Time-Window Power Switch for Secure Data Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage solutions, particularly cloud-based systems, are vulnerable to unauthorized access and decryption, and lack effective mechanisms for restricting access to sensitive data based on timing, leading to potential data compromise.
Innovation Solution
A digital storage system with independent digital storage devices that utilize a switch to regulate power supply based on user-defined timing restrictions, ensuring data access is only allowed during a specified time window, and incorporating a security module for authentication and encryption to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cloud-based storage solutions are used to store data, then data accessibility and convenience are improved, but security and vulnerability to unauthorized access worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides storage into multiple independent digital storage devices, each with isolated data partitions. This segmentation ensures that even if one device is compromised, other devices remain secure, thereby maintaining security while providing accessible storage across multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements time-window based access control where data can only be accessed during specific time periods. This periodic action restricts unauthorized access by limiting when data can be retrieved, thereby improving security while still allowing legitimate access during authorized time windows.
2Reliability
If data is encrypted to improve security, then confidentiality is improved, but vulnerability to decryption attacks and data manipulation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system encrypts data before storage and requires authentication before decryption can occur. This preliminary encryption action ensures that even if attackers obtain the encrypted data, they cannot access the information without the decryption key, which is only provided after successful authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that stands between the encrypted data and the decryption process. This intermediary verifies user credentials and controls key release, preventing direct access to decryption keys and thereby reducing vulnerability to decryption attacks.
3Ease of operation
If data files are made accessible at all times to improve convenience, then ease of access is improved, but security and risk of unauthorized duplication worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements time-window based access control where data can only be accessed during specific time periods. This periodic action restricts unauthorized access by limiting when data can be retrieved, thereby improving security while still allowing legitimate access during authorized time windows.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts access permissions based on time, authentication status, and device identity. This dynamic control allows the system to be restrictive when conditions are not met and permissive when they are, thereby providing both security and convenience without requiring data to be constantly accessible.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users share a storage system to improve versatility, then adaptability is improved, but security and isolation of individual data worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides storage into multiple independent digital storage devices, each with isolated data partitions. This segmentation ensures that even if one device is compromised, other devices remain secure, thereby maintaining security while providing accessible storage across multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system assigns different security attributes and access permissions to different users and devices. Each user has their own authentication credentials and time windows, creating locally optimized security configurations that maintain both multi-user capability and data isolation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and a system for secure data storage are described. In particular, a digital storage system for storing and retrieving user data is described, said system comprising: one or more independent digital storage devices, each digital storage device comprising a data storage device configured to store user data; a switch for regulating a supply of electrical power to the or each data storage device; and a security module for activating the switch and for storing timing restrictions that define a time window. The switch may only be activated to power the data storage device during the time window, improving the security of the user data.