Link Layer Receiver Address Hiding via Bloom Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems fail to provide anonymity for message receivers at the link layer, making it possible for attackers to identify receiver information, which can expose sensitive details and compromise network security, especially in wireless communication networks like the Internet of Things.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses a transmitting terminal to transform receiver address information using a probabilistic data structure, such as a bloom filter, to hide receiver information, allowing only intended receiving terminals to process messages while preventing attackers from identifying the correct receiver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If receiver address information is encrypted to hide receiver information, then anonymity is improved, but network performance deteriorates due to decoding requirements for every message

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiver information anonymityVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary identifying information from the receiver's address and places it in a header part of the message, allowing receivers to identify messages without exposing complete address information. This selective extraction maintains anonymity while enabling efficient message identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The address information is segmented into different parts: a header part containing identifiable information for receiver recognition, and remaining parts kept hidden or encrypted. This segmentation allows receivers to process messages efficiently while preserving anonymity of the full address.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If complete receiver address information is exposed in messages, then message delivery accuracy is improved, but network security deteriorates as attackers can identify receivers and data flows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage delivery accuracyVSAvoidnetwork security risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Only the necessary portion of address information required for accurate message delivery is extracted and placed in the header part. The remaining address information is kept hidden or encrypted, ensuring both accurate delivery and security by preventing attackers from obtaining complete receiver identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the address information are treated differently: the header part is made accessible for identification purposes, while other parts are protected. This local differentiation of information quality ensures both deliverability and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10044680B2Method for hiding receiver's address for link layer in group communication
Publication Date: 2018.08.07 AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEV

AI summary

The present invention relates to a receiver information hiding method of hiding receiver information of a message in a system including a transmitting terminal broadcasting the message and a multitude of receiving terminals receiving the message, and the method includes selecting by the transmitting terminal at least one receiving terminal that has to process the message from the plurality of terminals, transforming by the transmitting terminal address information regarding the selected at least one receiving terminal, generating by the transmitting terminal the message using the transformed address information and broadcasting the generated message, and determining by each of the plurality of receiving terminals whether or not the corresponding receiving terminal is included in the selected at least one receiving terminal using specific address information corresponding to each of the plurality of receiving terminals and the transformed address information, in response to the reception of the message, and selectively processing or ignoring the message according to the determination result.