [0027]    A storage token  154  may be removably attached to the computer  110 . The storage token  154  may be a smart card or other device capable of cryptographic one-way or mutual authentication between itself and one or more processes on the computer  110  or remote computer  180 . A token API  148  may be available for application programs  145  or for a remote computer  180  connected via network  170  to access the storage token  154 . The storage token may have a user interface (not depicted) for display of information and input of data. The use of the storage token  154  is discussed in more detail below. 
         [0028]    Note that an Internet identity may not be restricted to Internet accessible providers. For example, a corporation could use Internet identities in the sense of this description, even though a company Intranet or local area network server could host the identity management function. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a token  200  used to support trusted Internet identities. The token  200  may include a processor  202 , a general memory  206 , a cryptographic processor  208 , and a first bus  209  connecting these components. A secure memory  204  may be accessed via the cryptographic processor  208  and may include storage locations for keys  214  and program code  216 . The program code may include modules for storage management  218 , communication  220 , request management  222 , and user interface  224 . The cryptographic processor  208  may be used to accelerate cryptographic processes such as encryption and signing. 
         [0030]    The general memory  206  may include memory locations generally available to users and may be used to store a plurality of files, such as file x  226 , and file y  228 . These files may be data, programs, media, etc. The general memory  206  may also include publicly available, non-secure operations-oriented data, such as public keys  230 . 
         [0031]    A bus interface  210  may connect to a second bus  212 . The second bus  212  may allow removable coupling to a host, such as a computer  110 , shown in  FIG. 1 . While the host may be a computer, the host may also be a cellular telephone, smart phone, personal digital assistant, media player, a networked terminal device, a server, etc. The second bus  212  may be a USB interface, a  1394 /firewire interface, or any of several other existing or emerging data connections. In some embodiments, the token  200  may be removably attached to a host. However, in other embodiments, the token  200  may be embedded in a device, such as a portable device. In still other embodiments, the token  200  may be secured in a device, such as a computer or server, so that attempted removal may cause damage to the token  200 , the host device, or both. 
         [0032]    In operation, after coupling to a host, the processor  202  may access the user interface module  224  to present a user with options for storing and securing data, such as file x  226  or file y  228 . To add protection to an existing file, a user may select an Internet identity from an address book containing identities. The address book may be associated with a mail program, an instant messaging program, etc. The Internet identity of the user may be in the form of an alias, such as a screen name, a mail address, or another name. Once a user has been identified, the file may be marked with metadata for access control. For example, file x  226  may be designated to allow read access to user A and user C. File y  228  may be designated to allow read access to user A and user B. Unlike conventional access control, the identification of users A, B, and C may not be tied to an operating system or local network login identity. The user identity may be associated with the user&#39;s Internet identity, as assigned by a third party over which local account managers/network managers have no control. 
         [0033]    When access to a file is requested, the access rights may be checked and the request&#39;s validity may be verified using a known public key or by analyzing an associated request packet. The request packet may include an Internet identity in the form of a self-signed certificate or a time-limited cookie containing the Internet identity, a public key for the Internet identity, and information identifying the requested file. The identifying information may be or include a file name, file id (such as a hash of some or all of the contents), metadata (e.g. author, date saved, title), etc. 
         [0034]    If the Internet identity is verified, and that identity is designed as having rights to the requested file, the access may be granted. Access may include the ability to read the file, write/update the file, or delete the file. Additional rights may allow the request to change the access rights to the file. In other words, the token  200  may enforce controls using Internet identities similar in content and scope to those used to control a conventional, local file system, for example, in a UNIX environment. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates a topology  300  and sample data flows corresponding to the use of Internet identities for access control. A network  302  connects various elements of the topology  300 . The network  302  may be the Internet. The network  302  may also be an enterprise network, a corporate intranet, etc. The network may support data communication with an Internet identity provider  304 . The term Internet is used here generically and for ease of illustration. The Internet identity provider  304  may, in practice, not have connectivity to the world-wide network known collectively as the Internet. The network may support a user A  306  and a user B  308 . The users  306 ,  308  may be computers, smart phones, handheld appliances, etc. 
         [0036]    A host computer  310  may also be coupled to the network  302  and be accessible to the identity provider  304  and users  306 ,  308 . A token  312 , similar to the token  200  of  FIG. 2 , may have files x  314  and y  316 . The file x  314  may have access rights designated to user A  306  and user C (not depicted). The file y  316  may have access rights designated to user A  306  and user B  308 . 
         [0037]    User A  306  may send a request  318  to the token  312  requesting access to file x  314 . The token  312  may send a confirmation request  320  to the Internet identity provider  304 . The Internet identity provider  304  may prepare a confirmation of identity using criteria provided in the original request  318 . For example, a global cookie sent in the original request  318  may include encrypted authentication information that is forwarded to the Internet identity provider  304 . 
