OCDM Photonic Encryption for High-Speed Optical Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security solutions for ultra-high bandwidth optical communications over WDM networks are not robust against known plain text (KPT) attacks and are not scalable to high data rates, as they either slow down communication rates or are expensive, and conventional electronic encryption is not suitable for high-speed OCDM-based systems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of random noise on non-data carrying codes and dynamic inter-code phase changes in OCDM-based networks, combined with phase scrambling, to enhance security against KPT attacks without significantly reducing spectral efficiency, using all-optical techniques to maintain high communication rates and confidentiality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electronic encryption is used for optical communications, then security is improved, but communication rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electronic encryption systems with an all-optical encryption approach using OCDM (Optical Code Division Multiplexing). The encryption is implemented through optical processing in the frequency domain using Fourier transform properties, eliminating the need for electronic decryption operations that limit communication rates. The system uses optical interferometers and phase modulators to perform encryption/decryption entirely in the optical domain, maintaining high communication rates while providing security.
2Reliability
If phase scrambling is used to increase security, then resistance to KPT attacks is improved, but spectral efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the phase parameters of the OCDM codes dynamically to provide security. Specifically, it uses time-varying phase shifts on the optical carriers that are keyed for security. The phase scrambling is applied in a controlled manner where the phase changes are deterministic based on a secret key, allowing the receiver to reverse the scrambling. This provides resistance to KPT (Known Plaintext) attacks while maintaining spectral efficiency because the phase changes do not increase the bandwidth or reduce the information density.
3Reliability
If random noise is added on unused channels to enhance security, then search space for eavesdroppers is increased, but spectral efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses unused OCDM code channels as intermediaries to carry random noise that enhances security. These noise-carrying channels act as a mediator that increases the search space for eavesdroppers without significantly impacting the data-carrying channels. The random noise on unused channels provides additional entropy that makes cryptographic analysis more difficult, while the spectral efficiency loss is minimized by using only the unused channels and keeping the noise level controlled.
Data Source
AI summary
In an OCDM-based photonic encryption system by applying random noise on unused channels and varying the inter-code phases on realistic framing repetition, an OCDM-based encryption system with provable security guarantees results.