Optical Isolation Apparatus for Jamming Attack Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical communication systems are vulnerable to optical jamming attacks, which disrupt signals by inserting noise or tones into monitoring ports, posing security risks and requiring significant resources to mitigate their effects.

Innovation Solution

A communication network element with an optical path, monitoring port, and optical isolation apparatus that splits off a portion of the optical communication signal for monitoring while applying attenuation to prevent a substantial part of the attacking optical signal from reaching the optical path, using optical isolators or circulators to ensure secure transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If optical monitoring ports are provided to access optical communication signals for measurements and maintenance, then monitoring and maintenance capabilities are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to optical jamming attacks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidoptical jamming attack vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An optical isolator is introduced as an intermediary component between the optical splitter and the monitoring port. This isolator allows the monitoring function to remain accessible while blocking harmful optical jamming signals from propagating back into the communication path, thus resolving the contradiction between monitoring capability and security vulnerability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical isolator provides preliminary protection by preemptively blocking potential jamming signals before they can affect the communication system. The isolator is configured with specific isolation characteristics that prevent harmful signals from entering the system while allowing legitimate monitoring signals to pass through

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If optical isolation apparatus is added to protect against jamming attacks, then system security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem securityVSAvoidoptical path complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical isolator serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides security protection against jamming attacks, maintains signal integrity in the optical path, and enables continuous monitoring without requiring separate protection systems. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while improving security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If attenuation is applied to block attacking optical signals, then jamming attack effectiveness is reduced, but legitimate signal transmission may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejamming attack impactVSAvoidsignal transmission quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The optical isolator applies attenuation selectively - it blocks harmful jamming signals while allowing legitimate optical communication signals to pass through with minimal loss. The isolator's directional characteristics ensure that attenuation is applied only to signals coming from the monitoring port direction, not to signals traveling through the optical path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively prevents optical jamming attacks, enhancing network security, reducing resource allocation for mitigation, and ensuring accurate transmission of optical signals across the network.

Implementation Method 1

The optical isolation apparatus is arranged to transmit the optical monitoring signal propagating towards the monitoring port. The optical isolation apparatus is arranged to apply an attenuation, IA, to an attacking optical signal propagating from the monitoring port towards the optical splitter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical isolation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9614613B2Communication network element and method of mitigating an optical jamming attack against an optical communication system

Publication Date: 2017.04.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A communication network element (10) comprising: an optical path (12) for an optical communication signal (14); a monitoring port (16) arranged to output an optical monitoring signal; an optical splitter (20) provided in the optical path, the optical splitter arranged to receive the optical communication signal and to split off a part of the optical communication signal to form the optical monitoring signal; and optical isolation apparatus (22) connected between the optical splitter and the monitoring port, the optical isolation apparatus arranged to transmit the optical monitoring signal propagating towards the monitoring port and arranged to apply an attenuation, IA, to an attacking optical signal (24) propagating from the monitoring port towards the optical splitter to thereby prevent a substantial part of the attacking optical signal being transmitted to the optical path.