EO Interconnect Tamper Protection via PRBS Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical data center networks face unauthorized access risks due to potential tampering with Electro-Optical (EO) interconnects, where malicious transceivers can be substituted to leak data, and existing challenge-response authentication protocols are ineffective in noisy communication channels with high Bit Error Rates.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a transceiver-to-transceiver authentication technique using Pseudo-Random Binary Sequence (PRBS) encoders and decoders, Walsh functions, Barker sequences, Kasami sequences, and Gold sequences to secure EO interconnects by conducting a challenge-response transaction over optical fibers, with processing circuitry to verify responses and initiate responsive actions upon failure, ensuring only authentic transceivers can generate correct encrypted responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transceiver-to-transceiver authentication is implemented using PRBS encoders and decoders, then security against tampering is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reuses existing PRBS encoders and decoders that are already present in optical transceivers for their original data transmission function, and simultaneously employs them for authentication purposes. This multi-functional use of existing components provides security without adding dedicated authentication hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication mechanism leverages the transceivers' own existing resources (PRBS encoding/decoding capabilities and cryptographic keys stored within the transceivers) to perform authentication. The transceivers authenticate each other using their inherent functions rather than requiring external authentication devices, thus avoiding additional complexity.
2Reliability
If challenge-response transaction is conducted over noisy optical fiber channels, then tamper detection capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to high Bit Error Rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary encoding of the challenge and response messages using PRBS encoders before transmission over the noisy optical channel. This pre-encoding establishes error-detecting and error-correcting capabilities that protect the authentication exchange from bit errors, thereby maintaining response verification accuracy despite channel noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication protocol includes feedback mechanisms where the receiving transceiver verifies the received challenge-response sequence and provides feedback on validation results. This feedback loop allows the system to detect and handle transmission errors, ensuring reliable tamper detection even in noisy conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively detects and prevents tampering attempts by verifying the authenticity of responses, deactivating potentially compromised channels and alerting network devices, thereby enhancing the security of EO interconnects without requiring dedicated hardware or software, enabling cost-effective security over optical networks.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber, and first and second electro-optical (EO) transceivers coupled to respective ends of the optical fiber... exchange the optical signals with one another over the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
convert between the electrical signals and optical signals, and exchange the optical signals with one another over the optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-optical (EO) interconnect assembly includes an optical fiber, and first and second EO transceivers. The first and second EO transceivers, which are coupled to respective ends of the optical fiber, are configured to (i) connect to respective first and second network devices, (ii) exchange electrical signals with the first and second network devices, (iii) convert between the electrical signals and optical signals, and exchange the optical signals with one another over the optical fiber, and (iv) conduct with one another, over the optical fiber, a secure challenge-response transaction, and to initiate a responsive action upon failure of the challenge-response transaction.