Data Protection Engine Masking Transfer Rates

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Solution Overview

Problem

The migration of data to cloud storage systems compromises privacy as metadata or side channels, such as data transfer rates and performance metrics, can be accessed by third parties, allowing them to deduce sensitive information about data owners, including upcoming events or activities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a data protection engine that masks or obscures data transfer rates and other side channel information using techniques like fixed, random, or adaptive rate masking, ensuring that even if the data rate is discovered, it cannot be correlated with other events or used for malicious purposes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is encrypted before transmission to cloud storage, then data confidentiality is improved, but metadata and side channels remain accessible to third parties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata confidentialityVSAvoidside channel information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and separates side channel information from the main data transmission flow. By implementing dedicated side channel protection mechanisms that operate independently from data encryption, the system removes vulnerable metadata from the transmission process while maintaining data confidentiality through encryption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary protection layers between data transmission and cloud storage. Side channel protection mechanisms act as intermediaries that mask, obfuscate, or filter metadata before it reaches the cloud provider, preventing direct access to side channel information while allowing encrypted data to be stored securely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If side channel data is transmitted to cloud storage, then data backup functionality is improved, but privacy and confidentiality are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata backup functionalityVSAvoidprivacy compromise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different protection qualities to different data components. While main data maintains full backup functionality with encryption, side channel data receives specialized protection through masking and obfuscation. This local quality approach ensures that sensitive metadata is protected with stronger measures than standard encryption alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary protective actions against side channel exposure before data reaches the cloud. By masking and obfuscating metadata in advance during the transmission process, the system prevents privacy compromise before it can occur, while still enabling complete data backup functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If data transfer rate is masked or obscured, then side channel protection is improved, but data transmission performance may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside channel protectionVSAvoiddata transmission rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic side channel protection that adapts to transmission conditions. The masking and obfuscation mechanisms adjust their intensity and scope based on the data characteristics and transmission environment, providing strong protection when needed while minimizing impact on normal transmission performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial masking to side channel data rather than complete obfuscation. By selectively protecting only the vulnerable metadata components while allowing main data to transmit at full speed, the system achieves adequate side channel protection without excessively impacting overall transmission performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20240338467A1Zero-knowledge protection for side channels in data protection to the cloud
Publication Date: 2024.10.10 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC
  • US20240338467A1 patent drawing
  • US20240338467A1 patent drawing
  • US20240338467A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Masking a data rate of transmitted data is disclosed. As data is transmitted from a production site to a secondary site, the data rate is masked. Masking the data rate can include transmitting at a fixed rate, a random rate, or an adaptive rate. Each mode of data transmission masks or obscures the actual data rate and thus prevents others from gaining information about the data or the data owner from the data transfer rate.