Nonce-Based Authentication for Zero-Power Encrypted Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Zero-power devices face challenges in completing communication tasks due to high complexity in authentication and key agreement procedures, leading to energy depletion and poor availability.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that allows zero-power devices to derive a key and authenticate using a nonce and a shared key, enabling encryption and decryption with reduced transmission, storage, and calculation overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional authentication and key agreement procedures are used, then security requirements are met, but energy consumption increases and zero-power devices cannot complete communication tasks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication and key agreement process into distinct phases: key derivation phase (where the zero-power device derives a first key from shared secret material) and authentication phase (where a second key is derived and verified). This segmentation allows the zero-power device to perform only lightweight key derivation operations locally, while heavier computational tasks are offloaded to other parties, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining security requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If traditional authentication and key agreement procedures are used, then security requirements are met, but device complexity increases making it unsuitable for zero-power devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the computationally intensive authentication verification tasks from the zero-power device and relocates them to other parties in the communication system. The zero-power device retains only the essential key derivation function, which operates on pre-shared secret material and requires minimal computational resources. This extraction principle reduces device complexity while preserving the security guarantees of traditional authentication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If traditional authentication and key agreement procedures are used, then comprehensive security is achieved, but transmission overhead and delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary key derivation operations where the zero-power device pre-computes cryptographic keys from shared secret material before actual authentication is needed. By performing these key derivation operations in advance and storing the results, the system eliminates the need for repeated complex calculations during authentication exchanges, thereby reducing authentication delay and transmission overhead while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4712529A1Communication method and device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4712529A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4712529A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4712529A1 patent drawingFigure 6(a)~6(b)

AI summary

This disclosure relates to a communication method, a device, a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, and a computer program. The method includes the following. A first device receives a first message, where the first message carries a nonce and first authentication information. The first device calculates a first key and second authentication information based on a first shared key and the nonce. When the first authentication information is the same as the second authentication information, the first device calculates ciphertext data based on the first key and data to be sent. The first device sends a second message, where the second message carries the ciphertext data.