Composed Message Authentication Code for Low Latency Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional message authentication codes (MACs) are computationally expensive and time-consuming, especially when messages are broken into transmission units (TUs) and received out of order, leading to increased latency and processing burdens on general-purpose processing elements.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dividing a message into multiple transmission units, calculating sub-message authentication codes (SMACs) for each unit, and composing a message authentication code (CMAC) based on these SMACs, which can be transmitted alongside or appended to the TUs, allowing for independent processing and verification of message integrity and authenticity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional MAC calculations are performed on entire messages after reassembly of transmission units, then message integrity and authenticity are verified, but processing latency increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage integrity verificationVSAvoidprocessing latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by calculating sub-MACs for individual transmission units as they arrive, before the entire message is reassembled. This allows MAC calculation to begin in advance rather than waiting for complete message reassembly, thereby reducing processing latency while maintaining verification reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the conventional MAC calculation process into multiple sub-MAC calculations, one for each transmission unit. This segmentation enables parallel processing of individual units as they arrive, reducing the overall time required for complete message verification while maintaining integrity checks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If messages are divided into transmission units for transmission, then transmission efficiency improves, but MAC calculation complexity increases and processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidMAC calculation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments both the message into transmission units and the MAC calculation into sub-MACs, one for each unit. This dual segmentation maintains transmission efficiency while managing calculation complexity through modular, independent sub-calculations that can be processed in parallel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the individual sub-MACs into a composed MAC that represents the entire message. This combining operation consolidates the segmented verification process into a single comprehensive check, maintaining verification strength while managing complexity through systematic composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If transmission units are processed independently without waiting for all units to arrive, then processing speed improves, but ensuring complete message verification becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidcomplete message verification

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary MAC calculations on individual transmission units as they arrive, storing these sub-MACs for later composition. This preliminary action enables fast initial processing while preserving the ability to perform complete verification once all units are received

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback mechanisms where received transmission units and their sub-MACs are stored and held until complete message verification can be performed. This feedback loop ensures that independent processing does not compromise complete verification, as the system waits for all units before finalizing the composed MAC

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8949600B2Composed message authentication code

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Prior to transmission, a message is divided into multiple transmission units. A sub-message authentication code is obtained for each of the transmission units. A composed message authentication code is obtained for the whole message based on the sub-message authentication codes of the multiple transmission units. The multiple transmission units and the composed message authentication code are then transmitted. A receiver of the message receives a plurality of transmission units corresponding to the message. A local sub-message authentication code is calculated by the receiver for each transmission unit. A local composed message authentication code is calculated by the receiver based on the local sub-message authentication codes for the plurality of transmission units. The local composed message authentication code is compared to a received composed message authentication code to determine the integrity and/or authenticity of the received message.