Time-Controlled Cryptographic Keys to Reduce Crypto Shredding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face inefficiencies and increased latency due to the frequent decryption and re-encryption of time-controlled data using crypto shredding techniques, consuming significant computing resources.

Innovation Solution

Generate a set of cryptographic keys corresponding to future time periods and use them to encrypt and decrypt time-controlled data, ensuring data accessibility only during valid periods, thereby reducing the need for repeated encryption and decryption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If crypto shredding techniques are used to destroy time-controlled data by frequent decryption and re-encryption, then data security is improved, but computing resource consumption increases and latency is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidcomputing resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates a set of cryptographic keys corresponding to different future time periods before they are needed. When data needs to be encrypted with a specific time-bound key, the system can immediately use the pre-generated key without waiting for generation or repeated decryption/re-encryption operations, thus reducing computing resource consumption while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cryptographic key management is segmented into multiple time-period-specific keys rather than using a single key for all time periods. This segmentation allows the system to encrypt data once with the appropriate time-bound key and store it indefinitely, eliminating the need for frequent decryption and re-encryption operations that consume computing resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If crypto shredding techniques are used to destroy time-controlled data by frequent decryption and re-encryption, then data security is improved, but latency is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Cryptographic keys for future time periods are generated in advance and stored in a key store. When data encryption or decryption is requested, the system immediately retrieves the appropriate pre-generated key without requiring time-consuming decryption and re-encryption operations, thus reducing latency while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides time control into discrete key validity periods, where each key is valid for a specific time range. This segmentation allows O(1) key retrieval based on timestamp comparison, eliminating the latency associated with repeated cryptographic operations while ensuring data is only accessible during valid time periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If pre-generated cryptographic keys are used for time-controlled data, then computing resource consumption is reduced and latency is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputing resource consumptionVSAvoidkey management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates and stores cryptographic keys for multiple future time periods in a key store during initialization or in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time key generation or repeated decryption/re-encryption operations, reducing computing resource consumption while the complexity is managed through automated key retrieval based on timestamp comparison

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The key retrieval process is designed to be self-service, where the system automatically determines the appropriate key by comparing the current timestamp with the validity periods of stored keys. This automated process reduces the need for complex manual key management while maintaining security and reducing computing resource consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4625229A1Cryptographic key management for time controlled data
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4625229A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4625229A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4625229A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and systems for cryptographic key management for time controlled data are provided herein. A request to store a data item associated with a time controlled application at a data structure is received. A time period during which the data item is to be invalidated is determined based on a data access protocol for the time controlled application. A cryptographic key that is pre-generated for a future time period corresponding to the determined time period is identified. The data item is caused to be encrypted using the identified cryptographic key. The encrypted data item is stored at the data structure in accordance with the received request.