Geolocating Network Nodes via Security Signatures in Attenuated Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cyber and network security systems face challenges in verifying and geolocating network nodes, especially in attenuated environments, where existing methods are vulnerable to sophisticated attacks and lack clear traceability of originators, leading to difficulties in denying network access to rogue users and identifying attack motives.
Innovation Solution
A system that involves appending a security signature to data packets with geolocation information, using IETF IP Networking protocols and Iridium LEO satellite constellations for authentication, allowing network nodes to verify their location through authentication signals and ranging information, and employing a cyber locate portal for secure authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional IP networking protocols are used for data transmission, then network communication speed and efficiency are maintained, but the ability to verify and geolocate network nodes is insufficient, making the system vulnerable to sophisticated attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds security signature data structures within existing IP packet headers and routing information fields. The security verification mechanism is nested within the standard IP networking protocol stack, allowing security functions to operate without requiring separate communication channels or replacing existing protocols entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces router network nodes as intermediaries that perform security verification functions. These routers act as mediators between the origination and destination network nodes, executing the security signature verification and geolocation checking without requiring direct complex interactions between the end nodes
2Measurement precision
If security verification mechanisms are added to track and trace network nodes, then the ability to identify attack originators is improved, but the complexity of router implementation and control plane signaling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs security signature verification and geolocation checking at router network nodes along the transmission path, rather than only at the destination. This preliminary action at intermediate nodes enables earlier detection of unauthorized or rogue nodes, improving measurement precision while distributing the processing load across multiple routers rather than concentrating complexity at one point
Solution Approach 2:
The security verification process is segmented into distinct functions: security signature verification, geolocation information extraction, and rogue node identification. Each router network node handles specific segments of this process based on its position in the network path, dividing the overall complexity into manageable modular components
3Loss of information
If security signature data is appended to every data packet, then traceability to specific network nodes is improved, but the overhead and processing time for packet handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security signature data structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides traceability to specific network nodes, enables geolocation verification, supports rogue node identification, and facilitates security event correlation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate data structures for each function, minimizing the overall information overhead added to packets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying of security signature information from packet metadata and router processing logs to create traceable records without requiring the entire security verification dataset to be transmitted with every packet. Critical security attributes are copied into compact formats that enable rapid processing while maintaining complete traceability information in centralized security event correlation systems
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for verifying and/or geolocating network nodes in attenuated environments for cyber and network security applications are disclosed. The system involves an origination network node, a destination network node, and at least one router network node. The origination network node is configured for transmitting a data packet to the destination network node through at least one router network node. The data packet contains a security signature portion, a routing data portion, and a payload data portion. The security signature portion comprises a listing of at least one network node that the data packet travelled through from the origination network node to the destination network node. In addition, the security signature portion comprises geolocation information, identifier information, and timing information for at least one network node in the listing.