Key Manager Status Commands for Secure Network Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing environments face challenges in securely communicating between devices without direct access to a key manager, as network devices lack the necessary status information for encryption/decryption processes.
Innovation Solution
A computer program product facilitates communication by enabling network devices to obtain and utilize the status of a key manager, such as through a key manager status module that includes sub-modules for building and sending commands to provide key manager status to receiving devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network devices are designed to securely communicate without direct access to key manager, then security is improved, but network devices lack necessary status information for encryption/decryption processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the key manager's status information is made available to network devices through a defined interface or protocol. This allows network devices to obtain necessary status information (such as key availability, key manager operational state) without requiring direct access to the key manager's internal processes, thus maintaining security while enabling functional access to status data.
2Productivity
If key manager status is made accessible to network devices, then encryption/decryption processes are improved, but direct access to key manager is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the key manager system into distinct functional components: the key manager core that maintains security, and a status information interface that provides necessary operational data to network devices. This segmentation allows network devices to access status information through a simplified interface without needing to understand or directly access the complex internal architecture of the key manager, thus improving productivity while managing device complexity.
3Reliability
If network devices obtain key manager status through commands, then communication security is enhanced, but additional communication overhead is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having network devices obtain key manager status information in advance of actual encryption/decryption operations. Status commands are issued proactively to ensure that necessary status data (key availability, operational state) is already available when needed, reducing the time penalty of security verification during critical data operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the key manager provides status information back to network devices in response to status commands. This feedback loop enables network devices to make informed decisions about encryption/decryption operations based on current key manager state, enhancing security while optimizing communication timing to minimize overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A receiving network device of a network obtains a command built to enable a control program of a device coupled to the receiving network device to provide to the receiving network device status of a key manager. The receiving network device obtains the status from the command and uses the status in performing one or more actions.