Multi-X Key Chaining for GBA Identity Hierarchy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data security and encryption solutions, such as PKI and GBA, face challenges in providing scalable and efficient end-to-end security, especially in multi-device, multi-persona, multi-user, and multi-domain environments, while adhering to stringent privacy regulations like GDPR.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution provides a flexible and scalable single-key encryption/decryption management system that extends the Generic Bootstrapping Architecture (GBA) to offer end-to-end security and key chaining encryption for Multi-X scenarios. This system includes methods for establishing an identity hierarchy, managing consents for data access, and generating public and secret keys to ensure secure communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional PKI and GBA architectures are used for data encryption, then security is provided, but scalability and efficiency deteriorate in multi-device, multi-persona, multi-user environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolithic key management into hierarchical levels (domain keys, persona keys, device keys) that can be independently managed and scaled. Each level handles specific encryption tasks, allowing the system to scale efficiently across multiple devices, personas, and domains while maintaining security through distributed key management rather than centralized bottlenecks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to key management, organizing keys across multiple levels (domain → persona → device) rather than using flat traditional PKI structures. This hierarchical organization enables efficient key derivation and management in multi-X environments, improving scalability without compromising security.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple time-based keys are used without hierarchy or identity logic, then encryption coverage is increased, but key management complexity and bottlenecks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary key derivation during bootstrapping, establishing a hierarchical key structure in advance rather than managing multiple independent time-based keys. Domain keys, persona keys, and device keys are pre-derived and organized hierarchically, enabling efficient encryption coverage across multiple contexts without the complexity of managing numerous standalone keys.
Solution Approach 2:
The hierarchical key structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: domain keys provide domain-level security, persona keys enable persona-specific encryption, and device keys handle device-specific operations. This multi-functional hierarchical approach replaces the need for numerous separate time-based keys, reducing management complexity while maintaining broad encryption coverage.
3Productivity
If single key encryption is used, then efficiency is improved, but adaptability to multi-X scenarios and privacy regulations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic key hierarchy that adapts to different scenarios (multi-device, multi-persona, multi-user, multi-domain) while maintaining encryption efficiency. The system can selectively activate appropriate key levels based on the operational context, providing both the efficiency of streamlined key usage and the adaptability needed for complex multi-X environments and privacy regulation compliance.
Data Source
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AI summary
Exemplary methods for facilitating secure communication between a mobile network subscriber and various service providers (SPs), the subscriber being associated with a plurality of entities comprising any combination of devices and profiles. Some embodiments can include: obtaining a security identifier associated with the subscriber; based on the security identifier, establishing an identity hierarchy comprising the plurality of entities associated with the subscriber; based on the security identifier, establishing consents for SPs to access data generated by the entities of the identity hierarchy; in response to a request comprising the security identifier, receiving a public key usable to encrypt data for sending to a particular SP, the data being decryptable using a corresponding secret key associated with an established consent for the particular SP; and encrypting the data using the public key and the identity hierarchy. Embodiments also include subscriber devices and server apparatus configurable to perform the exemplary methods.