Trust Credentials for IoT Device Authenticity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rapid deployment of data processing devices in IoT environments necessitates simple, efficient installation and scalability while ensuring trusted data processing devices and objects, but existing methods face challenges in establishing trust between devices and verifying their authenticity and calibration status, especially as physical labels can be replicated and scalability becomes difficult.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of trust credentials, including authentication information and device data, which are generated and transmitted by authorized parties, allowing agent devices to demonstrate their authenticity and calibration status through digital certificates and chains of trust, enabling verification by application providing apparatuses and remote resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical labels are used to establish trust between devices, then authenticity verification is possible, but the labels can be replicated and scalability becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthenticity verificationVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical mechanical labels with digital trust credentials stored in electronic memory. The verification apparatus uses electronic verification of digital certificates and chains of trust rather than physical inspection of labels. This substitution enables scalable deployment across IoT devices while maintaining security, as digital credentials can be efficiently verified without physical contact or risk of replication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses digital copies of trust credentials (certificates, cryptographic keys) that can be securely replicated and distributed across multiple devices. Unlike physical labels that risk counterfeiting, digital credentials use cryptographic mechanisms to ensure authenticity while allowing efficient copying and verification across the IoT ecosystem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If trust credentials are verified through physical inspection, then authenticity can be confirmed, but the verification process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrust establishmentVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual physical inspection with automated electronic verification using cryptographic algorithms. The verification apparatus automatically validates digital certificates and chains of trust through computational processes, eliminating the time-consuming nature of physical label inspection while ensuring reliable trust establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The trust verification process is designed to be self-executing through automated cryptographic validation. The verification apparatus independently validates credentials without requiring human intervention or complex manual procedures, enabling rapid automated trust establishment in IoT deployments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If digital trust credentials are implemented, then scalability is improved and verification efficiency increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidtrust credential management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a verification apparatus as an intermediary that handles the complexity of trust credential validation. Rather than requiring each IoT device to independently manage complex cryptographic verification, the verification apparatus serves as a centralized mediator that performs authentication, simplifying the implementation burden on individual devices while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10911245B2Method of establishing trust between a device and an apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.02.02 ARM IP

AI summary

There is disclosed a method of establishing trust between an agent device and a verification apparatus, the method comprising: obtaining, at the agent device, a trust credential, wherein the trust credential relates to an aspect of the agent device and comprises authentication information for identifying at least one party trusted by the verification apparatus and/or device data relating to the agent device; transmitting, from the agent device to the verification apparatus, the trust credential; obtaining, at the verification apparatus, the trust credential; analysing, at the verification apparatus, the trust credential; determining, at the verification apparatus, whether the agent device is trusted based on the analysis; and responsive to determining the agent device is trusted, establishing trust between the agent device and the verification apparatus.