Inter-Network Encryption Key Distribution via Intermediate Client Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Host devices across different networks face challenges in distributing a shared inter-network encryption key, which is essential for secure communication, due to their inability to directly communicate with each other.
Innovation Solution
Intermediate client devices are used to enroll in multiple networks, allowing them to distribute and synchronize inter-network encryption keys across host devices, ensuring all devices use the same key for secure communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If host devices use separate encryption keys for different networks, then network security is maintained, but inter-network communication security cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate client devices as mediators between host devices in different networks. These intermediate devices receive encryption keys from their respective host devices and forward the keys to other networks. This intermediary approach enables key distribution across network boundaries without requiring direct communication between host devices, thereby achieving inter-network communication security while managing complexity through a structured key relay mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If host devices directly exchange encryption keys, then key distribution is simple, but direct communication capability is required which is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs intermediate client devices as mediators that bridge the communication gap between host devices in different networks. These intermediate devices are already enrolled in multiple networks and can receive encryption keys from one host device and forward them to another host device without requiring direct communication capability between the host devices. This maintains ease of operation by keeping the key exchange process simple while adapting to the network constraint of no direct communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the key distribution process into multiple independent steps: (1) host device generates and sends key to its enrolled intermediate client device, (2) intermediate client device stores and forwards key to other networks, (3) receiving intermediate client device delivers key to target host device. This segmentation allows each step to be performed independently without requiring direct host-to-host communication, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while adapting to network constraints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate client devices are used to distribute keys, then inter-network communication is enabled, but key synchronization across multiple networks becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where intermediate client devices confirm successful key receipt and forwarding to host devices. When an intermediate client device receives an encryption key from a host device, it stores the key and provides confirmation feedback to the host device. This feedback loop ensures that key distribution status is tracked and verified, maintaining key synchronization accuracy across multiple networks while enabling inter-network communication capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A first host device in a first network of a plurality of networks may receive, from an intermediate client device, a request to enroll the intermediate client device into the first network, including receiving a candidate inter-network encryption key. The first host device may determine whether any other intermediate client device is already enrolled in the first network. The first host device may, in response to determining that no other intermediate client device is already enrolled in the first network, set the candidate inter-network encryption key as an inter-network encryption key of the first host device for encrypting communications between the plurality of networks. The first host device may send, to the intermediate client device for forwarding to a second host device in a second network of the plurality of networks, an encrypted message that is encrypted using the inter-network encryption key of first host device.