Communication Control Device Group Management Tree
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Solution Overview
Problem
In group management systems like GDOI, updating group members requires updating key information across all members, leading to inefficient management, especially when a device belongs to multiple groups, and using media key blocks (MKBs) can result in large communication loads and unintentional group withdrawals due to divided MKBs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication control device with a receiving unit, generating unit, and output unit that uses a group management tree to generate set and range information, allowing communication devices to determine group affiliation without generating MKBs, and dividing MKBs into fragments to reduce network load while preventing unintentional group withdrawals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If group members are updated using traditional methods (updating key information across all members), then group management can be performed, but communication load increases and management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the group management process by introducing a group manager that handles key management operations separately from group members. The group manager maintains a membership list and generates media key blocks only when actual membership changes occur, rather than updating all members continuously. This segmentation reduces unnecessary communication load on members while maintaining efficient group management.
2Loss of energy
If media key blocks are divided to reduce communication load, then network efficiency improves, but unintentional group withdrawals may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a group manager as an intermediary between the key management system and group members. The group manager receives divided media key blocks, reconstructs them, validates membership using the membership list, and then distributes keys to appropriate members. This intermediary layer prevents unintentional withdrawals by ensuring that only valid members receive keys, while still benefiting from the reduced communication load of divided key blocks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a device belongs to multiple groups, then versatility improves, but management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables devices to self-manage their multi-group memberships through automated key reception and group joining operations. When a device is added to a group, the group manager automatically generates and distributes the appropriate media key blocks. The device simply receives these keys and joins groups autonomously without requiring complex manual configuration, thus supporting multi-group membership while keeping device complexity low.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a communication control device includes a receiving unit, a generating unit, and an output unit. The receiving unit receives input of a binary tree in which each of leaf nodes has an index assigned thereto, and receives input of a node ID that enable identification of a leaf node belonging to a group. The generating unit generates set information indicating a set of a predetermined number of partial trees of the binary tree. Each partial tree includes only the leaf node identified by the node ID. The generating unit generates range information of the indexes assigned to one or more leaf nodes of each partial tree included in the set. The output unit outputs the set information and the range information at least to a communication device corresponding to a leaf node belonging to the group.