User Device Configuration via Distributed Ledger Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing connectivity of IoT devices poses security risks as they connect to networks, compromising both user devices and networks, necessitating a method to securely configure device functionality based on service provider characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a user device sending a request for characteristic data to a node in a distributed ledger network, receiving a response, and configuring its functionality based on this data to determine accessibility to service providers, ensuring secure data sharing and compliance with standards and legal requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user devices connect to networks to enable IoT communication and data exchange, then connectivity and functionality are improved, but security risks and vulnerability to compromise increase
Solution Approach 1:
A policy decision engine acts as an intermediary between the user device and service providers. This engine evaluates characteristic data from distributed ledgers and network devices to determine whether to grant access, thereby mediating the security risk while maintaining connectivity functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary security assessments by evaluating characteristic data from distributed ledgers before granting network access or service provider connectivity. This advance verification prevents compromised devices from connecting, thus maintaining security while enabling legitimate connectivity.
2Productivity
If service providers are granted access to user device functionality and data, then service delivery capability is improved, but data security and device protection are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The policy decision engine grants access rights on a granular, service-specific basis rather than blanket access. Each service provider receives only the specific functionality and data portions necessary for their particular service, thereby enabling service delivery while minimizing data security exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes access parameters based on evaluated characteristic data. Access rights are adjusted according to the service provider's compliance status, security credentials, and the specific service requirements, allowing service delivery while maintaining data protection through parameterized control.
3Reliability
If comprehensive data access policies are implemented to control service provider access, then data protection is improved, but device complexity and configuration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The policy decision engine operates autonomously to evaluate characteristic data and make access decisions without requiring manual user configuration of complex security policies. The system self-manages the data protection logic, thereby simplifying the user interface while maintaining comprehensive data protection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors service provider actions and characteristic data, providing feedback to the policy decision engine that automatically adjusts access policies. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains data protection without requiring users to manually configure or understand complex security settings.
4Ease of operation
If selective functionality access is configured based on service provider characteristics, then security control is improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The policy decision engine serves multiple functions: evaluating characteristic data, determining access rights, enforcing security policies, and monitoring service provider compliance. This multi-functional approach consolidates security control operations into a single system component, simplifying security management while maintaining selective functionality control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of configuring a user device. The method includes sending, from the user device to a node of a distributed ledger network (DLN), the node configured to store a distributed ledger of the DLN, a request for characteristic data indicative of a characteristic associated with a service provider, receiving, at the user device, a response from the node of the DLN in response to the request, and configuring a functionality of the user device accessible to the service provider, based at least in part on the response from the node of the DLN. Further aspects relate to a data processing system, a network, and a method of operating a network.