Selective Message Encryption in Distributed Collaborative Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems are limited in providing flexible and dynamic security for data exchange in distributed networks, as they often require all data to be encrypted or none, and do not allow for granular control over message protection based on the sensitivity of data and trustworthiness of network links, leading to overprotection and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A distributed communication system that enables selective encryption of messages based on endpoint membership, message properties, and network link trustworthiness, allowing encryption to be applied only when necessary, and allowing messages to be flagged as sensitive for later encryption at network nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all data is encrypted in conventional communication systems, then security is improved, but processing overhead and message size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies encryption selectively rather than uniformly to all data. Each message is evaluated individually based on its sensitivity and the trustworthiness of the network link, applying encryption only where necessary. This local quality approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining security for sensitive messages while avoiding the overhead of encrypting all messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial encryption action by encrypting only the portion of data that requires protection. Instead of applying encryption excessively to all messages, the system applies it partially based on message sensitivity assessment and link trust evaluation, thereby maintaining security where needed while improving overall communication efficiency.
2Reliability
If security provisions are made for complete end-to-end paths in conventional systems, then security coverage is improved, but configuration complexity and performance degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the end-to-end communication path into individual message-level decisions. Instead of configuring security for the complete path as a single unit, the system evaluates and applies security provisions to each message independently as it traverses the network. This segmentation reduces configuration complexity while maintaining comprehensive security coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The security configuration becomes dynamic rather than static. The system continuously evaluates message sensitivity and link trustworthiness in real-time, adjusting encryption decisions dynamically for each message based on current conditions. This dynamic approach simplifies configuration management while ensuring appropriate security coverage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional systems use the least secure link assessment for all messages, then security consistency is improved, but security efficiency deteriorates due to overprotection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different security treatments to different messages based on their individual characteristics. Instead of uniformly applying the least secure link assessment to all messages, the system evaluates each message's sensitivity and applies encryption selectively. This local quality approach maintains security consistency for sensitive messages while improving bandwidth utilization by avoiding unnecessary encryption of non-sensitive data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the security parameter (encryption state) based on message-specific attributes rather than using a fixed parameter for all messages. By evaluating message sensitivity and link trustworthiness, the system dynamically adjusts the encryption parameter, resolving the contradiction between security consistency and bandwidth efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A collaborative communication system that includes a plurality of endpoints and interconnecting nodes configured to communicate via messages over interconnecting channels. Each of the plurality of endpoints and/or interconnecting nodes can determine whether to apply protection to the messages on a per message basis and/or base on the interconnecting channel being used. Thus, a balance between adequate protection and use of system resources and bandwidth can be maintained.