Selective ADC Encryption for IoT Edge Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices are vulnerable to attacks as digital data from analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) can be accessible to attackers before processing, making the data susceptible to exploitation, despite conventional runtime security methods.
Innovation Solution
A network-communicating IoT device with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and an encryption circuit that selectively encrypts data blocks based on user-configurable settings, such as count thresholds or randomness, to securely transmit only certain data blocks while minimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all digital data from ADC is encrypted, then security against attacks is improved, but resource usage (storage, power, processing) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data stream into individual data blocks and applies encryption selectively to specific blocks based on predefined criteria (e.g., every nth block, blocks containing sensitive information). This segmentation allows the system to encrypt only portions of the data rather than the entire stream, reducing computational overhead and power consumption while maintaining security for critical data segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different encryption treatments to different portions of the data stream based on their sensitivity or importance. Critical data blocks receive encryption protection while less sensitive blocks remain unencrypted. This approach optimizes the balance between security and resource consumption by concentrating encryption resources where they are most needed.
2Reliability
If all digital data from ADC is encrypted, then security against attacks is improved, but processing capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data stream into discrete blocks and applies encryption only to selected blocks based on configurable criteria. This segmentation reduces the total volume of data requiring encryption processing, thereby lowering the computational burden on IoT devices with limited processing capacity while still providing security for sensitive information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial encryption action by encrypting only a subset of data blocks rather than the entire stream. The encryption coverage can be adjusted through configuration parameters (e.g., encryption probability, interval-based selection), allowing the system to achieve adequate security with reduced processing requirements appropriate for resource-constrained IoT devices.
3Reliability
If all digital data from ADC is encrypted, then data protection is improved, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data stream and applies encryption only to specific segments based on predefined criteria. This selective approach reduces the total amount of encrypted data that needs to be stored, thereby decreasing storage requirements compared to encrypting the entire data stream, while still providing adequate protection for sensitive information segments.
4Use of energy by moving object
If selective encryption is implemented, then resource usage is reduced, but security coverage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating encryption protection on specific data blocks that meet certain criteria (e.g., contain sensitive information, occur at specific intervals). This approach ensures that security coverage is focused where most needed while reducing overall power consumption compared to universal encryption. The configurable selection criteria allow optimization of the security-to-power ratio based on application requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes by allowing configuration of encryption selection criteria (e.g., encryption probability, interval between encrypted blocks, sensitivity thresholds). These parameters can be adjusted to optimize the balance between security coverage and power consumption based on specific application needs, device capabilities, and threat models.
Data Source
AI summary
A network-communicating device with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an output and encryption and selectivity circuitry for encrypting selected output values from the ADC.