Distributed Device Association for Scalable IoT Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining device association data in IoT networks is costly and difficult to scale, and the data can become misaligned during transfer or storage, posing challenges in authorization and communication between devices.
Innovation Solution
A distributed database system utilizing blockchain-type data management techniques to manage device associations, ensuring secure and scalable peer-to-peer communication by using a decentralized database with blockchain technology to record and verify device associations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized database is used to store device association data, then device associations can be managed, but the system becomes costly and difficult to scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized database into multiple distributed nodes across the network. Each node maintains a copy of the device association data, eliminating the single-point bottleneck and enabling horizontal scaling as devices are added to the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a distributed ledger as an intermediary mechanism that mediates device association verification. Instead of querying a centralized database, devices verify associations through the immutable ledger, reducing central coordination overhead and improving scalability.
2Reliability
If device association data is stored centrally, then authorization can be performed, but data may become misaligned during transfer or storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary hashing of device association data before storage in the distributed ledger. This pre-processing ensures data integrity is established upfront, preventing misalignment during subsequent transfers or storage operations across the distributed network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements cryptographic hashing and digital signatures that provide feedback mechanisms for verifying data integrity. Each device can verify the authenticity and alignment of association data through cryptographic validation, ensuring authorization accuracy across the distributed system.
3Reliability
If a centralized authority manages device associations, then authorization decisions can be made, but the system incurs high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables devices to autonomously verify associations through the distributed ledger without requiring centralized authority intervention. Each device independently validates cryptographic proofs and association data, eliminating the operational costs associated with centralized management while maintaining authorization control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for managing device association and access is disclosed. Some embodiments may include receiving, from a user device, a request to access a network device. The request may include a public key of the user device. The request may include a digital certificate, wherein the digital certificate may include the public key of the user device. A distributed database address of the user device may be determined by applying a deterministic function to the public key of the user device. A distributed database entry may include the address of the user device. A distributed database entry may be generated. The distributed database entry may include the address of the user device. Based on the address of the user device, access to the network device may be granted to the user device.