Key Distribution in Mobile Broadcasting Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing key management scheme for mobile broadcasting services, particularly in OMA BCAST, faces high bandwidth consumption due to frequent updates of Short Term Keys (STKs), which is inefficient and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate and distribute Access Value Pairs (AVPs) to derive multiple Traffic Encryption Keys (TEKs), eliminating the need for STKMs and optimizing key updates by using a Key Seed Pair (KSP) to calculate AVPs, which are then used to generate TEKs, reducing the frequency of key transmissions and updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Short Term Keys (STKs) are frequently updated to maintain security, then security is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple STK updates into a single Long Term Key Message (LTKM) transmission. Instead of sending separate STKs at frequent intervals, the system merges multiple key updates into one consolidated message that can be transmitted less frequently, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining security through the use of multiple keys within the single message
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by generating and distributing multiple STKs in advance through the LTKM before they are actually needed for decryption. This allows the terminal to have multiple keys ready locally, eliminating the need for frequent real-time key updates and reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining security
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple encryption keys are distributed to terminals, then service access flexibility is improved, but key management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the key management system into two distinct components: Long Term Keys (LTKs) for access control and authorization, and Short Term Keys (STKs) for actual content decryption. This segmentation allows flexible service access through LTKs while simplifying STK management by distributing multiple STKs through a single LTKM message, reducing the complexity of managing multiple keys separately
3Reliability
If Short Term Key Message (STKM) transmissions are performed frequently, then key freshness is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple STKM transmissions into a single LTKM message that contains multiple STKs. Instead of sending individual STKMs frequently, the system consolidates multiple key updates into one message transmitted at lower frequency, thereby maintaining key freshness through multiple keys while reducing network resource consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-generating and distributing multiple STKs through the LTKM before they are needed. This allows the terminal to have fresh keys available locally without requiring frequent network transmissions, reducing network resource consumption while maintaining key freshness for secure decryption
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and a system for distributing an encryption key for service protection and content protection in a mobile broadcasting system are provided where a network generates a first encryption key when a broadcasting service is first provided to the terminal, and transmits a long term key message including the generated first encryption key to the terminal. Also, the network generates a second encryption key before the lifetime of a first access value pair expires, and transmits a long term key message including the generated second encryption key to the terminal.