Secure Digital Certificate Provisioning via Payload Warehouse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack reliable and secure methods for provisioning digital certificates to multiple smart thermostat devices, leading to inefficiencies and security risks, as certificates may not be used when needed and can be compromised during storage.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a secure payload generator and a payload warehouse that encrypts private keys using public keys, allowing only requesting devices to access encrypted digital payloads, ensuring secure storage and provisioning on an as-needed basis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital certificates are stored in smart thermostat devices for demand response operations, then the devices can receive and implement energy efficiency instructions, but the certificates may be compromised during storage and transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encryption of the digital certificate (payload) using the device's public key before storage in the payload warehouse. This advance encryption ensures that even if the stored payload is intercepted, the private key remains secure because the encryption is done beforehand using only the public key, which cannot decrypt the certificate.
Solution Approach 2:
The payload warehouse acts as an intermediary that stores encrypted digital certificates. The warehouse receives device information, determines an encryption vector based on the device's public key, encrypts the payload accordingly, and provides it to the device. This intermediary system enables secure provisioning without direct exposure of the private key during storage and transmission.
2Productivity
If digital certificates are provisioned to multiple devices, then demand response functionality can be implemented across the network, but there is a lack of tools for reliably and securely provisioning these certificates
Solution Approach 1:
The payload warehouse provides a universal platform that handles multiple functions: storing encrypted payloads, receiving device information, determining encryption vectors based on device-specific public keys, and provisioning payloads to multiple devices. This single system serves all devices in the network, enabling scalable and secure certificate provisioning without requiring separate secure channels for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the encryption parameter (encryption vector) based on device-specific information and public keys. Each device receives a uniquely encrypted payload tailored to its specific public key, enabling secure provisioning across multiple devices with different cryptographic parameters while maintaining individual security for each device.
3Ease of operation
If digital certificates are stored in permanent memory during manufacturing, then devices are pre-configured for authentication, but many certificates will not be used and security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pre-configuring devices at manufacturing, the system performs preliminary encryption of the certificate in the payload warehouse before provisioning. The certificate is encrypted using the device's public key as the encryption key, and only then is it provided to the device. This approach delays configuration until installation while maintaining security through advance encryption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temporary encryption vectors that are device-specific and can be changed or rotated. The payload warehouse can regenerate encryption vectors and re-encrypt payloads as needed, allowing for flexible, disposable encryption schemes rather than permanent fixed encryption. This enables security to be maintained even as devices are deployed and certificates are rotated.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a device and a payload warehouse. The device receives a user request to initiate a feature of the device. In response to receiving the request, device information is provided to a payload warehouse. The payload warehouse stores an inventory which includes a digital payload. The digital payload includes data, such as a digital certificate, which may be used by the device to implement the user-requested feature. The payload warehouse receives the device information provided by the device and determines an encryption vector based at least in part on the received device information. Using the encryption vector, the digital payload is encrypted. The encrypted digital payload is provided to the device.