Key Information Synchronization for Secure Screenless IoT Hubs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hub devices without screens, such as routers, cannot obtain device information from IoT devices, leading to insecure interactions and increased risks of security breaches and user privacy leakage due to the use of unencrypted plaintext control instructions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for synchronizing key information between a terminal, IoT device, and hub device, where the terminal exchanges public keys with the IoT device and synchronizes the key pairs to the hub device, enabling encrypted interactions and identity authentication using shared keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hub device without a screen is used to manage IoT devices, then the ease of operation is improved by eliminating the need for manual screen-based device information input, but the security is worsened because the hub device cannot obtain device information through scanning and must use unencrypted plaintext control instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a terminal as an intermediary device that bridges the hub device and IoT device. The terminal obtains device information from the IoT device through scanning, then synchronizes key information (public keys and encryption algorithms) to the hub device. This intermediary approach allows the screenless hub to access encrypted communication capabilities without requiring a screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the terminal synchronize key information to the hub device before the hub device needs to send control instructions. The key information including public keys and encryption algorithms is pre-configured in the hub device, enabling it to perform encrypted communication and identity authentication without requiring real-time screen interaction.
2Device complexity
If unencrypted plaintext control instructions are used for communication between hub device and IoT device, then the device complexity is reduced by eliminating encryption/decryption processes, but the security is worsened leading to increased risks of privacy leakage and control instruction theft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex encryption and decryption operations from the hub device by having the terminal perform these functions. The terminal obtains device information through scanning, negotiates encryption information with the IoT device, and then provides the necessary key materials to the hub device. This allows the hub device to use simplified encryption mechanisms while maintaining security.
3Reliability
If a terminal synchronizes key information to a hub device, then the security is improved by enabling encrypted communications, but the device complexity is worsened by introducing additional key management processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the key management functions into the terminal device, which already has the capability to interact with both the hub device and IoT device. The terminal performs device information acquisition, encryption information negotiation, and key information synchronization in a unified process. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate key management mechanisms in each device.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a key information synchronization method and system, and a device, and relates to the field of communications technologies. When a hub device manages an IoT device, a security risk and a risk of user privacy leakage during interaction between the hub device and the IoT device can be reduced. The method includes: A terminal sends a first public key of the terminal to an IoT device; the terminal obtains a second public key of the IoT device from the IoT device; the terminal sends first key information to a hub device, where the first key information includes a first private key of the terminal, the first public key, and the second public key; the hub device uses the first private key and the first public key in the first key information as a key pair of the hub device; and the hub device performs encrypted interaction with the IoT device by using the first key information.