Cryptographic Resource Management for Set-Top Box Channel Surfing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Set-top boxes (STBs) face significant operational overhead due to limited cryptographic resources, which are costly and inefficiently utilized, especially when handling multiple sessions for channel surfing, as they require rapid key changes and decryption operations, leading to performance compromises.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for optimizing cryptographic resource allocation by tracking and sharing resources across multiple sessions, prioritizing running resources, deferring cleanup and preparation to avoid delays, and ensuring at least one resource is available for new sessions, utilizing three states (dirty, idle, and running) to manage resource usage efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic resources are allocated to each session individually, then security operations can be performed independently and reliably, but resource utilization becomes inefficient and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sessions to share the same cryptographic resource when they have overlapping time intervals and compatible security requirements. This allows multiple sessions to utilize the same cryptographic processor, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining security through proper resource management and state tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes cryptographic resources universal by enabling them to serve multiple sessions across different time periods. A single cryptographic resource can be dynamically allocated to different sessions based on demand, making the resource multi-functional and significantly improving utilization efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If cryptographic resources are shared among multiple sessions, then resource utilization improves and costs are reduced, but resource management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where cryptographic resources are automatically assigned to sessions based on real-time requirements. The system dynamically tracks resource states (busy, idle, available) and adjusts allocations as sessions start and end, reducing manual management complexity while improving utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor cryptographic resource usage states and session requirements. This feedback loop enables automatic decision-making about resource allocation, reducing management complexity by allowing the system to self-regulate based on current conditions rather than requiring complex manual control.
3Productivity
If cryptographic operations are performed rapidly for channel surfing, then user experience is improved, but processing delays increase due to resource setup and initialization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-initializing cryptographic resources and maintaining them in a ready state before they are actually needed. Sessions can quickly acquire pre-warmed cryptographic resources, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup and initialization during channel switching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains cryptographic resources in a continuous ready state through keep-alive mechanisms and preventive warming. By keeping resources continuously available rather than initializing them on-demand, the system eliminates setup delays during channel surfing while maintaining productive use of the resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to optimize the usage of these crypto resources for effectively sharing the resource with identical configuration crypto material and thereby reducing the operation overhead associated with cryptographic operations is disclosed.