Free Space Optical Data Exchange Across Air Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer systems under high network security restrictions face challenges in securely exchanging data with systems under different or lower security restrictions without being vulnerable to malicious attacks through traditional IP-based network communications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing free space optical communications systems that convert data into optical representations, allowing secure data exchange across an air gap by projecting and detecting images using optical sensors, thereby bypassing IP-based network vulnerabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical isolation (air gap) is implemented to protect against unauthorized access, then security against malicious attacks is improved, but data exchange capability between computer systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary system consisting of optical writers, optical readers, and optical sensors that mediate data transfer between isolated computer systems. This intermediary enables communication across the air gap without direct electronic connection, resolving the contradiction between security isolation and data exchange capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional electronic/electromagnetic communication systems with an optical system. By substituting electronic signals with optical signals (light-based transmission), the system achieves secure data exchange across the air gap while maintaining communication functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between physical isolation for security and data exchange capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If IP-based network communications are used for data exchange, then data exchange capability is improved, but vulnerability to malicious attacks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes IP-based electronic network communications with optical communication systems. By replacing the electronic communication infrastructure with light-based transmission and optical processing, the system eliminates vulnerabilities associated with IP protocols and electronic network attacks while maintaining data exchange capability
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
Enables secure data exchange between computer systems with varying security restrictions, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and resource expenditure on protection against malicious attacks.
Implementation Method 1
a first computer system can identify data for transmission to the second computer system, generate an optical representation of the data, and project the optical representation to the second computer system across an air gap extending between them
Implementation Method 2
The second computer system can detect the projected optical representation (for example, using one or more optical sensors), determine the data based on the detected optical representation
Data Source
AI summary
In an example method, a first computer system accesses, via a first communication network, data for transmission to a second computer system, generates an optical representation of the data, and presents the optical representation of the data to the second computer system via a free space communications link. Further, the second computer system receives the optical representation of the data from the first computer system via the free space communications link, determines the data based on the optical representation of the data, and transmits the data to one or more additional computer systems via a second communications network.