MANET Convergence Modules for IPsec Cross-Layer Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current military IPsec devices face challenges in efficiently securing mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) due to high over-the-air overhead, complex configuration requirements, and the inability to support cross-layer bypasses, which complicates the development and certification of MANET waveforms.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a communications node architecture that integrates plaintext (PT) and ciphertext (CT) convergence modules with Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) cryptographic units. This architecture enables cross-layer exchanges of reachability information, reduces over-the-air overhead, and allows for dynamic address learning, facilitating rapid network entry and simplifying security associations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom bespoke COMSEC solutions are created to support cross-layer information exchanges, then reachability information can be exchanged between layers, but device complexity and development difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-layer information exchange capabilityVSAvoidCOMSEC solution complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces convergence modules as intermediary components that mediate between IPsec ECUs and MANET waveform layers. These modules handle the cross-layer information exchange by converting between IPsec protocols and waveform-specific protocols, thereby enabling adaptability without requiring custom COMSEC solutions throughout the entire system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct functional components: IPsec ECUs for cryptographic functions, convergence modules for protocol translation and address mapping, and waveform-specific communication layers. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and certified independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining cross-layer exchange capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If IPsec ECUs are used with preplaced keys, then security associations are simplified, but pre-mission coordination and configuration planning requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSecurity Association configurationVSAvoidpre-mission coordination time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The convergence modules perform preliminary actions by pre-establishing mapping relationships between IPsec addresses and MANET waveform addresses. This allows nodes to quickly configure security associations upon network entry without requiring extensive pre-mission coordination, as the address mappings are already in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If high overhead Internet Key Exchange message exchanges are used, then dynamic key acquisition is enabled, but over-the-air overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic key acquisition capabilityVSAvoidover-the-air overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the key exchange functionality from the full IPsec IKE protocol suite by implementing a streamlined version that operates directly at the convergence module level. This reduced key exchange mechanism maintains dynamic key acquisition capability while significantly reducing the overhead of message exchanges over the air interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If fully dynamic discovery is implemented, then network entry is flexible, but delays between network entry and data traffic exchange increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork entry flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork entry delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Convergence modules perform preliminary address mapping and security association setup when nodes first join the network. This preliminary configuration enables rapid data traffic exchange after network entry, as the complex address translation and key exchange operations are completed in advance before actual data transmission begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250119730A1System and method for networking and internet protocol security (IPSEC) measures for mobile ad HOC network (MANET) waveforms

Publication Date: 2025.04.10 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A node of a network communicating via mobile ad hoc network (MANET) waveforms and incorporating internet protocol (IP) security (IPSec) measures includes a plaintext (PT) user system or host, ciphertext (CT) communications module including a radio system for transmission and reception via MANET waveforms, IPSec cryptographic units, and PT and CT convergence modules. IPSec units provide encryption and decryption of data traffic as well as cross-layer exchange between PT and CT convergence modules. PT convergence modules map output traffic and decrypted input traffic to CT capabilities and exchange reachability information (e.g., addresses of reachable nodes or systems) with counterpart PT convergence modules of peer nodes of the MANET. CT convergence modules converge encrypted input and output traffic based on CT capabilities.