Optical Peripheral Sharing Device for Secure Data Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peripheral sharing devices fail to securely isolate data flows between connected computers and peripherals, allowing unauthorized data transfer and lacking stringent security measures for authorized device connections.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral switching device utilizing an optical switch with bidirectional data communication via optical fibers, coupled with a switching mechanism that isolates each computer interface from others, ensuring secure data exchange only between the intended peripherals and computers, using a wavelength division multiplexer for high bandwidth and a controller for mode switching based on user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical switching is used to connect peripherals to multiple computers, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but security is compromised due to inability to isolate data flows between computers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electrical switching mechanisms with optical switching. The optical switch uses optical signals instead of electrical signals to connect peripherals to computers, providing inherent physical isolation between data flows. This substitution enables secure multi-computer peripheral sharing while maintaining signal integrity and preventing unauthorized data access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical converter as an intermediary device that bridges electrical peripheral signals and optical switching signals. The converter transforms electrical signals from keyboards, mice, and other peripherals into optical signals that can be switched securely through the optical switch, enabling compatibility while achieving security isolation.
2Reliability
If optical switching with physical isolation is implemented, then data security and isolation are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical converter to handle multiple peripheral types (keyboards, mice, USB devices) through universal interfaces. The optical switch is configured to support multiple computer connections simultaneously, allowing a single device to serve multiple functions and reducing overall system complexity despite using advanced optical technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the peripheral sharing system into distinct functional modules: optical converters for each peripheral, an optical switch for centralized control, and separate optical pathways for each computer connection. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and simplifies manufacturing by enabling modular assembly.
3Ease of operation
If multiple computers share peripherals through electrical switching, then ease of operation is maintained, but unauthorized data transfer between computers can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical signal transmission with optical signal transmission for peripheral-to-computer communication. This substitution creates physical isolation between computer systems, preventing electromagnetic interference and unauthorized data access while maintaining full peripheral functionality across multiple computers through secure optical pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical converter acts as a secure intermediary that translates electrical peripheral signals into optical signals for transmission through the isolated optical switching network. This intermediary layer ensures that data flows only through authorized optical pathways, blocking any unauthorized electrical signal leakage between computers while preserving ease of peripheral operation.
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
Ensures secure and isolated data communication between peripherals and computers, preventing unauthorized data leakage and ensuring only authorized devices can connect, while supporting high-bandwidth applications like multiple 4K video streams.
Implementation Method 1
The first signal interface is coupled to the optical switch via a first optical fiber cable. A first one of the second signal interfaces is coupled to the optical switch via a second optical fiber cable.
Implementation Method 2
the optical switch is configured, in a first mode of operation, to optically couple the first signal interface to the first one of the second signal interfaces subsequent to optically decoupling the first signal interface from the second one of the second signal interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral sharing device includes an optical switch, a first signal interface, and a plurality of second signal interfaces. The first signal interface is coupled to the optical switch via a first optical fiber cable. The first signal interface is configured to be coupled to at least one peripheral device, such as a keyboard, pointing device, or video display. A first one of the second signal interfaces is coupled to the optical switch via a second optical fiber cable. A second one of the second signal interfaces is coupled to the optical switch via a third optical fiber cable. The first one of the second signal interfaces is configured to be coupled to a first computing device, and the second one of the second signal interfaces is configured to be coupled to a second computing device.