Abstract

Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications have historically been based on a single user per application architecture. Although this architecture is still popular to date, it does have several drawbacks. First of all the single user CAD architecture inhibits a concurrent engineering design process where several designers can work on the same model simultaneously. This limitation introduces time inefficiency especially when a project involves geographically dispersed designers. A solution to these drawbacks could be a transition from the traditional single user CAD architecture to a multiuser collaborative architecture. Advances in computer networking technologies, especially relating to the Internet, have provided the needed tools to make this transition a reality, thus making it possible for designers to simultaneously work on geometric models from one or more networked computers regardless of the location of the user. This new paradigm is expected to improve collaboration and greatly reduce product design times and consequently reduce cost and improve productivity. The multi-user architecture will, however, also require reliable security mechanisms to ensure its successful deployment in an enterprise environment where protection of intellectual property is of critical importance. This thesis proposes a framework to implement authentication, authorization and secure data communications in a multiuser collaborative CAD software system. This framework has been tested on an emerging multiuser collaborative CAD system called v-CAx being developed at Brigham Young University.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Technology

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2014-12-01

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd7495

Keywords

CAx, CAD, TLS, PKI, multiuser, authentication, authorization, access control, secure communications, active directory

Language

english

Technology Emphasis

Information Technology (IT)

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