IoT Sensor Data Analytics via Trusted Third Party Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for providing analytics results from IoT devices lack security and transparency, as users cannot guarantee that their data is not shared with unauthorized parties, and service providers face challenges in maintaining data centers and processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a trusted third party that securely transmits and encrypts data from IoT devices, using smart contracts and blockchain to ensure only intended recipients access analytics results, with the owner maintaining control through encryption keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users share their IoT data with service providers to receive benefits, then service quality and personalization improve, but data security and user privacy control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A trusted third party is introduced as an intermediary between users and service providers. This mediator verifies user identities, manages data access permissions, and ensures that data sharing occurs only under verified contractual conditions, thereby maintaining security while enabling personalized services
Solution Approach 2:
Data access permissions are segmented and controlled through encryption keys. Different service providers receive different levels of access based on contractual agreements, with the trusted third party managing key distribution to ensure each provider only accesses data necessary for their specific service function
2Measurement precision
If service providers maintain their own data centers and processing capabilities, then data analysis quality improves, but system complexity and operational costs worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple service providers share a common data center infrastructure managed by the trusted third party. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity and operational costs while maintaining data analysis quality through centralized, standardized processing capabilities that serve all providers
Solution Approach 2:
The shared data center is designed with universal processing capabilities that can handle various types of IoT data and serve multiple service providers simultaneously. This multi-functional infrastructure eliminates the need for each provider to maintain separate specialized systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If data is distributed across peer-to-peer network nodes, then system decentralization improves, but user trust and data security worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The trusted third party acts as a central coordinating intermediary in the decentralized peer-to-peer network. It verifies node identities, manages data routing permissions, and ensures that distributed data handling complies with user agreements, thereby maintaining trust while preserving decentralization benefits
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for securely providing analytics result based on, preferably authenticated, data from a source (100) to a single recipient (300) as well as a sensor device (110) for determining authentic data to be used in said method. The inventive method uses a server (200) of a trusted third party for running the desired analytics on raw data received from the source (100) potentially comprising a sensor device (110) according to the invention, wherein the raw data as well as the analytics results are encrypted by encryption keys (130, 132) provided by the source's owner (101), who can control access the raw data by the trusted third party and the analytics results by the intended recipient (200) by selectively providing them with suitable decryption keys. The analytics results (205) are treated as a moveable (but not copyable) asset (208) whose whereabouts is securely verifiable by a block chain (207). The Sensor device (110) comprises at least one sensor module (111) to capture at least one characteristic of the sensor's surroundings as raw data, a communication module (114) for transmitting the acquired raw data to a server (200) and a processor (113) for receiving the raw data of the at least one sensor module (111) and forwarding the raw data to the server (200) via the communication module (114), wherein the at least one sensor module (111) comprises a pressure sensor (112) with a precision of determining a vertical drop of 20 cm.