Dynamic Authentication Blocks for Analog Signal Chain Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current IoT devices lack the ability to dynamically authenticate and secure analog signal chains, making them vulnerable to intrusion and malfunction due to compromised components, especially in reconfigurable and hardware-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamically authenticating a signal chain by using authentication blocks in each component to validate endpoint pairs and ensure signal chain integrity, allowing for real-time authentication and reconfiguration to prevent unauthorized access and ensure valid data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software-reconfigurable signal chains are implemented to enable flexible sensing and processing, then adaptability is improved, but security vulnerability increases due to inability to prevent wrong signal chain formation or unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring authentication data in authentication blocks before signal chain operation. Endpoint pairs are pre-validated and stored in authentication blocks, allowing the system to automatically verify signal chain integrity at runtime without manual intervention. This pre-prepared authentication mechanism enables the reconfigurable signal chain to maintain security despite dynamic reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces authentication blocks as intermediary components between signal chain components. These authentication blocks act as mediators that verify the validity of connections between endpoints. The intermediary authentication mechanism checks whether reconfigurations maintain intended signal flow, preventing unauthorized access while preserving the adaptability of the signal chain.
2Device complexity
If fixed wired signal chains are used to simplify security validation, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability is worsened due to inability to reconfigure for different sensing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling runtime reconfiguration of signal chains through dynamic updating of authentication blocks. The system transitions from static fixed wiring to dynamic reconfigurable connections that can be modified during operation. Authentication blocks are updated with new endpoint pairs to reflect reconfigured signal paths, allowing the system to adapt to different sensing requirements while maintaining security validation.
3Reliability
If authentication blocks are added to each component for runtime verification, then signal chain security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional hardware blocks and configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating authentication functionality directly into existing signal chain components. Authentication blocks are combined with comparators, ADCs, and other signal processing components rather than being separate standalone units. This integration shares hardware resources and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive authentication coverage across the signal chain.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for dynamically protecting against security vulnerabilities in a reconfigurable signal chain. The system includes a signal chain formed from at least a first component connected with a second component. The first component has a set of source outputs and a first authentication block, and the second signal chain component has a set of destination inputs and a second authentication block. The system also includes a signal chain configurator that populates the first authentication block with at least one validated endpoint from the set of destination inputs. A signal chain integrity block, which is communicatively coupled with the first authentication block and the second authentication block, identifies a source-destination pair from one or more endpoint pairs formed from the at least one validated endpoint and the set of source outputs. The signal chain integrity block propagates the source-destination pair to the first authentication block and the second authentication block. The second authentication block authenticates any received input using the source-destination pair.