Unified Cryptographic Service for Multi-Provider Key Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no standardized mechanism for interacting with cryptographic accessories, services, or providers, leading to inconsistent integration with the JAVA Cryptography Architecture (JCA) and requiring client applications to support multiple cryptographic providers explicitly, which complicates security and compatibility.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a standardized application programming interface (API) like JCA that allows client applications to interact with cryptographic providers through a unified cryptographic service, managing vendor-specific code and key management, thus enabling seamless integration and improved security across various cryptographic hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If each client application integrates specifically with every cryptographic accessory, service, or provider it plans to support, then compatibility with multiple cryptographic providers is achieved, but device complexity and integration effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized API layer (intermediary) between client applications and cryptographic providers. This API acts as a mediator that translates application requests into provider-specific operations, eliminating the need for applications to integrate directly with each provider. The standardized interface handles vendor-specific code and key management, allowing applications to work with multiple providers through a single unified interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal cryptographic service layer that can work with multiple different cryptographic providers through a single standardized interface. This universal layer implements the JCA (Java Cryptography Architecture) standard, enabling one interface to control multiple cryptographic providers with different functionalities. The service layer adapts to various providers while presenting a consistent interface to applications.
2Ease of operation
If a standardized API like JCA is implemented to unify cryptographic operations, then ease of operation and security are improved, but the ability to support vendor-specific features may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cryptographic system into two distinct layers: a standardized API layer (JCA) that provides ease of operation and consistency, and a vendor-specific implementation layer that handles provider-specific features and code. This segmentation allows the standardized interface to maintain simplicity while the underlying segmented components handle vendor-specific functionality. Each cryptographic provider is segmented into its own module that implements the standard interface while maintaining its unique capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for cryptographic processing on client devices. A cryptographic service can receive a cryptographic operation request from a client application. The cryptographic operation request can include a key identifier for a private key and data to be cryptographically processed and the cryptographic operation request specifying a cryptographic operation to be performed. A cryptographic provider can then be identified based at least in part on the key identifier for the private key. A request is subsequently sent to the cryptographic provider to perform the cryptographic operation on the data using the private key. A response is then received from the cryptographic provider and sent to the client application.