METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATING DIGITAL INFORMATION

• US 20160249221A1
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Marcin Szydelko, Mark S. La Pensee, Niels-Henrik Valentin, Peter Sandberg
• Inventors: SANDBERG, PETER, LA PENSEE, MARK S., SZYDELKO, MARCIN, VALENTIN, NIELS-HENRIK, WEALLEANS, MARK J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,064,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/106 Packet or message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method for authenticating digital data is described. The method comprises generating the digital data with a radio device that operates on a narrowband channel and associating metadata to the digital data, the metadata being unique to the digital data. Further, a predefined function is applied to both the digital data and the associated metadata to generate an authentication key, and the authentication key is transmitted for storage at a remote server via the narrowband channel. The digital data is then authenticated using the stored authentication key.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating digital data, characterized in that:

generating digital data with a communication device (105) that operates on a narrowband channel (120);

associating metadata to the digital data wherein the metadata is unique to the digital data;

applying a predefined function to both the digital data and the associated metadata to generate an authentication key;

transmitting, via the narrowband channel (120), the authentication key for storage at a remote server (110); and

authenticating the digital data using the stored authentication key.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprises storing the digital data within a memory (235) of the communication device (105).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of an air interface address of the communication device (105), a unique identifier of the communication device (105), location of the communication device (105), or identity of a user operating the communication device (105).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the narrowband channel (120) is implemented in accordance with a Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) standard.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the authentication key securely in the communication device (105).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprises storing the digital data in an unsecured device at an unsecured location upon generation of the authentication key or transmitting the digital data over a non-secure channel (125) for storage at a remote device (115) upon the generation of the authentication key.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the non-secure channel (115) is either a narrowband or a wideband channel.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein authenticating the digital data includes determining whether the stored digital data has been tampered with.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

applying the predefined function on the digital data and the metadata to generate a new authentication key;

comparing the new authentication key to the stored authentication key; and

determining whether the digital data has been tampered with based upon whether the new authentication key is same as the stored authentication key.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital data can be an image data, audio data, video data or any other digital information.

22. The method of claim 3, wherein the metadata further comprises timestamp associated with the generation of the digital data.

11. A portable communication device (105) operating on a narrowband channel characterized in that it comprises:

a processor (230) configured to;

generate digital data at the portable communication device (105),

associate metadata to the digital data wherein the metadata is unique to the digital data, and

apply a predefined function to both the digital data and the associated metadata to generate an authentication key; and

a transceiver (220) coupled to the processor (230) configured to;

transmit, via the narrowband channel, the authentication key for storage at a remote server (115) to enable authentication of the digital data.

12. The portable communication device (105) of claim 11, further comprising a memory (235) configured to store the digital data within the portable communication device (105).

13. The portable communication device (105) of claim 11, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of an air interface address of the portable communication device (105), a unique identifier of the portable communication device (105), location of the portable communication device (105), or identity of a user operating the portable communication device (105).

14. The portable communication device (105) of claim 11, wherein the narrowband channel (120) is implemented in accordance with a Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) standard.

15. The portable communication device (105) of claim 12, wherein the memory (235) is further configured to store the authentication key securely in the portable communication device (105)

16. The portable communication device (105) of claim 11, wherein the digital data is stored in an unsecured device at an unsecured location upon generation of the authentication key or transmitted On a non-secure channel (125) for storage at a remote secure location upon generation of the authentication key.

17. The portable communication device (105) of claim 16, wherein the non-secure channel (125) is either a narrowband or a wideband channel.

18. The portable communication device (105) of claim 16, wherein the authentication of the digital data includes determining whether the stored digital data has been tampered with.

19. The portable communication device (105) of claim 18, wherein the authentication of the digital data comprises:

applying the predefined function on the digital data and the metadata to generate a new authentication key;

comparing the new authentication key to the stored authentication key; and

determining whether the digital data has been tampered with based upon whether the new authentication key is same as the stored authentication key.

20. The portable communication device (105) of claim 11, wherein the digital data can be an image data, audio data, video data, or any other digital information.

21. The portable communication device (105) of claim 11, wherein the predefined function is a digital hash function.

23. The portable communication device (105) of claim 13, wherein the metadata further comprises timestamp associated with the generation of the digital data.