Secure Battery Authentication via Out-of-Band Cryptoprocessor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices face risks from unauthorized batteries, which can provide unsafe energy levels or introduce malware, compromising the device's safety and performance, and existing validation methods are insecure and dependent on the operating system.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secure battery authentication system using a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for out-of-band processing, verifying a battery's authenticity through an embedded signed certificate, and enforcing power and geographic restrictions, ensuring only certified batteries can power the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery is approved and designed for the computing node, then safety and performance are ensured, but device complexity and authentication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication by verifying the battery's signed certificate against the platform's public key before allowing the battery to power the device. This pre-verification action ensures that only authorized batteries can operate, preventing safety issues before they occur. The authentication check happens during battery initialization, blocking unauthorized batteries from causing harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cryptoprocessor (TPM) as an intermediary component that handles the authentication process independently of the main processor and operating system. The TPM securely stores the public key and performs cryptographic verification, acting as a trusted mediator between the battery and the platform. This separates security-critical functions from the main system, improving both security and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If firmware/BIOS validation is used for battery authentication, then operating system dependency is created, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication function from the operating system by implementing it in the cryptoprocessor's secure environment. The authentication logic is separated into distinct modules: the TPM handles cryptographic verification, the battery manager handles certificate validation, and the OS handles high-level power management. This segmentation ensures that security-critical authentication is independent of OS vulnerabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based firmware/BIOS validation mechanism with a hardware-based cryptoprocessor implementation. The TPM provides hardware-enforced security for key storage and cryptographic operations, substituting the weaker software-based authentication with a more secure hardware root of trust. This eliminates the security weaknesses inherent in firmware/BIOS approaches.
3Productivity
If primitive validation comparing battery status against known values is performed, then basic functionality is maintained, but security against malware is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary authentication by verifying the battery's signed certificate against the platform's public key before allowing the battery to power the device. This pre-verification action ensures that only authorized batteries can operate, preventing safety issues before they occur. The authentication check happens during battery initialization, blocking unauthorized batteries from causing harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cryptoprocessor (TPM) as an intermediary component that handles the authentication process independently of the main processor and operating system. The TPM securely stores the public key and performs cryptographic verification, acting as a trusted mediator between the battery and the platform. This separates security-critical functions from the main system, improving both security and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment includes a method executed by at least one processor comprising: an out-of-band cryptoprocessor receiving security credentials from a battery, which is included in a mobile computing node that comprises the at least one processor, while the mobile computing node is engaged in at least one of (a) booting, and (b) exchanging the battery after booting and during run-time; the cryptoprocessor accessing an authentication key; and the cryptoprocessor successfully authenticating the battery, via out-of-band processing, based on the security credentials and the authentication key. In an embodiment the security credentials are included in a certificate. Other embodiments are described herein.