Client Key Sharding via Relay Cluster for Secure Message Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The leakage of client keys exposes service resources to significant security risks, as the client keys are often stored and managed by clients, making them vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a first client obtaining shard information of a client key distributed across N shard processing devices, using a relay cluster for secure communication and generating configuration messages based on message topics configured by each shard processing device to ensure secure distribution and processing of the client key.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the client key is stored and managed by the client, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security of the client key deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity of the client key
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the client key into N pieces of shard information and distributes them across N different shard processing devices. No single device holds the complete key, so even if one device is compromised, the entire key cannot be reconstructed. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational ease through automated distributed management while significantly improving security through physical and logical distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a relay cluster as an intermediary component that facilitates secure communication between the first client and the N shard processing devices. The relay cluster manages the distribution of configuration messages containing shard information without exposing the complete client key, thereby enabling ease of operation through centralized coordination while maintaining security through indirect, encrypted communication channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the client key is distributed across N shard processing devices, then the security of the client key is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of the client keyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay cluster serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication intermediary, manages configuration message distribution, coordinates shard information delivery, and enables the first client to interact with multiple shard processing devices. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional component, the system achieves improved security through distribution while avoiding proportional increases in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The shard processing devices autonomously process their respective shard information and independently generate configuration messages when needed. Each device manages its own shard data without requiring constant external coordination, reducing the management overhead and complexity that would otherwise accompany distributed key management. The devices self-organize around the relay cluster, which simplifies the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If N configuration messages are transmitted to the relay cluster, then the secure distribution of shard information is ensured, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure distribution of shard informationVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The relay cluster pre-configures message topics and establishes communication channels with all N shard processing devices before actual shard information needs to be distributed. Configuration messages are prepared in advance with proper encryption and routing information, so when shard information needs to be transmitted, the relay cluster can immediately forward the pre-prepared messages without delay. This preliminary setup ensures secure distribution while minimizing transmission time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4672666A1Message processing method, apparatus, product, device and medium
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP4672666A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4672666A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4672666A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed in the present application are a message processing method, an apparatus, a product, a device and a medium. The method can be applied to a first client, and comprises : acquiring N pieces of sharding information of a client key of a second client, each piece of the sharding information being processed by a corresponding sharding processing device; acquiring a message topic configured at a relay cluster for each sharding processing device, the relay cluster being used for performing an open-source relay service operation between a first client and any sharding processing device that has a relay connection relationship with same; according to the sharding information corresponding to each sharding processing device and the message topic configured for each sharding processing device, generating a configuration message of each sharding processing device; and sending N generated configuration messages to the relay cluster, so as to enable each sharding processing device to acquire a respective configuration message from the relay cluster and process the corresponding sharding information. The present application can improve the reliability and safety for processing private keys of clients.