Dynamic Encryption Model for API Key Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an efficient method for dynamically generating and managing encryption keys for secure API calls, leading to potential security risks and key management complexities.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic encryption model is implemented where encryption key pairs are generated and shared between a service provider and an entity seeking to access an API, with keys being dynamically updated based on the validity of an access token.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static encryption keys are used for API calls, then key management is simplified, but security is compromised due to potential key compromise over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic encryption keys that automatically rotate and expire based on access token validity periods. Instead of using static keys, the system generates new key pairs for each access token, ensuring that compromised keys have limited exposure time and automatically become invalid when tokens expire.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-generates encryption key pairs before they are needed, storing them securely in key storage. When an access token is issued, the corresponding encryption keys are already prepared and associated with the token, enabling immediate secure API calls without delays during the token's validity period.
2Productivity
If encryption keys are stored long-term for reuse, then key management efficiency improves, but security risks increase due to extended exposure time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic key rotation where encryption keys are automatically updated when access tokens are renewed or expire. This ensures that even if keys are stored for extended periods, their cryptographic value is time-limited and automatically invalidated, balancing storage efficiency with security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of key validity by binding encryption keys to specific access token lifecycles. Keys transition from permanent storage to time-bound validity, automatically expiring when their associated access tokens expire, thus limiting exposure while maintaining management efficiency.
3Reliability
If encryption keys are frequently rotated, then security is enhanced, but system complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs key generation and association operations in advance, before they are actually needed for API calls. Key pairs are pre-generated and stored in key storage with their associated access token identifiers, so that when tokens are issued or renewed, the corresponding keys are already ready and linked, minimizing runtime complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces key storage as an intermediary component that manages the lifecycle of encryption keys independently from the access token issuance process. This mediator handles key generation, storage, retrieval, and invalidation operations, isolating the complexity of key management from the main authentication and API call workflows.
4Ease of operation
If access tokens have long validity periods, then user convenience improves, but the window for potential key compromise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic binding between access tokens and encryption keys, where the key validity is precisely synchronized with the token's time window. Even with long-lived tokens, the encryption keys remain valid only for their specific token's duration, creating time-bound security zones that limit compromise exposure while maintaining user convenience through extended token validity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a dynamic encryption model in which dynamic encryption keys are associated with an access token having an expiration time. The access token is generated for a user session of a user application seeking to make API calls to a service provider system. When the access token expires, or becomes otherwise invalid, the dynamic encryption keys are discarded, and any further API calls are made using an updated access token and updated dynamic encryption keys. The dynamic encryption keys are used to encrypt specially designated fields of API calls and/or API call results.