Network Adapter Enforcing Unidirectional Data Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing one-way gateways for industrial networks are expensive and not widely used due to high costs, and there is a need for cost-effective solutions to enable secure, unidirectional data transmission from safety-critical zones to less secure zones like cloud servers, while maintaining existing network components.
Innovation Solution
A network adapter with a termination unit that enforces unidirectional data transmission by terminating bidirectional connections at the physical layer, using integrated circuits to establish a unidirectional data path between devices with standard bidirectional interfaces, allowing data to flow only from safety-critical to less critical zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional one-way gateways are used to ensure secure unidirectional data transmission, then data security is improved, but device cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a functional copy of bidirectional gateway capabilities within a unidirectional transmission framework. The network adapter replicates the security enforcement functionality of expensive dedicated one-way gateways using standard bidirectional network interface cards combined with software-based flow control mechanisms, thereby achieving the same security outcome at lower cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes standard bidirectional network interface cards perform the additional function of unidirectional transmission enforcement. By implementing software-based information flow control on conventional hardware, the system eliminates the need for specialized expensive gateways, allowing ordinary network cards to serve multiple purposes including secure unidirectional data transmission.
2Reliability
If specialized one-way gateway hardware is deployed, then unidirectional transmission security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex hardware-based unidirectional transmission mechanisms with software-based information flow control. Instead of using specialized hardware gateways with physical one-way transmission capabilities, the invention uses software running on standard bidirectional network interface cards to enforce unidirectional data flow, thereby reducing hardware complexity while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces software as an intermediary layer between standard network hardware components to enforce unidirectional transmission. The software acts as a mediator that controls data flow in one direction only, eliminating the need for complex specialized hardware while achieving the same security objective through software-based flow control mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing network components are extended with one-way transmission functionality, then adaptability is improved, but implementation effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables standard bidirectional network interface cards to perform both their original bidirectional communication function and the additional function of unidirectional secure transmission. This multi-functionality approach allows existing network infrastructure to be utilized without replacement, achieving broad adaptability while the software-based implementation keeps the additional complexity manageable through configuration rather than hardware modification.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a network adapter (20, 40) for unidirectional transmission of a user data stream to a bidirectional network interface, said network adapter comprising: - a first connection unit (21, 41) which can be physically connected to a bidirectional network interface (11) of a first device (10); - a second connection unit (24, 44) which can be physically connected to a bidirectional network interface (31) of a second device (30); and - a terminating unit (22, 42) which has at least one bit transmission module (23, 43) and which is designed to establish a bidirectional data link (14) to the network interface (11) of the first device (10), to receive the user data stream from the first device (10) exclusively in a unidirectional fashion via the data link (14), and not to send a user data stream to the first device (10).