Body-Mounted Key Generator for Wireless Device Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secure communication systems for wireless devices face challenges in providing reliable and convenient user identification and authentication, especially in wireless communication networks, where encryption technologies have failed to deliver on their promise due to complexity and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A portable wireless personal communication system using differentiated components, including a body-mounted key generating component and a handheld device, employs time-variable secure key information and a certification authority to facilitate secure communication, ensuring unique user identification and authentication through a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) framework.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional encryption systems are used for secure communication in wireless devices, then security is provided, but user convenience and ease of operation deteriorate due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the security functionality into two separate components: a body-mounted key generating component that creates time-variable encryption keys, and a handheld device that stores and uses these keys. This segmentation allows the complex key generation process to be separated from the user interface, maintaining security while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The body-mounted component automatically generates time-variable encryption keys without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by continuously producing fresh keys based on time synchronization with the handheld device, eliminating the need for users to manually manage complex cryptographic materials.
2Ease of operation
If static encryption keys are used, then key management is simplified, but security deteriorates because keys can be compromised if devices are lost or stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static encryption keys to dynamic, time-variable keys that automatically change based on synchronization between the body-mounted and handheld components. This dynamic approach ensures that even if a device is compromised, the encryption keys become invalid after a short period, maintaining security while keeping key management simple through automatic generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The encryption keys change their temporal parameter continuously - each key is valid only for a specific time window determined by synchronization between components. This parameter change (from time-invariant to time-variant keys) resolves the contradiction by providing both simplified management through automation and enhanced security through temporal limitation.
3Reliability
If complex key negotiation protocols are implemented, then secure communication is established, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The key generation and synchronization process is performed preliminarily and automatically in the background before actual communication occurs. The body-mounted component continuously generates keys and synchronizes with the handheld device without requiring user action, so that secure communication is already established when needed, reducing perceived complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The body-mounted key generating component acts as an intermediary that handles all complex cryptographic operations. It mediates between the user's simple interaction with the handheld device and the complex requirements of secure key management, shielding users from complexity while ensuring reliable secure communication.
4Ease of operation
If encryption technologies are made more accessible and convenient, then ease of operation improves, but security reliability deteriorates due to implementation flaws
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating, managing, and rotating encryption keys without user intervention. This automation eliminates common implementation flaws related to manual key management while maintaining simplicity for users, resolving the contradiction between convenience and security reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic time-variable keys that automatically expire and refresh, providing security that adapts to potential compromises. This dynamic approach makes the system both convenient (automatic operation) and reliable (security that degrades gracefully over time), resolving the contradiction between accessibility and security.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, the invention provides a portable wireless personal communication system for cooperating with a remote certification authority to employ time variable secure key information pursuant to a predetermined encryption algorithm to facilitate convenient, secure encrypted communication. The disclosed system includes a wireless handset, such as PDA, smartphone, cellular telephone or the like, characterized by a relatively robust data processing capability and a body mounted key generating component which is adapted to be mounted on an individual's body, in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, for wirelessly broadcasting, within the immediate proximity of the individual, a secret or private key identifying signal corresponding to a time variable secure key information under the control of the certification authority. The key identifying signal is generated in a format that facilitates secure wireless communication with the individual in accordance with a predetermined encryption algorithm including a PKI encryption algorithm. The disclosed system may be used with a console for coordinating access to a variety of different communication system networks.