Two-Certificate Network Attachment for Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Wi-Fi architectures, such as those using the C4MI platform, do not allow wireless medical devices to access networks outside their specific clinical network configuration, limiting their ability to communicate across multiple network tiers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for secure, automated network discovery and attachment using a two-certificate authentication scheme, where a Wi-Fi module and a functionality module of a purpose-built device interact with an authentication, authorization, and accounting server, and an application server to securely attach to a provider network, employing Passpoint and C4MI protocols for multi-tiered network access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-certificate authentication scheme is used for network attachment, then the authentication process is simpler and faster, but the device cannot access multiple network tiers and lacks fine-grained security control
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication scheme is segmented into two distinct certificates: a first certificate for initial network attachment and a second certificate for accessing additional network tiers. This segmentation allows the device to authenticate at different security levels corresponding to different network layers, enabling multi-tier access while maintaining clear separation of authentication functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system is designed to be universal across multiple network tiers. The same device and authentication infrastructure can handle both single-tier and multi-tier access scenarios, making the system adaptable to different deployment configurations without requiring separate authentication mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If manual network connection procedures are used, then authentication security is maintained, but user convenience and network attachment speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Security credentials (both certificates) are pre-configured in the device before deployment. The authentication process is automated through pre-established protocols and server configurations, eliminating the need for manual user intervention while maintaining security through pre-validated credential verification processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device autonomously performs network discovery, certificate selection, and authentication without requiring manual user input. The system self-manages the complex multi-certificate authentication process, including automatically presenting the appropriate certificates to the authentication server and handling the verification workflow.
3Reliability
If comprehensive security verification is implemented across all network access points, then unauthorized access is prevented, but network attachment time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Security verification is segmented into two distinct phases corresponding to the two certificates. The first certificate provides rapid initial authentication for basic network access, while the second certificate provides additional verification only when accessing higher-security network tiers. This segmented approach prevents unauthorized access at each layer while minimizing overall attachment time through progressive verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically attaching a purpose-built electronic device to a provider network includes steps of discovering, by a Wi-Fi module of the purpose-built electronic device, a wireless data network in operable communication with the provider network selecting, by the Wi-Fi module, the wireless data network, transmitting a primary authentication certificate from the Wi-Fi module to an authentication, authorization, and accounting server of the provider network, receiving, by an application server of the provider network, a secondary authentication certificate from a functionality module of the purpose-built electronic device authenticating, by the provider network, the primary and secondary authentication certificates, and attaching the purpose-built device to the provider network.