Routing Hub One-Time Pad Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
One-time pad (OTP) cryptography faces challenges in secure key generation, exchange, and disposal, particularly in large networks where the number of unique pads required becomes unmanageable, and the risk of interception or misappropriation compromises security.
Innovation Solution
A centralized OTP encryption scheme using routing hubs that manage and distribute OTPs, ensuring secure encryption and decryption processes, minimizing the need for end-users to store multiple pads, and employing 'delta' pads to facilitate simultaneous encryption and decryption, with secure distribution and disposal mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional one-time pad cryptography is used in large networks, then encryption security is maintained, but the number of unique pads required becomes unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces routing hubs as intermediary nodes that hold and manage OTPs for multiple users. Instead of requiring N*(N-1)/2 unique pads for N users, each routing hub stores pads for its connected users, and pads are reused across multiple communication paths. This mediator approach dramatically reduces the total number of pads needed while maintaining security through multiple encryption layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes OTPs universal by allowing the same pad to serve multiple purposes: encrypting messages from different users, encrypting messages to different users, and being reused across multiple routing hubs. A single OTP can function as both an encryption key for user A and user B, and as a decryption key for multiple routing hubs, eliminating the need for dedicated unique pads for each user pair.
2Reliability
If more routing hubs are added to the network, then security against interception is improved, but the complexity of pad management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple routing hubs, each managing a subset of user pads. This segmentation distributes the pad management burden across multiple independent nodes, so each hub only needs to manage pads for its local users rather than all users in the network. The segmentation also provides security benefits since compromising one hub does not expose all pads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pad reuse by allowing the same OTP to be used across multiple routing hubs and for multiple user pairs. This parameter change from unique pads to reusable pads simplifies management while the system compensates by using multiple hubs to maintain security through path diversity.
3Device complexity
If OTPs are reused across multiple routing hubs, then pad distribution complexity is reduced, but the risk of misappropriation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by requiring that messages be encrypted with at least two different OTPs when transmitted through multiple routing hubs. This creates a security buffer where even if one pad is misappropriated, the message remains protected by the second pad. The system proactively prepares this protective layer before transmission occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite encryption scheme where multiple OTPs are combined to protect a single message. Just as composite materials combine different substances to achieve superior properties, the system combines multiple encryption pads to achieve superior security. The message is encrypted with OTP1 at one hub and OTP2 at another hub, creating a composite encryption layer that is more secure than any single pad alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising: at least one hardware processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions, the program instructions executable by the at least one hardware processor to: receive, by a routing hub in a computer network, from an origin node, a communication intended to a destination node, wherein said communication is encrypted with a one-time pad (OTP) associated with said origin node, apply, by said routing hub, to said communication, a customized OTP configured to simultaneously (i) encrypt said communication with said OTP associated with said destination node, and (ii) decrypt said communication with said OTP associated with said origin node, and deliver said communication to said destination node for decrypting said communication with said OTP associated with said destination node.