Multi-Frequency Ground Antenna for Secured Payload Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current payload operations for vehicles lack secure and efficient methods for controlling and communicating with both host and hosted payloads, particularly in terms of privacy and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a multi-frequency host in-band ground antenna for secure independent communications, enabling encrypted command and telemetry paths between a hosted payload operations center, host payload operations center, and the vehicle, with multiple redundant paths for increased bandwidth and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single shared communication path is used for both host and hosted payloads, then device complexity is reduced, but privacy and security of hosted payload communications deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The communication path is segmented into separate dedicated paths for host payload and hosted payload operations. The hosted payload has its own independent command path and telemetry path that do not share infrastructure with the host payload, ensuring privacy while maintaining operational complexity through modular separation.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary encryption layer is introduced between the hosted payload operations center and the hosted payload. Encrypted command paths and telemetry paths use cryptographic intermediaries to protect data confidentiality, allowing secure communication without requiring complete physical isolation of all communication infrastructure.
2Reliability
If independent encrypted communication paths are established for hosted payload, then privacy and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground antenna system is designed with multi-functionality to handle both host and hosted payload communications simultaneously. The same physical antenna infrastructure supports multiple encrypted communication paths through frequency division or time-division multiplexing, reducing the need for completely separate physical infrastructure while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
Different communication parameters such as frequency bands, modulation schemes, or time slots are assigned to different payload operations. This allows multiple independent encrypted paths to coexist on shared infrastructure by varying communication parameters, thereby maintaining security without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple redundant communication paths are implemented, then reliability and bandwidth are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple redundant communication paths are merged into a unified managed infrastructure where the hosted payload operations center can dynamically allocate and switch between paths. This consolidation reduces operational complexity compared to managing completely independent redundant systems while maintaining reliability through path diversity and failover capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus for secured independent hosted payload operations are disclosed. A system may include a hosted payload operations center (HOC) controlling operations of a hosted payload on a vehicle. The HOC transmits encrypted hosted commands to the vehicle via a hosted command (CMD) path. The vehicle further carries a host payload whose operations are controlled by a host payload operations center (HPC). The HPC transmits encrypted host commands to the vehicle via a host CMD path. The host payload generates encrypted host telemetry (TLM), and the hosted payload generates encrypted hosted TLM. The vehicle transmits the host TLM to the HPC via a host TLM path and transmits the hosted TLM to the HOC via a hosted TLM path. Some embodiments use a multi-frequency antenna for host and/or hosted CMD and/or TLM transmissions and/or receptions. Other features are also provided.