Methods, Systems and Computer Program Products for Secure Remote Hardware Access Through Cross-Device Authentication

A system for enabling secure remote hardware access through cross-device authentication, comprising a cloud services server configured for:

• establishing network communication with a client device located remotely from the cloud services server;
• receiving a client device authentication token transmitted from the client device, wherein the client device authentication token is retrieved from a memory within or coupled with the client device;
• comparing the received client device authentication token with authentication token data stored in a database of pre-authorized authentication tokens corresponding to one or more client devices or users that are pre-authorized for remote access to a hardware device that is protected by an access control lock, wherein the hardware device is distinct from the client device;
• responsive to a positive match between the received client device authentication token and a pre-authorized authentication token:
• unlocking the access control lock on the hardware device;
• and
• providing to the client device over the communication network, one or more cloud based software services implemented by the hardware device.

A computer program product for enabling secure remote hardware access through cross-device authentication, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising instructions for implementing the steps of:

• establishing network communication between a client device and a remotely located cloud services server over a communication network;
• receiving at the remotely located cloud services server, a client device authentication token transmitted from the client device, wherein the client device authentication token is retrieved from a memory within or coupled with the client device;
• comparing the received client device authentication token with authentication token data stored in a database of pre-authorized authentication tokens corresponding to one or more client devices or users that are pre-authorized for remote access to a hardware device that is protected by an access control lock, wherein the hardware device is distinct from the client device;
• and
• responsive to a positive match between the received client device authentication token and a pre-authorized authentication token:
• unlocking the access control lock on the hardware device;
• and
• providing to the client device over the communication network, one or more cloud based software services implemented by the hardware device.