Aerosol-Generating Device Encryption from Manufacturing Secrets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating devices face challenges in protecting usage data confidentiality and integrity due to complex cryptographic algorithms unsuitable for embedded systems, which can lead to privacy breaches and data corruption.
Innovation Solution
Each aerosol-generating device is equipped with a unique identifier and a secret value to derive encryption and authentication keys, allowing secure data encryption and transmission without complex protocols, using symmetric-key algorithms like AES and hash-based key derivation functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex cryptographic algorithms are used to protect usage data, then data security is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cryptographic system is segmented into distinct functional components: key generation module, encryption module, authentication module, and key storage module. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security. The encryption key and authentication key are derived separately from the secret value, enabling modular implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The encryption key and authentication key are derived in advance from the secret value using hash-based key derivation functions. This preliminary key derivation eliminates the need for complex real-time key exchange protocols during data transmission. The keys are prepared beforehand and stored securely, simplifying the encryption and authentication processes.
2Reliability
If secure key exchange protocols are implemented between device and server, then data confidentiality is improved, but communication complexity and transmission time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The secret value is established and stored in both the device and server databases during the manufacturing or initial setup phase. This preliminary establishment of the secret value eliminates the need for complex key exchange protocols during subsequent communications. The device uses the stored secret value to derive encryption keys locally, enabling immediate secure communication without time-consuming key negotiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device autonomously derives its encryption key and authentication key from its stored secret value without requiring interaction with the server for key exchange. This self-service capability eliminates communication overhead for key management, reducing both complexity and transmission time while maintaining strong confidentiality.
3Reliability
If encryption keys are derived from secret values stored in devices, then data protection is improved, but key management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secret value is extracted and stored in a dedicated secure storage module within the device, separate from other data and operational components. This extraction and isolation of the secret value simplifies key management by providing a single, protected source for key derivation. The secure storage module handles all key generation operations, reducing the complexity burden on the rest of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The secret value serves multiple functions: it is used to derive both the encryption key for data confidentiality and the authentication key for data integrity verification. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate key management operations needed, simplifying overall key management while maintaining robust data protection through a single secret value.
4Reliability
If multiple encryption keys are used for different devices, then data security is improved, but system complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Only the essential secret value is extracted and stored in the device's secure storage module, while the derived encryption keys are generated on-demand from this secret value. This approach eliminates the need to store multiple large key sets in the device, reducing storage requirements. The server stores the secret value in its database, enabling it to derive the appropriate encryption key for each device when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The secret value is pre-established and stored in both the device and server during manufacturing or initial setup. This preliminary storage of the compact secret value (rather than multiple full encryption keys) significantly reduces storage requirements in both the device and server. The secret value acts as a compact seed from which all necessary encryption keys can be derived when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a storage component having stored therein a secret value generated during a manufacturing stage of the device and a unique identification value; a communication component; and a controller configured to: create usage data indicative of usage of the device, derive an encryption key from at least the stored secret value, encrypt the created usage data with the derived encryption key, store the encrypted usage data in the storage component, and transmit the encrypted usage data and the unique identification value via the communication component to an external device, the unique identification value identifying the secret value used for deriving the encryption key. An aerosol-generating system including the aerosol-generating device, a database, and a server is also provided. A method for operating the aerosol-generating device is also provided. A method for transmitting usage data from the aerosol-generating device to a host is also provided.