File Origin Determination via Split Key Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an efficient method to validate software files and ensure compliance with end user license agreements by determining the origin and usage terms of software tools downloaded from multiple vendors, which is crucial for legal and operational purposes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involves retrieving an artifact file, generating metadata, encrypting it with a split key, and creating an encrypted package to ensure compliance with licensing agreements by tracking key attributes such as user identity, IP address, and network information, which is then validated by a centralized server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software files are downloaded from multiple vendors and installed without validation, then system management is simplified, but compliance with end user license agreements cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation by generating a digital fingerprint of the software file and verifying it against authorized vendor information before installation occurs. This preliminary action ensures license compliance is established prior to deployment, resolving the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliability through pre-validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation system that acts as a mediator between the software file and the installation process. The system fetches vendor information from an authoritative source and uses it to validate the file's origin, creating an intermediary layer that ensures license compliance without complicating the overall system management workflow.
2Reliability
If file origin validation is implemented through fingerprinting and vendor verification, then license compliance is ensured, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The validation system operates autonomously by automatically fetching vendor information from authoritative sources and performing fingerprint verification without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach ensures license compliance through automated processes, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal validation mechanism that can verify software files from multiple vendors through a single fingerprinting approach. By creating a vendor-agnostic validation system that works with any authorized source, the patent reduces complexity while ensuring comprehensive license compliance across diverse software sources.
3Reliability
If comprehensive metadata and encryption are applied to artifact files, then security and compliance are improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential vendor identification information from the software file through fingerprinting, rather than processing and encrypting entire files. This extraction approach maintains security by verifying file origin while significantly reducing processing time and computational resources compared to comprehensive file encryption.
Solution Approach 2:
The validation system applies encryption and security measures selectively to specific critical metadata fields (such as vendor information and fingerprint data) rather than encrypting entire artifact files. This local quality approach ensures security for the most critical compliance information while minimizing processing overhead and time consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A file validation method and system is provided. The method includes retrieving from an authoritative source system, an artifact file. Identification information identifying a requesting user of the artifact file is recorded and associated metadata and a modified artifact file comprising the metadata combined with the artifact file are generated. An encryption key including a first portion and a second portion is generated and the first portion is stored within a central key store database. An encrypted package comprising the modified artifact file and the second portion of the key is generated.