Hearing Instrument Authentication via Partial Message Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a broadcasting scheme that authenticates broadcasted messages in public places to prevent spoofing and ensure the messages are from authentic sources, particularly for hearing instruments to reliably receive and transmit authentic announcements like train or flight departures.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that encrypts messages with a first key, which is further encrypted with a second key, and broadcasted along with the message, allowing the hearing instrument to decrypt and authenticate the message using a third key, converting it into an acoustic signal for the user, while reducing power consumption and preventing noise transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If broadcasted messages are transmitted without encryption in public places, then the hearing instrument can receive messages with high signal to noise ratio, but the messages cannot be authenticated and are vulnerable to spoofing
Solution Approach 1:
The message is divided into multiple parts, with only a specific part being encrypted while other parts remain unencrypted. This allows the hearing instrument to process and authenticate only the necessary portion, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
An authentication code is introduced as an intermediary element that verifies message authenticity without requiring decryption of the entire message. The authentication code acts as a mediator between the encrypted and unencrypted portions, enabling reliable authentication with minimal processing overhead.
2Reliability
If the entire message is encrypted for authentication, then message authenticity can be verified, but power consumption increases and processing time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The message is segmented into encrypted and unencrypted portions, allowing the hearing instrument to perform authentication operations only on the encrypted part rather than the entire message, thereby reducing power consumption and processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fully encrypting the entire message, only the necessary authentication-critical portion is encrypted. This partial encryption approach provides sufficient authentication capability while minimizing the computational energy required for decryption and verification.
3Reliability
If authentication processing is performed on all received signals, then spoofing can be prevented, but noise transmission and processing of unauthorized messages cannot be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication verification is extracted and applied only to the specific encrypted part of the message, allowing the system to identify and reject spoofed messages without processing or transmitting noise from unauthorized sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The presence of encrypted and authenticated portions allows the system to identify genuine messages amidst noise and spoofing attempts. The authentication mechanism converts the potential harm of receiving unauthorized messages into a benefit by enabling reliable discrimination between authentic and spoofed signals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures the authenticity of broadcasted messages by authenticating the source, reducing the risk of spoofing and noise transmission, and allowing users to focus on announcements while minimizing distractions from unauthorized messages.
Implementation Method 1
a radio configured for reception of a broadcasted signal including a message
Implementation Method 2
converting the message into an acoustic signal for transmission towards an eardrum of a user
Data Source
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AI summary
A new hearing instrument is provided with a radio configured for reception of a signal including a message, such as a spoken message or a text message, the message having been encrypted for subsequent authentication. The hearing instrument also has an authenticator configured for authentication of the message, and wherein the new hearing instrument is further configured for converting the message into an acoustic signal for transmission towards an eardrum of a user of the new hearing instrument upon successful authentication of the message.