Distributed Hierarchical Authentication for Large-Scale System Bootup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cryptographic identity authentication methods for devices in a system are serialized, leading to unacceptable delays during system initialization and bootup, especially in systems with hundreds or thousands of devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hierarchical authentication approach where components are grouped into component groups, with an authenticator component capable of authenticating multiple components simultaneously, using a digital signature to create a group identity and send it to the next higher component in the hierarchy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a serialized authentication approach is used for each device, then cryptographic security is maintained, but system initialization and bootup delays become unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication process by organizing devices into hierarchical groups with group identities. Instead of authenticating each device individually in sequence, the system divides devices into manageable groups that can be authenticated collectively, reducing the overall authentication time while maintaining security through the hierarchical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple individual device authentications into a single group authentication operation. By combining the authentication of multiple devices within a group under a common group identity, the system reduces the total number of authentication operations required, thereby decreasing initialization delay while preserving cryptographic security through the group signature mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If individual device authentication is performed sequentially, then each device identity is verified securely, but processing time increases with the number of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into hierarchical levels where group identities represent collections of individual device identities. This segmentation allows the verification process to operate at the group level rather than requiring sequential verification of each individual device, thereby increasing authentication throughput while maintaining verification accuracy through the cryptographic binding of group identities to member devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The group identity serves a universal function by representing multiple individual device identities simultaneously. A single group authentication operation verifies the identities of all devices within the group, making the authentication process more efficient and scalable without compromising the precision of individual device identity verification.
3Reliability
If cryptographic authentication is performed for hundreds or thousands of devices, then system security is ensured, but bootup performance becomes unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments large-scale device authentication into hierarchical groups, allowing the system to authenticate hundreds or thousands of devices through multiple levels of group identities rather than individual sequential authentication. This segmentation maintains system security through cryptographic verification at each level while dramatically improving bootup speed by reducing the total number of authentication operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the authentication of large numbers of devices into consolidated group authentication operations. By combining multiple device identities under group identities and authenticating groups rather than individuals, the system maintains comprehensive security coverage for all devices while achieving acceptable bootup performance through reduced processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
In an example method, a presence of a component with a cryptographic identity is detected. The component is detected by an authenticator component capable of authenticating a component. The example method further includes determining an authentication status of the detected component. The authentication status of the component is added to an extensible list of volatile, runtime data. Further, the authenticator component signs the extensible list with a private key to create a group identity. Finally, the authenticator component sends the group identity to a next higher component in an authentication hierarchy.