CCN Manifest Synchronization via Cryptographic Hash Chains

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Content-Centric Network (CCN) architectures face challenges in securely synchronizing collections of data using exact match names, as malicious nodes can send adverse interest packets, leading to inefficiencies and security concerns during data dissemination.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating cryptographic hashes within the CCN namespace for interest packets, specifically using hash chains and secure catalogs to authenticate and verify the integrity of data synchronization, ensuring that only trusted nodes can advertise and retrieve content objects, thereby enhancing security and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If exact name match is used for data synchronization in CCN, then synchronization precision is improved, but security vulnerability increases due to malicious advertisement packets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization precisionVSAvoidsecurity reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A cryptographic hash function is introduced as an intermediary between the content object and the advertisement packet. The hash value serves as a mediator that verifies the authenticity of content objects, preventing malicious advertisements while maintaining exact name match synchronization precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary hashing of content objects before they are advertised or synchronized. By pre-computing and storing hash values, the system can quickly verify the authenticity of content objects during synchronization, preventing security issues before they occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If cryptographic hash verification is implemented for all content objects, then security is improved, but computational overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential hash verification mechanism from complex cryptographic protocols. By implementing a simplified hash-based verification system rather than full cryptographic authentication, the patent achieves security improvement while minimizing the increase in system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of verifying the entire content object, the system uses a compact hash copy as the verification token. This hash copy contains the essential authentication information in a condensed form, reducing computational overhead and system complexity while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If hash values are included in every advertisement packet, then authentication capability is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial authentication by including hash values selectively in advertisement packets rather than in all data transmissions. This partial application of authentication provides sufficient security for the critical advertisement phase while minimizing bandwidth consumption during routine data synchronization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2930903B1Secure synchronization using matched network names
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP2930903B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2930903B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2930903B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One embodiment provides a system that facilitates facilitate secure synchronization of manifests using exact network names. During operation, the system generates an interest of advertisement comprising a name of a content object of the system. This name represents a collection of objects of the system and includes a first hash that is based on a key of the system. The first hash corresponds to a respective content object hash of one or more segments of a manifest representing the collection of objects. The system also determines a request for the content object based on the name in an interest of data from a remote node.