Network Gateway Apparatus for Encrypted Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network security methods face challenges in providing secure, encrypted communications without requiring changes to the network environment and burdening communication applications with encryption, especially due to compatibility issues among different applications and the complexity of existing solutions like IPSec.
Innovation Solution
A network gateway apparatus implementing transport layer authentication and encryption (XTCP) that adds encryption functions to existing networks without modifying network settings, using a processor with initialization units and TCP/IP protocol stacks to manage packet processing and address conversion between network interface cards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If application layer encryption is implemented to secure communications, then communication security is improved, but compatibility problems arise among different applications and processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway apparatus as an intermediary device between the application layer and network layer. This gateway performs encryption and authentication functions centrally, allowing applications to communicate securely without each application needing to implement its own encryption logic. The gateway mediates between incompatible applications by providing a unified encryption interface, thus resolving compatibility issues while maintaining security.
2Adaptability or versatility
If IPSec is implemented at the network layer to provide encryption, then application compatibility is improved and processing overhead is reduced, but network settings must be modified and user authentication becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the encryption function from the traditional network layer (IPSec) to a new dimension - the gateway apparatus operating between the application layer and network layer. This dimensional shift allows the system to maintain application compatibility like network layer solutions while avoiding the configuration complexity and authentication issues of IPSec, as the gateway handles these functions transparently.
3Reliability
If a gateway apparatus is introduced to implement XPTCP functions, then encryption communication is enabled without application modifications, but setting changes are still required in terminals and network devices
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway apparatus is designed to automatically perform address translation and configuration management functions. It translates XPTCP addresses to standard TCP addresses automatically, and manages the configuration of network devices without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability reduces the complexity of network configuration changes while enabling secure communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A network gateway apparatus which adds encryption to easily implement secure communication without affecting network environment settings includes two network interface cards to communicate on two networks. The processor of the network gateway apparatus initializes communications through the network interface cards and uses a TCP/IP protocol stack to communicate through the network interface cards. When a packet is received by one of the network interface cards, the processor replaces the origin MAC and IP addresses and the destination MAC and IP addresses with temporary values. Then the processor encrypts the payload. The packet is sent to the TCP/IP protocol stack, which sends the packet to one of the two network interface cards according to the temporary values. The MAC an IP addresses of the final destination of the packet are rewritten to the packet and the packet is transmitted.