In-Line Modem Security Intermediary for Legacy Signal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional modems lack the necessary architecture and capabilities to implement advanced security measures required for secure communication, making them vulnerable to eavesdropping, unauthorized access, and jamming attacks.
Innovation Solution
An in-line system comprising configurable components, a processor, and memory is introduced to establish a communication channel with the modem. This system processes legacy signals by determining configuration parameters based on the mode of operation, configuring components in real-time, and executing actions to secure the communication channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional modems are used for communication, then device compatibility and ease of operation are maintained, but security against eavesdropping, unauthorized access, and jamming attacks is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an in-line system as an intermediary device that interfaces between the conventional modem and the communication network. This intermediary system provides the required security functions (frequency hopping, encryption, integrity verification) without modifying the conventional modem architecture, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining device compatibility and achieving enhanced security.
2Reliability
If conventional modems with fixed frequency communication are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but susceptibility to jamming and interference attacks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The in-line system acts as a frequency hopping intermediary that receives signals from the conventional modem at one frequency and retransmits them at different frequencies according to a hopping sequence. This approach provides frequency hopping security benefits while keeping the conventional modem simple and unchanged.
3Reliability
If conventional modems operate on static communication patterns, then ease of operation is maintained, but susceptibility to traffic analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The in-line system serves as a channel activity management intermediary that introduces randomness and variability to the communication patterns. It can adjust transmission timing, introduce idle periods, and modify channel usage patterns to prevent traffic analysis while maintaining the simplicity of the conventional modem operation.
4Reliability
If conventional modems lack data integrity verification mechanisms, then device simplicity is maintained, but susceptibility to unauthorized access and data manipulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The in-line system functions as an integrity verification intermediary that implements authentication and data integrity checking. It verifies the authenticity of communications between the conventional modem and external devices, preventing unauthorized access and data manipulation while keeping the modem itself simple and unchanged.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for securing communications between modems are disclosed. The system comprises a modem and an in-line system. The in-line system establishes communication channel with the modem via a communication network. The in-line system receives the legacy signal from the modem upon establishing the communication channel with the modem. The in-line system determines the type of mode of operation associated with the in-line system. The in-line system determines a plurality of configuration parameters associated with the plurality of configurable components of the in-line system. The in-line system configures the plurality of configurable components of the in-line system at real-time with the determined plurality of configuration parameters. The in-line system executes action, in a sequence in each of the configured plurality of configurable components to process the received legacy signal. The in-line system communicates the processed legacy signal to the external device.