Encrypted Logical Data Object Layout for Faster Secure Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current storage technologies face challenges in securely storing data by efficiently encrypting and compressing logical data objects while maintaining minimal impact on accessibility and manageability, with existing solutions often compromising on either security or performance.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that encrypt plaintext logical data objects by breaking them into fixed-size segments, using a secure key combined with an initialization vector, and mapping processed chunks into encrypted sections with an index section for efficient storage and retrieval, allowing for secure storage with minimal performance impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is encrypted using secure keys and initialization vectors, then security is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides plaintext data into fixed-size segments or chunks before encryption. This segmentation allows the encryption process to work on smaller, manageable units in parallel, reducing overall processing time while maintaining security through consistent application of encryption algorithms to each segment with unique initialization vectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating initialization vectors and preparing encryption keys before the actual encryption process. This pre-computation of cryptographic parameters reduces the computational burden during data encryption, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining security standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If data is compressed to optimize storage capacity, then storage efficiency is improved, but decompression time and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiddecompression time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies compression to segmented data chunks rather than entire data sets. This allows compression algorithms to work efficiently on smaller units with better compression ratios, while the segmented structure enables parallel decompression operations, reducing overall decompression time while maximizing storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If complex encryption algorithms are used to enhance security, then data protection is improved, but system complexity and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies system complexity by dividing the encryption process into segments, each handling fixed-size data chunks with standardized encryption routines. This modular approach makes the complex encryption system more manageable and easier to implement while maintaining high security through consistent application of cryptographic algorithms to each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8958482B2Systems and methods for transformation of logical data objects for storage
Publication Date: 2015.02.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US8958482B2 patent drawing
  • US8958482B2 patent drawing
  • US8958482B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for encrypting a plaintext logical data object for storage in a storage device operable with at least one storage protocol, creating, reading, writing, optimization and restoring thereof. Encrypting the plaintext logical data object comprises creating in the storage device an encrypted logical data object comprising a header and one or more allocated encrypted sections with predefined size; encrypting one or more sequentially obtained chunks of plaintext data corresponding to the plaintext logical data object thus giving rise to the encrypted data chunks; and sequentially accommodating the processed data chunks into said encrypted sections in accordance with an order said chunks received, wherein said encrypted sections serve as atomic elements of encryption/decryption operations during input/output transactions on the logical data object.