Adaptive Security Protocols for Constrained-Bandwidth Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication protocols like IPSec impose excessive bandwidth overhead, rendering constrained bandwidth networks, such as underwater acoustic links and low probability to intercept/detect communication links, unusable for secure communications, especially in critical situations.
Innovation Solution
Adaptive security protocols that amortize authentication overhead over time and selectively apply security and compression based on message priority, using machine learning to identify critical data portions and shared knowledge between nodes to reduce bandwidth consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IPSec or other security protocols are applied to provide high level security, then security is improved, but bandwidth overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication process into two phases: a key exchange phase where authentication keys are established, and a data transmission phase where data is sent with reduced authentication overhead. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high security during key exchange while minimizing bandwidth overhead during actual data transmission on constrained links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the level of authentication applied to data packets based on the available bandwidth and network conditions. The authentication mechanism adapts its intensity according to the communication link capabilities, applying stronger authentication when bandwidth is available and reducing authentication overhead when bandwidth is constrained, thus resolving the contradiction between security and bandwidth consumption.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If higher spreading factor is used in RF communication to reduce detection probability, then LPI/D is improved, but overall throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different security and authentication characteristics to different portions of the communication protocol based on local requirements. Critical control messages receive enhanced authentication while routine data transmission uses reduced authentication overhead, allowing the system to maintain LPI/D capabilities without sacrificing overall throughput on constrained RF links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the authentication parameters dynamically based on the communication context and available resources. By adjusting authentication strength as a variable parameter rather than applying fixed high security levels, the system can optimize the balance between detection probability and throughput for RF communications with varying bandwidth constraints.
3Reliability
If authentication codes are sent with every data block, then security is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs authentication key exchange as a preliminary action before data transmission begins. Once the authentication keys are established during the key exchange phase, the system can proceed to data transmission with reduced authentication overhead, as the critical authentication setup has already been completed in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous authentication protection while reducing overhead by using the established authentication keys throughout the data transmission phase. The authentication mechanism remains active and effective without requiring repeated transmission of full authentication codes, thus maintaining security continuity while reducing data volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A technology is described for applying security to a message to be sent over a constrained bandwidth link. The method may include identifying a priority portion of the message, using machine learning, that is to be sent with increased security as compared with a remainder of the message. A level of security to be applied to the priority portion of the message may be determined. A security protocol may be applied to the priority portion of the message, as defined in part by the level of security. The data packets may be sent for the message across the constrained bandwidth link to a receiving node.