IPv6 to IPv4 Packet Migration via Trusted Security Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

The coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 protocols poses challenges in secure data packet migration due to differences in IP address ranges and security features, leading to potential hacking and data corruption during communication between devices with different protocol versions.

Innovation Solution

A system with a trusted security zone establishes an end-to-end trusted communication link by determining the IP protocol versions of communicating devices and applying encryption, encapsulation, or translation to ensure secure data migration between IPv4 and IPv6 nodes, using a conversion engine to manage packet migration within a secure communications channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If IPv4 and IPv6 protocols coexist to accommodate expanded IP address ranges, then the system can support more devices and networks, but security vulnerabilities increase due to protocol differences and potential hacking risks

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP address range supportVSAvoidsecurity vulnerabilities
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a trusted security zone as an intermediary layer between IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. This security zone acts as a mediator that translates and secures communications between the two protocol versions, preventing direct exposure of protocol differences and associated vulnerabilities. The security zone includes security channels that establish encrypted communication paths, effectively isolating the harmful effects of protocol incompatibility while maintaining coexistence capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If data packet migration is performed between IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, then communication compatibility is improved, but data corruption and hacking risks increase during the migration process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication compatibilityVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements prior cushioning by establishing security channels and trusted security zones before data packet migration occurs. These pre-established security mechanisms prepare protective measures in advance, including encryption keys and authentication protocols, to cushion against potential data corruption or hacking attempts during the migration process. The security infrastructure is ready beforehand to protect the vulnerable migration transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The trusted security zone serves as an intermediary that handles the actual data packet migration between IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. Rather than direct protocol conversion that could corrupt data, the security zone mediates the translation process with built-in integrity checks, error detection, and cryptographic protection, ensuring data reliability throughout the migration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If security features are added to protect against hacking during protocol migration, then system security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional security mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehacking protectionVSAvoidsecurity mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple security functions into a unified trusted security zone architecture. Instead of implementing separate security mechanisms for different protocol layers, the security zone consolidates authentication, encryption, integrity verification, and protocol translation into a single integrated structure. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive security protection against hacking during migration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9871768B1IPv6 to IPv4 data packet migration in a trusted security zone
Publication Date: 2018.01.16 T MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
  • US9871768B1 patent drawing
  • US9871768B1 patent drawing
  • US9871768B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods discussed herein relate to enabling communications between IPv4 and IPv6 hosts using a communication channel in a trusted security zone associated with a first host to determine the IP-versions and/or other security features that may be present or enabled on the first host or the second host.