Verifying Aircraft Position via Blockchain Ledger
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Solution Overview
Problem
The unencrypted nature of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) messages raises concerns about the potential for malicious actors to generate inaccurate or inauthentic position information, compromising the security of aircraft positioning data.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a tamper-resistant distributed public ledger, such as a blockchain, to verify aircraft position information by comparing ADS-B message data with stored flight plan data, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the position information through a public and incorruptible ledger system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ADS-B messages are transmitted unencrypted to maintain transparency, then the ease of operation and transparency are improved, but the security and reliability of position information deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distributed public ledger (blockchain) as an intermediary between ADS-B message transmission and verification. The ledger stores authenticated flight plan data and position information, allowing transparent verification without requiring encryption of the messages themselves. Any recipient can verify position authenticity by checking the blockchain ledger, maintaining transparency while ensuring security through the immutable nature of the distributed ledger.
2Reliability
If a distributed public ledger is implemented to verify position data, then the security and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed public ledger serves multiple functions: it stores flight plan data, records position information, provides authentication, and enables verification. By using a single multi-functional system rather than separate components for each function, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability for position verification.
3Reliability
If flight plan data is stored in a tamper-resistant distributed public ledger, then the integrity and authenticity are improved, but the loss of time for accessing and verifying data may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores authenticated flight plan data in the distributed public ledger before it is needed for verification. By pre-storing the authoritative flight plan information in the blockchain, the system eliminates the need for real-time authentication queries to external sources during verification, reducing verification time while maintaining data integrity through the immutable ledger.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of verifying aircraft position information based on ADS-B messages includes receiving an ADS-B message indicating an identifier of an aircraft and indicating a position of the aircraft. The method includes accessing a tamper-resistant distributed public ledger of authenticated flight plan data to determine whether flight plan data associated with the identifier is stored in the tamper-resistant distributed public ledger. The method includes, conditioned upon a determination that the flight plan data is stored in the tamper-resistant distributed public ledger, comparing the position to a flight path indicated by the flight plan data. The method includes selecting a characteristic of an icon corresponding to the aircraft based on a determination whether the position corresponds to the flight path. The method further includes displaying, on a display device and based on the characteristic, the icon at a location corresponding to the position.