Low Deviation Field Modulation for Secure Packet Information Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mechanisms for conveying information in network devices have limitations, particularly in effectively embedding and extracting low bit rate information without disrupting network operations or being detected by network snoopers.

Innovation Solution

Modifying quasi-static header fields in packet streams using low deviation code sequences, such as +1 or -1 in the Time-To-Live (TTL) field, to create a modulated stream that can be embedded and extracted, allowing for secure information transfer and authentication without affecting network functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If information is embedded in packet payload or additional packets, then information transfer capability is improved, but network overhead and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transfer capabilityVSAvoidnetwork overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines information transfer with authentication by embedding both data and authentication sequences within the same packet payload, eliminating the need for separate communication channels and reducing network overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The packet payload serves multiple functions simultaneously: carrying authentication sequences, transmitting information data, and maintaining protocol compliance, thereby improving efficiency without increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If encryption and authentication sequences are added, then security is improved, but processing overhead and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Authentication sequences and information data are merged into a single embedded structure within the packet payload, allowing simultaneous processing of security verification and information extraction without separate processing chains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Authentication sequences are embedded within the packet payload before transmission, allowing pre-computation and preparation of authentication data, which reduces real-time processing overhead at receiving devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If additional fields are used to convey information, then information transfer is improved, but packet size and network bandwidth consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transferVSAvoidpacket size

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Information data is nested within the authentication sequence structure itself, utilizing the existing field space efficiently without requiring additional packet size allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the utilization parameters of existing packet fields by embedding information within authentication sequences rather than using separate dedicated fields, thereby maintaining packet size efficiency while improving information transfer capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7602817B2Low deviation field modulation for transfer of information

Publication Date: 2009.10.13 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

An interface receives a packet stream associated with a source and a destination. The packet stream includes multiple packets, each packet including a header and a payload. A system generates a modulated stream for inclusion in the packet stream and performs a low deviation modification to a header field in each of the multiple packets to include the modulated stream in the packet stream. The system then transmits the packet stream including the modulated stream.