Sealed Key Lists for Distributed Cryptographic Service Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed computing systems, particularly those with a large number of geographically dispersed clients, centralized architectures face challenges in providing secure and efficient cryptographic services due to increased network latency and messaging bottlenecks, which are exacerbated when services require validation or credential management across multiple nodes.
Innovation Solution
A method of key management is introduced where cryptographic key lists are prepared and sealed with a limited period of validity, allowing deterministic association of keys with service requests, enabling scalable cryptographic services by distributing key management across multiple computing nodes, with each node capable of generating and validating credentials securely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized system is used to provide cryptographic services to a large number of geographically distributed clients, then service consistency and security control are improved, but network latency and messaging bottlenecks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized cryptographic service into multiple distributed service nodes. Each node maintains local key lists and can independently provide cryptographic services to clients in its region, eliminating the single point of congestion while maintaining overall system consistency through coordinated key management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares key lists in advance and distributes them to multiple service nodes before they are needed. This preliminary preparation allows nodes to respond immediately to client requests without waiting for real-time key generation or validation from a central authority, reducing latency while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If a centralized system manages cryptographic keys for all clients, then security control and key management consistency are improved, but system complexity and messaging overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized key management function is segmented into multiple distributed key management nodes. Each node manages keys locally for its assigned clients, reducing the messaging overhead and complexity of centralized coordination while maintaining security through sealed key lists that can be verified by trusted parties.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of replicating the entire centralized key management system, the patent creates sealed copies of key lists that can be distributed to multiple nodes. These sealed key lists contain all necessary key information for a given period, allowing nodes to operate independently without continuous messaging to a central authority.
3Productivity
If key lists are distributed to multiple computing nodes, then service availability and latency are improved, but the quantity of messaging and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the action of distributing key lists in advance to multiple nodes before service requests arrive. By preparing and sealing key lists beforehand, nodes can immediately serve clients without requiring continuous messaging or coordination during operation, significantly reducing messaging quantity while maintaining high service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the key list distribution function from continuous operational messaging. By separating key management into discrete pre-distributed sealed lists, the system eliminates the need for ongoing communication between nodes during normal service operation, reducing messaging overhead while maintaining productivity.
4Loss of time
If a distributed architecture is implemented with multiple geographically dispersed servers, then network latency is reduced, but new bottlenecks and coordination challenges appear
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the distributed architecture into independent service nodes, each with its own sealed key lists. This segmentation allows nodes to operate autonomously without complex coordination, as each node's key list is self-contained and sealed, eliminating coordination bottlenecks while maintaining low latency through geographic distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed key list acts as an intermediary between the key management authority and distributed service nodes. This intermediary contains all necessary key information in a verified, self-contained format, allowing nodes to operate independently without complex coordination protocols or continuous communication with central authorities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of key management is described for computing nodes adapted to provide a cryptographic service, the method comprising the following steps. A key list comprising a plurality of cryptographic keys is prepared for use by a cryptographic service. This the key list is sealed by a cryptographic seal to assure the integrity of the key list - the key list has an associated period of validity. This key list is provided to one or more computing nodes before the associated period of validity for the key list to be used in providing the cryptographic service during the associated period of validity. A further key list comprising a further plurality of cryptographic keys and having a subsequent associated period of validity is then prepared, wherein the further key list is provided to the one or more computing nodes before the subsequent associated period of validity. A computing node adapted to use this method and a distributed information security system comprising a plurality of such computing nodes are also described.