Chip-Specific Device Key Binding via Protected Software Enclave

The patent introduces an intermediary binding mechanism that operates within the protected software environment. This intermediary allows device key sets to be associated with specific chip identifiers without exposing the key sets themselves, thereby maintaining both security and binding capability. The intermediary acts as a trusted mediator that enables the association function while preserving the anonymity properties of the protected environment.

The patent segments the binding function into separate components: the device key set remains protected within the secure environment, while the chip identification binding is handled through separate attestation mechanisms. This segmentation allows the key sets to maintain their security isolation while still being associated with specific devices through external verification processes.

The patent implements preliminary binding actions during the device provisioning phase, before actual key distribution occurs. By pre-establishing the association between device key sets and chip identifiers through attestation processes, the system avoids the need for complex runtime binding mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security.

The protected software environment performs self-attestation, automatically verifying its own integrity and generating binding information without requiring external verification infrastructure. This self-service capability reduces the complexity of the distribution system by eliminating the need for complex external attestation authorities while still enabling secure chip-specific binding.