Aircraft Ground Communication Security Level Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secure communication protocols between aircraft and ground bases, such as ACARS and ATN, become complex and costly due to the need for cryptographic key exchanges, leading to increased costs for airlines and potential security risks if the receiver cannot validate the security level of incoming messages.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that utilize a correspondence table to determine and enforce the appropriate security level for each type of information exchanged, allowing flexible and organized security settings based on the communication system's characteristics and user preferences, ensuring secure and efficient message transmission and reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If secure communication protocols (ACARS, ATN) are used to exchange messages between aircraft and ground base, then communication security is improved, but protocol complexity and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidprotocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the security management into two parts: a correspondence table that pre-defines security levels for different message types, and a validation mechanism that checks received messages against this table. This segmentation avoids the need for complex real-time cryptographic key exchanges while maintaining security, as the correspondence table provides a simplified lookup approach instead of full protocol implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If secure communication protocols are implemented, then communication security is improved, but implementation costs and service provider charges increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidimplementation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a lightweight correspondence table structure that can be easily stored and processed without requiring expensive cryptographic infrastructure. The table acts as a simple, disposable reference that replaces complex security protocols, significantly reducing implementation costs while maintaining adequate security validation for message exchanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the sender chooses a particular security level for a message, then security control is improved, but the recipient cannot validly consider the message without knowing its security level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity level controlVSAvoidmessage validation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback by requiring the recipient to validate received messages against the correspondence table. The validation process provides feedback on whether the message's security level matches the expected level for its type, ensuring that messages are only processed when appropriate security measures were applied during transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If flexible security settings are applied to different message types, then security adaptability is improved, but complexity in managing security levels increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity level flexibilityVSAvoidsecurity management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The correspondence table serves as a universal structure that handles security level assignment for all message types in a standardized manner. This multi-functional table can store and retrieve security level information for any message type, providing flexible security management without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each message category.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1994679B1Methods and devices for the emission and reception of a message to be exchanged between an aircraft and a ground base, and aircraft provided with such devices
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP1994679B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP1994679B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1994679B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for emitting a message relating to a determined type of information to be exchanged between an aircraft and a ground base reception method, and corresponding devices. The method determines a level of a securement associated with the determined type by a correspondence table, and emits the message according to a protocol having the determined level of securement.