Portable Recording Medium Encryption Key Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable recording media lack a secure method to switch between encryption and non-encryption modes without compromising security, as changing modes can result in the loss of encryption keys, making it difficult to recover encrypted data.
Innovation Solution
A portable recording medium with an interface, storage section, and control section that allows switching between encryption and non-encryption modes while continuously storing the encryption key, enabling secure data recovery by maintaining the encryption key even when switched to non-encryption mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the portable recording medium switches from encryption recording mode to non-encryption recording mode by deleting the encryption key, then the ease of operation is improved for accessing data, but the reliability of data security deteriorates and data recovery becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining the encryption key in the storage section even after switching to non-encryption mode, rather than deleting it. This preliminary retention of the encryption key enables future data recovery operations without requiring immediate deletion, thus preserving both ease of operation and security reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by allowing the portable recording medium to be switched between encryption and non-encryption modes while retaining the encryption key. This enables the system to discard encryption functionality when needed for ease of operation while maintaining the capability to recover encrypted data by re-enabling encryption mode.
2Device complexity
If the encryption key is deleted when switching to non-encryption mode, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of information increases making data recovery impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the storage section to serve multiple functions: it stores both encrypted data and encryption keys regardless of the operational mode. This multi-functional storage approach reduces the need for separate key management systems while preventing information loss, as the encryption key remains available for recovery operations even in non-encryption mode.
3Reliability
If the portable recording medium maintains encryption key storage in non-encryption mode, then the reliability of data recovery is improved, but the loss of substance increases regarding security risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a dynamic mode-switching mechanism that allows the portable recording medium to transition between encryption and non-encryption modes based on operational needs. The control section dynamically manages the encryption flag and maintains the encryption key in the storage section, enabling the system to adapt its security characteristics without permanently exposing the key, thus balancing recovery reliability with security risk management.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique of the present invention includes a storage section for storing contents data and an encryption flag indicating that any one of an encryption recording mode and a non-encryption recording mode is set, an encrypting engine for encrypting contents data using an encryption key when the encryption recording mode is set, and a control section for controlling a storage section so that the encryption key and the encrypted contents data are stored when the encryption recording mode is set. Further, when the setting is changed from the encryption recording mode into the non-encryption recording mode, the control section controls the storage section so that the encryption flag is changed to indicate the setting of the non-encryption recording mode with the continuous storage of the encryption key.