Method and network to implement decentralized validation and authentication mechanisms to prevent ads-b cyber-attacks

Abstract

A method or network that addresses cybersecurity vulnerabilities in an ADS-B network by validating and authenticating ADS-B messages. Nodes of the network maintain a validated ledger of ADS-B transactions and use validated information from this ledger to improve security against common cybersecurity attacks including, but not limited to, denial of service attacks, jamming attacks, spoofing attacks, flooding attacks and eavesdropping.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15 / 913,383, filed Mar. 6, 2018 in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All disclosures of the document named above are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0002]Aspects of the present invention relate to the field of aircraft surveillance and monitoring, particularly toward a process that may be used to augment Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems by validating and authenticating ADS-B messages. Specifically, aspects of the present invention relate to using blockchain technology to transmit, distribute, and maintain an immutable ledger or record of communication transactions of all information exchanged using ADS-B between vehicles, thereby solving several cybersecurity vulnerabilities that exist in current state-of the-art systems.2. Description of the Related Art[0003]The Automatic Dependent Surveillanc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Therefore, what is needed are techniques that overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. Specifically, aspects of this invention address several of the above mentioned cybersecurity vulnerabilities to enhance security of the ADS-B network by validating and authenticating ADS-B messages. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.

Problems solved by technology

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) systems on-board aircraft can broadcast satellite based aircraft position and flight identification periodically, but suffer from cyber-security problems (most popularly, spoofing) due to the messages being unauthenticated and unencrypted by design.

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