Hardware Security Server Proxy for Unified Key Handle Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hardware security servers from different vendors have varying capabilities and application programming interfaces (APIs, requiring custom libraries for each, which complicates management and integration.

Innovation Solution

A network traffic manager apparatus acts as a proxy, using virtual key tables to map to different back-end keys for multiple hardware security servers, providing a unified interface and managing connections efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom libraries are installed for each hardware security server to support different vendor APIs, then compatibility with various hardware security servers is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with various hardware security serversVSAvoidcomplexity of managing multiple custom libraries

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a proxy library as an intermediary component between the client application and multiple hardware security servers. This proxy library provides a unified interface that translates generic requests into vendor-specific API calls, eliminating the need for multiple custom libraries while maintaining compatibility with different hardware security server vendors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The proxy library implements multi-functionality by supporting multiple hardware security server vendors through a single unified interface. It can dynamically select and communicate with different backend hardware security servers based on the request, providing universal access to various vendors' APIs without requiring separate library installations for each vendor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with various hardware security serversVSAvoidease of managing and integrating hardware security servers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy library serves as a mediator that simplifies operation by providing a consistent, vendor-agnostic interface. Users interact with the proxy library using standard API calls, and the proxy automatically handles the complexity of translating these calls to the appropriate vendor-specific APIs, making the system easier to operate while maintaining broad hardware security server compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a unified interface is implemented to manage multiple hardware security servers, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different vendor APIs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of managing hardware security serversVSAvoidability to support different vendor APIs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy library acts as an intelligent intermediary that maintains a unified interface for ease of operation while simultaneously adapting to different vendor APIs. It includes a registry or configuration mechanism that maps unified interface calls to vendor-specific API implementations, allowing the system to support multiple vendors through a single standardized interface without losing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260081763A1Methods for managing hardware security servers and devices thereof

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 F5 NETWORKS INC

AI summary

Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, network traffic manager apparatuses, and systems that assist with managing hardware security servers includes receiving a request from a client. The request can comprise of a unique numerical handle and a command for a hardware security server. The unique numerical handle can be generated as a response to a previous request from the client. It can further include searching for a key handle mapped to the unique numerical handle and hardware security server in memory. The method can also include sending the request to the hardware security server with the key handle when the key handle is retrieved from memory during the search and sending a response received from the hardware security server to the client. The response can be received as a result of sending the request to the hardware security server.