Virtualized Computing Environment Cryptographic State Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing systems face challenges in reproducing computational results with high precision over time due to variations in hardware and software configurations, making it difficult to repeat computations accurately, especially in applications requiring stringent repeatability such as regulatory compliance and scientific validation.
Innovation Solution
A virtualized system using a trusted platform module (TPM) to cryptographically sign and verify the state of the computing environment at checkpoints during a computation, allowing for the recreation of the exact computational conditions and verification of the results' integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If computations are repeated using standard computing systems, then hardware and software evolution enables newer technology, but variations in configuration prevent exact reproduction of results
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing the complete computing environment state (hardware configuration, software versions, system parameters) at the time of original computation execution. This state information is stored and used to reconstruct the exact same environment when repeating computations, preventing drift caused by technology evolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a copy of the original computing environment state including all configuration parameters, software versions, and hardware settings. This copied state is preserved and reused to ensure that repeated computations occur in identical conditions, eliminating variability introduced by system updates or hardware changes.
2Reliability
If the computing environment is strictly controlled to ensure repeatability, then results can be reproduced exactly, but system flexibility and ability to update hardware/software are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the computing environment into captureable state information and executable computation logic. The state information (configuration, versions, parameters) is separated and stored independently, allowing the computation to be repeated with different environmental snapshots without modifying the core computational logic.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary layer is introduced that manages the relationship between the computation and the computing environment. This intermediary captures, stores, and reconstructs environment states, acting as a buffer that allows the system to maintain repeatability while still permitting hardware and software updates in the underlying infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If detailed state information is captured and stored for verification, then computational integrity can be verified, but storage requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential state information required for verification from the complete computing environment. Rather than storing every possible parameter, it captures key configuration data, software version identifiers, and critical system settings that are sufficient to reproduce and verify computational results.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification mechanism uses parameter-based state representation where environmental configurations are captured as structured parameter sets. This allows for efficient storage and comparison of system states without requiring complex data structures, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining verification accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtualized system that is capable of executing a computation that has been identified as a repeatable computation and recording various representations of the state of the computing environment throughout the execution of the repeatable computation, where the state of the computing environment can be cryptographically signed and/or verified using a trusted platform module (TPM), or other cryptographic module. For example, a TPM embedded in the host computing device may generate a hash measurement that captures the state of the repeatable computation at the time of the computation. This measurement can be digitally signed using one or more cryptographic keys of the TPM and recorded for future use. The recorded state can subsequently be used to repeat the computation and/or determine whether the computation was repeated successfully according to certain defined criteria.