Dynamic-PKI Certificate Authority for IoT Device Identity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems require complex and costly processes for certificate issuance and management, often necessitating external configuration of user ownership with devices, which burdens manufacturers and limits adoption due to complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
The Dynamic-PKI system generates and issues certificates at deployment time, incorporating an automated protocol for certificate issuance and management, allowing both device and user association within a certificate, and enabling seamless transfer of certificates between users, thus simplifying the process and reducing manufacturer burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If certificates are pre-provisioned during manufacturing, then device identity is established, but manufacturer cost and supply chain burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the manufacturer provision only a root certificate and public key during manufacturing, rather than complete device certificates. This preliminary setup enables later automated certificate issuance at deployment time, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring device identity can be established.
Solution Approach 2:
A new automated certificate issuance system acts as an intermediary between the manufacturer and the device. This intermediary handles the complex certificate issuance process at deployment time using the pre-provisioned root certificate and public key, eliminating the need for manufacturers to directly manage complex PKI processes during manufacturing.
2Reliability
If certificates are issued with complex verification procedures, then security is improved, but issuance process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling devices to automatically obtain their own certificates at deployment time using pre-provisioned credentials. The automated issuance process eliminates the need for manual verification procedures, reducing complexity while maintaining security through cryptographic verification of device identity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual verification procedures (mechanical processes) with automated cryptographic verification. The system uses digital signatures and public key infrastructure to automatically verify device identity and issue certificates, substituting complex human-mediated verification processes with streamlined automated cryptographic operations.
3Reliability
If certificates are tied only to device, then device identity is secured, but user ownership association is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges device identity and user ownership information into a single certificate structure. The certificate contains both device identifiers and user identity information, allowing the certificate to serve dual purposes: securing device identity and establishing user ownership association simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The certificate is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a device identity credential and a user ownership proof. This universal certificate structure eliminates the need for separate mechanisms to establish device identity and user ownership, enabling flexible transfer of ownership while maintaining device security.
4Reliability
If users must understand private key protection, then security awareness is improved, but user adoption decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically managing private key protection without requiring user intervention or understanding. The device automatically protects and manages its private keys, and users can transfer ownership through simple operations without needing to understand cryptographic concepts.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated certificate issuance system acts as an intermediary that handles all private key management operations. Users interact with high-level operations (such as ownership transfer requests) while the intermediary system manages the complex private key protection, generation, and transfer processes in the background.
Data Source
AI summary
Dynamic-PKI social Certificate Authority (CA) systems and methods are provided, which generate and issue certificates at time of device deployment instead of time of manufacture. The provided systems and methods utilize an interface to initiate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), and which then generates and signs the CSR with a public key. The signed CSR is then securely transmitted to a Certificate Signing Request Processor (CSRP), which undergoes an optional verification process and is then processed to return a signed certificate. The signed certificate is then directly or indirectly provided to the device for provisioning into the network.