Mutually Trusted Module for Secure Sensor Data Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing concern about the security and privacy of sensor data in computing devices, as malware can intercept and access sensitive information from various sensors, highlighting the need for secure communication protocols between sensor and application modules.
Innovation Solution
A system is implemented that uses a mutually trusted module to establish cryptographically secure communication between sensor and application modules, employing cryptographic key exchange and session policies to ensure encrypted data transmission and restrict unauthorized access, even to malware like ring 0 type malware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor data is transmitted without encryption, then communication is simple and fast, but security and privacy are compromised allowing malware to intercept sensitive information
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a secure communication session before transmitting sensor data. The mutually trusted module performs cryptographic key exchange and session setup in advance, creating encrypted communication channels prior to data transmission. This preliminary security establishment ensures that when sensor data flows through the system, it is already protected without requiring complex real-time security decisions during data transmission.
2Reliability
If cryptographic security measures are implemented, then unauthorized access is prevented, but processing overhead and communication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mutually trusted module as an intermediary between the sensor module and application module. This dedicated security module handles all cryptographic operations including key exchange, authentication, and session management. By offloading these security-critical functions to a specialized intermediary component, the main data transmission path remains efficient while security requirements are met through the mediator's cryptographic processing.
3Reliability
If session policies are enforced to restrict access, then privacy is maintained, but system flexibility and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic session policies that adapt to different operational contexts. The mutually trusted module establishes session-specific security parameters and access controls based on the application's needs and the type of sensor data being transmitted. These policies can be dynamically adjusted during the session lifecycle, allowing the system to maintain strong privacy protection when needed while permitting flexible access control that adapts to changing operational requirements without requiring complete system reconfiguration.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems and methods include establishing a secure communication between an application module and a sensor module. The application module is executing on an information-handling machine, and the sensor module is coupled to the information-handling machine. The establishment of the secure communication is at least partially facilitated by a mutually trusted module.