Satellite One-Time Pad Key Distribution via Cosmic Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to securely establish and access identities for individuals, especially those without official proof of identity, and lack effective secure key distribution, limiting access to services and privacy.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a constellation of satellites to securely distribute and store one-time pad encryption keys, generated from random physical processes like cosmic radiation, which are accessible via terrestrial devices, providing redundancy and protection against unauthorized access and brute force attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If encryption keys are stored on earthbound devices, then accessibility is improved, but security is worsened due to vulnerability to theft and unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts encryption keys from earthbound devices and stores them on satellites in space. This physical removal eliminates the vulnerability to ground-based threats while maintaining accessibility through satellite communication channels. The keys are generated and stored in orbit, completely separating them from terrestrial attack vectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces satellites as an intermediary between key storage and access. Instead of direct earthbound storage, the satellite acts as a mediator that receives key requests, retrieves keys from space-based storage, and delivers them to authorized users. This intermediary layer adds security while preserving accessibility.
2Productivity
If encryption keys are distributed through conventional channels, then ease of distribution is improved, but security is worsened due to potential interception and compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves key distribution from the terrestrial dimension to the spatial dimension by utilizing satellites in orbit. This dimensional shift allows keys to be distributed globally without traversing vulnerable ground-based networks. The same-day global distribution capability is achieved through satellite positioning and communication, maintaining efficiency while eliminating interception risks.
3Reliability
If physical security measures are strengthened for key storage, then security is improved, but accessibility and portability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of secure key storage in space. Instead of physically transporting secured key containers, the system digitally transmits keys from satellite storage to authorized devices. This copying mechanism maintains the security of the master storage while enabling unlimited portability and accessibility of key copies to authorized users worldwide.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances identity security and access by physically isolating encryption keys from earthbound threats, ensuring secure key distribution and decryption capabilities, while maintaining accessibility for authorized entities.
Implementation Method 1
A primary satellite in a constellation of satellites receives a one-time pad from a delivery vehicle and generates access keys for the one-time pad using a random number generator based on cosmic background radiation
Data Source
AI summary
Encryption keys may be deployed to a satellite, secured, and accessed from a terrestrial source that verifies entity identifying information, generates an access key that is associated in a key pair with a one-time pad (OTP) key used to encrypt a message, transmits the access key to a satellite on which the key pair and encrypted message are stored, receives the encrypted message and the OTP key from the satellite, and decrypts the encrypted message using the OTP key. The satellite receives the OTP from an extra-terrestrial delivery vehicle, stores the OTP in memory, associates one-to-one the access keys and OTP keys as the key pairs in a key pairs table, receives a request for the encrypted message, the request including the access key paired in a key pair in the key pairs table with the OTP key that was used to encrypt the message, and retrieves, in response to receiving the access key, the OTP key and the encrypted message associated in the data storage with the OTP key paired with the access key. After retrieving the OTP key and encrypted message, the satellite transmits the OTP key and encrypted message to the terrestrial source and destroys the key pair.