Temporary Pseudo-Random Address Generation for Wireless Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication devices (WCDs) face security issues due to the potential disclosure of their permanent addresses during short-range wireless connections, as identification information can be intercepted by unauthorized devices, allowing malicious actors to track users or access sensitive data.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate and use temporary pseudo-random addresses, which are created by combining secret address components with entropy and encryption functions, allowing only trusted devices to determine the actual identity of the WCD, thereby masking its permanent address.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a WCD uses a permanent address for identification during short-range wireless communication, then communication reliability is improved, but security deteriorates because the permanent address can be intercepted and used to track users or access sensitive data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static permanent address to a dynamic temporary address that changes over time. The WCD generates a new temporary address for each communication session or time interval, making tracking impossible while maintaining reliable communication through the address translation mechanism between temporary and permanent addresses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary address translation mechanism where a temporary address acts as a mediator between the WCD and the network. This temporary address shields the permanent address from exposure during communication, allowing reliable data transmission while preventing direct access to the identifying permanent address
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a WCD continuously changes its identification information to protect privacy, then security is improved, but device complexity increases due to address management and translation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The WCD autonomously generates its own temporary addresses using cryptographic functions based on its permanent address and time variables, without requiring external address allocation infrastructure. This self-service approach protects privacy through continuous address changes while minimizing system complexity by eliminating the need for external address management servers
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a WCD uses temporary pseudo-random addresses for communication, then security against tracking is improved, but the ability to be discovered and contacted by other devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary address serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides tracking prevention through randomness, enables device discovery through broadcast capability, and maintains communication reliability through translation mechanisms. Other devices can discover and contact the WCD using its temporary address without exposing the permanent address, achieving both security and discoverability
Data Source
AI summary
A security enhancing system for creating temporary identification information used to mask actual identification in a wireless communication device. The temporary identification information conforms to a standard usable by at least one wireless communication medium, and may be used by other devices in communicating with the wireless communication device, however, only other devices possessing secret address component information may determine the actual identity of the masked wireless communication device. The temporary identification information may further be recompiled when a threshold condition is satisfied.