Device Protection Key Generation Using Unique Characteristics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital rights management (DRM) systems face challenges in reliably identifying playback devices and protecting cryptographic data from tampering, as they often rely on shared secrets that can be copied or cloned, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and unauthorized devices.
Innovation Solution
The system generates device match data using unique device characteristics, which is then used to create a device protection key to encrypt cryptographic data, allowing for secure storage and verification of the device's identity within the DRM system, enabling secure content access and preventing unauthorized device cloning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If shared secrets are used for device identification and content protection, then device authentication is simplified, but security against device cloning and unauthorized access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication mechanism by separating shared secrets from device identification. Instead of relying solely on shared secrets, the system divides authentication into multiple components: device characteristics (hardware identifiers), device match data (processed characteristics), and cryptographic keys. This segmentation prevents cloning because copying all components simultaneously is infeasible, while maintaining authentication ease through automated multi-factor verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making each device unique through device-specific characteristics stored in non-volatile memory. Each device has locally stored device characteristics that are processed into device match data, creating a unique cryptographic identity for each device. This local uniqueness prevents cloning while the centralized server maintains authentication logic, balancing security and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If device characteristics are collected and processed to generate device match data, then device identification reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that converts raw device characteristics into device match data using cryptographic hash functions. This intermediary step simplifies the overall system by creating a standardized, fixed-length representation of device characteristics that can be efficiently stored and compared. The intermediary layer handles the complexity of characteristic processing, leaving the authentication logic relatively simple while significantly improving identification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms device characteristics through parameter changes by applying cryptographic hash functions that convert variable-length device identifiers into fixed-length device match data. This parameter transformation reduces complexity by creating uniform data structures for comparison, while the one-way nature of hashing ensures high reliability for device identification without requiring complex storage or processing of original characteristics.
3Reliability
If cryptographic data is encrypted using device protection keys, then security against tampering is improved, but access and decryption operations become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating device protection keys from device characteristics before cryptographic data needs to be protected. These keys are derived in advance through cryptographic processing of device characteristics and stored securely. When content access is required, the pre-computed keys enable straightforward decryption without complex real-time key generation, thus improving both security and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by enabling devices to autonomously generate their own device protection keys from their inherent characteristics without requiring external intervention. Each device independently processes its own characteristics through hash functions to create encryption keys, eliminating the need for complex key distribution infrastructure while maintaining strong security for cryptographic data protection.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for binding of cryptographic content using unique device characteristics with server heuristics in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes a processor and memory includes collecting a combination of device characteristics that uniquely identify the device using information stored on the device and accessible to the device using the device processor, generating device match data based upon the collected combination of device characteristics using the device processor, generating a device protection key using the device match data, encrypting the cryptographic data using the device protection key, and storing the encrypted cryptographic data in device memory using the device processor.