Distributed Profile Key Management via PIV-D Derived Credentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for mobile device authentication and network security face challenges due to the lack of card readers in mobile devices, which limits the use of derived credentials and requires multiple certificates for each profile, leading to central key management vulnerabilities and inefficient network bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing distributed key and profile management that allows device-side key generation and sharing of a single certificate across multiple profiles, using a PIV-D application to generate and manage derived credentials locally on the client device, reducing the need for server-side key management and enhancing network security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple certificates are used for each device profile, then authentication reliability is improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single certificate to serve multiple device profiles and authentication purposes. The derived credential system allows one certificate to be used across different profiles (e.g., Wi-Fi, email, cloud access) instead of requiring separate certificates for each profile, thereby reducing management complexity while maintaining authentication reliability.
2Reliability
If server-side key management is used, then centralized control is improved, but network bandwidth consumption and server computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts key generation and management operations from the server and places them on the client device. The PIV-D application generates derived credentials locally using the user's PIV card and PIN, eliminating the need for servers to perform computationally intensive cryptographic operations and reducing network bandwidth consumption for key distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing client devices to autonomously generate and manage their own cryptographic keys and credentials. The PIV-D application on the client device performs key derivation and certificate generation without requiring continuous server intervention, reducing server computational load and network bandwidth consumption while maintaining security.
3Reliability
If frequent key distribution is performed, then security is improved, but network bandwidth usage and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating and storing derived credentials locally on the client device during initial setup. The PIV-D application creates and caches the necessary cryptographic material beforehand, allowing subsequent authentication operations to proceed without frequent key distribution, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining security through proper credential management.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various examples for distributed profile and key management. In one example, a client device can include an agent application and a PIV-D application. The agent application can receive a partially populated device profile generated by a management service to configure a setting on the client device. The PIV-D application can generate a derived credential and provide the derived credential to the agent application. The agent application can modify the partially populated device profile to include the credential to create a fully populated device profile and configure the client device in accordance with the fully populated device profile.