Low-Power Block Cipher Encryption via Segmented Key Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing block cipher techniques for low-power encryption, such as those used in mobile devices, face challenges in balancing power consumption and security, with many requiring a large number of CPU cycles and having vulnerabilities in software environments.
Innovation Solution
A low-power encryption apparatus and method utilizing a block cipher algorithm with a user interface, key scheduler, initial conversion, round function processing, and final conversion units to generate and process round keys and initial round function values, employing operations like XOR and rotation to efficiently encrypt data with reduced CPU cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software implementation of block cipher is used in mobile devices, then encryption functionality is provided, but power consumption increases significantly (70% or higher during continuous encryption)
Solution Approach 1:
The encryption process is divided into distinct functional units: user interface unit for input, key scheduler unit for key generation, initial conversion unit for plaintext processing, round function processing unit for iterative encryption operations, and final conversion unit for ciphertext generation. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized independently for low-power operation while maintaining complete encryption functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs specific cryptographic parameters and operations optimized for low-power mobile environments, including 128-bit block size, 192-bit round keys divided into 32-bit sub-keys, and carefully selected rotation amounts (9, 5, 3 bits) that balance security with computational efficiency. These parameter choices reduce the computational burden compared to standard implementations.
2Use of energy by moving object
If block cipher techniques are developed for ultra-light and low-power hardware encryption, then power consumption is reduced, but vulnerability increases and CPU cycle requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The key scheduler unit performs preliminary key expansion operations before the main encryption process, generating all round keys from the master key in advance. This preliminary action organizes the key material efficiently, reducing the computational burden during actual encryption while maintaining strong security through proper key derivation using fixed constant values and structured key schedule round function values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary computational elements including initial round function values derived from plaintext, round key values generated by the key scheduler, and structured sub-key arrangements. These intermediaries facilitate the encryption process with reduced computational complexity while preserving security through multiple transformation layers.
3Reliability
If standard block cipher algorithms are used for secure encryption, then security is maintained, but CPU cycle requirements increase by 70% or higher
Solution Approach 1:
The encryption process uses periodic round functions applied iteratively with a fixed number of rounds. Each round applies the same structured operations (XOR, addition modulo 2^32, and rotation) with different round keys, creating a periodic pattern that is both secure and computationally efficient. The rotation amounts follow a periodic sequence (9, 5, 3 bits) that optimizes the balance between diffusion and computational cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple copies of the same round function structure with different round keys rather than implementing complex unique transformations for each round. This copying approach maintains security through key diversity while reducing implementation complexity and CPU cycle requirements by reusing the same computational template.
Data Source
AI summary
An encryption apparatus and method that provide a mobile fast block cipher algorithm that supports low-power encryption. The encryption apparatus includes a user interface unit, a key scheduler unit, an initial conversion unit, a round function processing unit, and a final conversion unit. The user interface unit receives plain text to be encrypted and a master key. The key scheduler unit generates a round key from the master key. The initial conversion unit generates initial round function values from the plain text. The round function processing unit repeatedly processes a round function using the round key and the initial round function values. The final conversion unit generates ciphertext from the resulting values of the round function processed in a final round by the round function processing unit.