Three-Element-Core Mechanism for Secure Key Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for securely storing and sharing confidential information face challenges with clumsy and insecure key exchange processes, particularly with asymmetric encryption, due to weak or absent identity verification, limiting their adoption and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A tightly coupled, distributed three-element-core mechanism comprising key masters, registries, and cloud lockboxes, which integrates with various user-facing applications to establish unique identities, manage encryption keys, and provide secure data exchange, while minimizing exposure to system administrators and supporting multiple security levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If asymmetric encryption is used to protect information, then security is improved, but the key exchange process becomes clumsy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a trusted third party (TTP) that acts as an intermediary to manage key pairs and facilitate secure key exchange. The TTP generates asymmetric key pairs for users, verifies their identities, and enables them to exchange encrypted data without directly sharing private keys. This mediator approach resolves the complexity of direct asymmetric key exchange while maintaining strong security through centralized key management and identity verification.
2Ease of operation
If identity verification is weak or absent in key exchange, then the process is simpler, but security effectiveness degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary identity verification through the trusted third party before key exchange occurs. The TTP verifies user identities, issues digital certificates, and establishes trust relationships in advance. This preliminary action ensures that only authenticated users can participate in key exchange, maintaining security effectiveness while keeping the actual exchange process simple for end users who don't need to perform complex verification themselves.
3Reliability
If private keys are not shared for asymmetric encryption, then security is maintained, but the solution becomes point-to-point and less adaptable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal key management system where the trusted third party serves multiple functions: generating key pairs for individual users, enabling peer-to-peer encryption, facilitating group communications, and supporting various authentication scenarios. The system allows private keys to remain secure while enabling flexible multi-party interactions through the TTP's coordination, thus achieving both security and adaptability across different use cases.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application generally relates to systems, devices, and methods to conduct the secure exchange of encrypted data using a three-element-core mechanism consisting of the key masters, the registries and the cloud lockboxes with application programming interfaces providing interaction with a wide variety of user-facing software applications. Together the mechanism provides full lifecycle encryption enabling cross-platform sharing of encrypted data within and between organizations, individuals, applications and devices. Control of the private key required for decryption is maintained by the information owner. More specifically, the mechanism establishes unique identities, verifies authenticity, generates and securely exchanges asymmetric encryption key pairs, encrypts, transmits, receives and decrypts data to/from cloud lockboxes; creates and appends metadata specific to the applications and retrieves and/or act upon metadata.