Key Manager for Secure Network Node Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network security methods, such as symmetric and public-key cryptography, face challenges in managing and distributing keys securely and efficiently, especially when adding new nodes to a network, which complicates the process of establishing secure communication and maintaining high security levels.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a key manager with a key-manager-specific public and private key, where a copy of the key-manager-specific public key is stored in an installation device and provided to new nodes, allowing for secure registration and end-to-end secure connections by directing ad-hoc requests for node-specific public keys through the key manager, using RFID tags and secure connections for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If symmetric cryptography is used for node-to-node security, then secure communication between nodes is achieved, but key management becomes difficult and the number of keys increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a key manager as an intermediary component that centralizes key management functions. The key manager stores and distributes symmetric keys between nodes, eliminating the need for each node to independently manage keys for every other node. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining secure communication while significantly reducing key management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The key manager serves multiple functions: storing keys, distributing keys to nodes, and managing key lifecycle. By consolidating these diverse key management tasks into a single universal component, the system achieves secure node-to-node communication without the exponential growth of key management complexity that would otherwise be required.
2Device complexity
If public-key cryptography is used for node-to-node encryption, then the number of keys is limited and key distribution is easier, but authentication of public keys becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The key manager acts as a trusted intermediary that issues digital certificates binding public keys to node identities. Instead of nodes directly verifying each other's public keys through complex cryptographic protocols, the key manager mediates authentication by providing signed certificates, thereby simplifying the authentication process while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The key manager pre-establishes trust relationships by issuing certificates to nodes before they engage in communication. This preliminary authentication setup eliminates the need for complex runtime public key verification, as nodes can directly use the pre-issued certificates for secure communication.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If network encryption with pre-shared keys is used, then intercepted messages cannot be interpreted, but any node with the network key can decipher messages regardless of intended recipient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single network-wide encryption key into individual node-specific symmetric keys managed by the key manager. Each node receives a unique key for communication with specific recipients, preventing unauthorized decryption. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining protection against interception while ensuring that only intended recipients can decipher messages.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a uniform network key for all communications, the system assigns different encryption keys to different node pairs based on their specific communication needs. Each communication channel has its own localized security context, ensuring that compromising one key does not expose other communications, thereby maintaining both interception resistance and message confidentiality.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the invention, a method for establishing secure communication between nodes in a network is conceived, wherein the network comprises a key manager which accommodates a key-manager-specific public key and a corresponding key-manager-specific private key; wherein a copy of the key-manager-specific public key is stored in an installation device; wherein the installation device provides a new node with the copy of the key-manager-specific public key; and wherein said new node is registered with the key manager by providing a node-specific public key and an identifier of said new node to the key manager, such that other nodes in the network may setup end-to-end secure connections with said new node by requesting the node-specific public key of said new node from the key manager.