Pub/Sub Messaging Key-Group Encryption Hierarchy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing publish/subscribe messaging systems face inefficiencies in implementing end-to-end encryption, particularly when dealing with a large number of subscribers, as they often require broadcasting new keys to all users upon authorization changes, leading to increased network traffic and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a middleware system that uses key-groups to manage end-to-end encryption, where subscribers are organized into nested groups, allowing for efficient key distribution and minimizing the need for new key issuance upon authorization changes, thereby reducing network traffic and maintaining security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional key distribution is used in pub/sub messaging systems, then end-to-end encryption can be implemented, but network traffic increases significantly when authorization changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments subscribers into hierarchical key groups (parent groups and child groups) with distinct encryption keys at each level. When a subscriber is unauthorized, only the child group keys need to be revoked, not all individual subscriber keys. This segmentation limits the scope of key distribution to only affected groups, significantly reducing network traffic while maintaining encryption reliability.
2Reliability
If individual keys are issued to each subscriber, then message security is maintained, but system complexity increases when managing authorization changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested key group structure where child groups are contained within parent groups, forming a hierarchical tree. Each group has its own encryption key, and groups can be nested within other groups. This nesting allows efficient key management by enabling selective key distribution and revocation at any level of the hierarchy, reducing complexity compared to managing individual subscriber keys while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The key group structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides end-to-end encryption, enables efficient key distribution, simplifies authorization management, and allows scalable subscriber organization. The same hierarchical structure handles both security and operational complexity, making the system more manageable despite having many subscribers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If keys are broadcast to all users upon authorization changes, then all subscribers are notified, but the number of new keys required increases from ~40 to ~999,999
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making key distribution specific to affected groups rather than broadcasting to all users. When a subscriber is unauthorized, only the child groups that include that subscriber receive key updates. This localized approach maintains authorization flexibility while dramatically reducing the number of keys that need to be issued and distributed, from potentially 999,999 to around 40 keys in the affected child groups.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a method, system, and/or computer program product for a publish/subscribe messaging system. A processor identifies a subscriber of a pub/sub messaging system. The processor retrieves a stored encrypted key for the identified subscriber of the pub/sub messaging system. The processor communicates the retrieved encrypted key to a user selected from a group comprising a publisher of the pub/sub messaging system and the identified subscriber of the pub/sub messaging system. The processor implements end-to-end encryption of messages of the pub/sub messaging system based on key-groups.