Multilayer Encryption for Secure Aerial Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems for aerial and space vehicles lack efficient methods to provide secure communications that meet higher security levels than commercial-grade security without the need for expensive and resource-intensive independent infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multilayer encryption using a combination of a general payload and a hosted payload on commercial-grade aerial or space vehicles, where the general payload provides a lower level of encryption and the hosted payload provides a higher level of encryption, allowing secure data transmission between secure entities and commercial-grade systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If governmental agencies use independent satellite or aerial vehicle network infrastructure to achieve higher security levels, then security level is improved, but cost and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines commercial-grade satellite infrastructure with hosted secure payloads to provide government-grade security. Instead of maintaining completely separate independent networks, the system merges commercial infrastructure with secure enclaves, allowing shared resources while maintaining security requirements. This reduces the quantity of infrastructure needed compared to fully independent networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The hosted payload architecture allows commercial satellites to serve multiple functions - providing both commercial communications and secure government communications through the same infrastructure. The general payload handles commercial traffic while the hosted payload provides secure government communications, making the system universal and reducing the need for separate dedicated infrastructure.
2Reliability
If a secure token system or semaphore system is used to pass command and control between commercial service provider and governmental agency, then security control is improved, but system complexity and operational limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the satellite payload into distinct general and hosted components with separate encryption keys and access controls. The hosted payload contains secure keys accessible only to authorized entities, while the general payload handles commercial operations. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex token passing systems by providing dedicated secure access paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The hosted payload acts as an intermediary that receives encrypted data from the general payload, decrypts it using secure keys, and processes it separately. This intermediary architecture provides secure control without requiring complex semaphore or token systems, as the hosted payload inherently protects the security boundary between commercial and government operations.
3Quantity of substance
If commercial-grade security is used in satellite communications, then cost and resource efficiency are improved, but security level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested architecture where the hosted secure payload is contained within the commercial satellite infrastructure. The hosted payload nests secure government communications within the broader commercial satellite system, allowing cost-efficient use of commercial infrastructure while maintaining higher security levels through the nested secure enclave with its own encryption keys and access controls.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing secure aerial or space communications. A general payload and a hosted payload are provided on a vehicle. The hosted payload encrypts a data packet that contains restricted data using a secure key to create an encrypted packet. The general payload encrypts the encrypted packet using a general key to create a multilayer-encrypted packet. The multilayer-encrypted packet is transmitted from the vehicle to a destination.