         [0038]    The Internet identity provider  304  may verify the encrypted authentication information and send a reply  322  to the token  312 . The reply  322  may include a local cookie with an expiration date and a signed confirmation of identity. If the signed confirmation is verified by the token and the identity matches that of the requestor (i.e. user A  306 ), instructions  324  may be executed that make file x  314  available  326  to the requestor. 
         [0039]    To improve security, several measures may be taken. For example, files may be encrypted with a local key while stored. Therefore, the making the file available to the requestor may involve decrypting the file locally before making the file available. In other embodiments, instead of or in addition to local encryption, files may be encrypted with the requestor&#39;s public key when being made available. In this way, only the requestor can decrypt the file using its corresponding private key. 
         [0040]    Illustrating an alternate flow, user B  308  issues a request  328  to the Internet identity provider  304 . The request  328  may include a login identification and password sequence so the Internet identity provider  304  can verify the identity of user B  308 . Using file identification information in the request  328 , the Internet identity provider  304  may directly send a request  330  to the token  312 . The request  330  may be sent via an instant message network, text messaging service, email, etc., and may also include verification data along with file identification information. 
         [0041]    After the token  312  confirms the verification data and also confirms that the requesting party has rights to the requested file, instructions  332  may be issued to make the file available  334  to user B  308 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a method  400  of securing data using an Internet identity. At block  402 , a management utility, such as user interface  224  of  FIG. 2 , may be installed and executed on a host computer, such as computer  110  of  FIG. 1 . The management utility  224  may support assignment of file access rights to a file, such as file x  314 . The file  314  may include simple data, but may also be an executable program, media, security information, etc. In one embodiment, the management utility  224  may reside on a file system (for example, secure memory  204 ) that also contains the file  314  receiving the rights assignments, even though the management utility  224  may be executed on the host computer  110 . 
         [0043]    At block  404 , file access rights may be assigned to the file  314  for an Internet identity, for example, Internet entity user A  306 . The privileges associated with making the access rights assignment may involve first establishing those privileges by asserting a second Internet identity, e.g. user B  308 . Both the first and second Internet identities  306   308  may be identities that are independent of an operating system identity associated with the host computer  110 . That is, status or existence of a local account on the host computer  110  may not be considered when determining whether to allow assignment of access rights to the file  314 . Optionally, the file  314  may be encrypted with a local key while stored. 
         [0044]    At block  406 , a request to access the file  314  may be received. The request may include an Internet identity of a requestor (e.g. user A  306 ) and file identification information. Alternatively, the request may include a cookie or other authenticated packet including the Internet identity, a public key, and a cookie expiration date. 
         [0045]    At block  408 , after receiving the request, a token  200 , or other request processor, may access an Internet identity provider  304  over a network connection  302 . The Internet identity provider  304  may allow retrieval of a public key associated with the Internet identity of the requestor. 
         [0046]    At block  410 , the token  200  may confirm the Internet identity using the public key to authenticate data in the request. That is, the token  200  may use the public key associated with the Internet identity to decrypt or verify the signature of a portion of the request signed with the private key associated with the Internet identity. 
         [0047]    At block  412 , the token  200  may determine if the requesting Internet identity has access rights to the file identified in the request, e.g. file  314 . 
         [0048]    At block  414 , the token  200  may the confirm that requestor has established its Internet identity and has access rights to the file  314 . If so, the ‘yes’ branch may be taken to block  416  and access may be allowed. If the file  314  was encrypted for storage at block  404 , the file  314  may be decrypted. At block  418 , if required by the access rights for the file  314  or by policy, the file  314  may be encrypted with the private key of associated with the Internet identity  306 . This will help ensure privacy of the file  314 . 
         [0049]    If, at block  414 , either the Internet identity of the requestor cannot be confirmed, or the requestor does not have rights to the file  314 , the ‘no’ branch may be followed to block  420  and access to the file  314  may be denied. It may be a matter of policy whether to respond to a requestor whose request is denied, and if allowed, what error message may be returned. 
         [0050]    The use of an Internet identity to set and confirm file access rights allows uniform file access policies to be established across different operating systems and networks. Because file access is not a function of local policy or rules. Even files on a portable token can be uniformly protected since encrypted contents can only be accessed by predetermined Internet identities. This remains true even if the token is lost or stolen. 
         [0051]    The use of cookies with Internet identity information and expiration information allows access to confirmed entities even if network connections are limited or not available. 
         [0052]    Although the foregoing text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possibly embodiment of the invention because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention. 
         [0053]    Thus, many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the methods and apparatus described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.