Cloud Key Delivery Microservices for White-Box Media Encryption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content distribution systems (CDS) face challenges in flexibility and virtualization, particularly when migrating to cloud environments, due to rigid architectures and the coupling of key delivery mechanisms with content encryption, making it difficult to secure secret data and maintain privacy.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based architecture with micro-services that separate CA key control messages from content encryption, using a key server microservice to generate encoded control words and a software encryption microservice for white-box encryption, enabling secure and flexible media content delivery in cloud environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If content protection systems use hardware accelerated services of HSM to maintain security, then security is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of virtualization increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hardware security modules (HSM) with software-based security implementations. The conditional access system uses software encryption microservices and white-box cryptography techniques instead of hardware-accelerated security services, eliminating the need for specialized hardware while maintaining security requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates virtualized copies of security functions through software microservices. Instead of relying on physical HSM devices, the system implements security functionality as software that can be replicated and distributed across cloud infrastructure, enabling virtualization while preserving security capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If conditional access applications are deployed in cloud to increase flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but security of secret data and code deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidsecurity of secret data
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conditional access system into separate microservices, including key server microservices and software encryption microservices. This segmentation allows different security functions to be independently deployed and managed in cloud environments, improving flexibility while maintaining security through distributed architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces white-box cryptography as an intermediary layer between secret data and processing operations. This technique embeds security protections directly into the software code, creating a mediator that protects secrets during runtime operations in cloud environments without requiring isolated hardware environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If key delivery messages are tightly coupled with content encryption to maintain security, then security is improved, but adaptability and ease of distribution deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidease of distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates key delivery messages from content encryption operations by implementing them as distinct microservices. The key server microservice handles key management and delivery, while software encryption microservices perform content encryption, allowing independent deployment and distribution of each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal microservice components that can perform multiple functions. The software encryption microservice can handle both key processing and content encryption, while the key server microservice can serve multiple clients and content types, improving distribution flexibility while maintaining security through standardized interfaces.

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

Data Source

PatentUS12621131B2System and method for securely delivering keys and encrypting content in cloud computing environments
Publication Date: 2026.05.05 ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
  • US12621131B2 patent drawing
  • US12621131B2 patent drawing
  • US12621131B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A cloud-based system and method for encrypting media content is disclosed. The system comprises a key server microservice, for receiving control word requests and for generating encoded control words and a software encryption microservice, communicatively coupled to the key server microservices, the encryption microservice for receiving the media content, for generating the control word requests, for receiving the encoded control words, and for white-box encrypting the media content according to the generated encoded control words.