Redundant Data Stream Verification for Secure Transmission Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for transmitting security-relevant information over insecure paths lack robustness, as they do not ensure that both communication devices participate in the transmission and fail to stop data forwarding in case of discrepancies.

Innovation Solution

A system where two controllers generate and transmit redundant data streams, with each controller reading and comparing parts of the data stream to ensure consistency, and stopping data output if discrepancies are detected, ensuring valid communication only if both devices participate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant communication devices transmit safety-relevant information via a common transmission path, then communication reliability is improved, but the risk of undetected errors increases if both devices do not participate in transmission monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidundetected transmission errors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Each controller reads back parts of the data stream output by the other controller and compares it with its own generated data. This feedback mechanism ensures that both controllers verify the transmitted data, detecting any errors that occurred during transmission through the common path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controllers are configured to alternately output data in a predetermined sequence, with each controller preparing to read and compare data before actual transmission occurs. This preliminary arrangement ensures that both devices are actively monitoring the transmission path before errors can propagate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If both controllers continuously monitor and compare data, then error detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data stream is divided into segments that are alternately output by different controllers. Each controller only needs to monitor and compare specific segments generated by the other controller, rather than continuously processing the entire data stream. This segmentation reduces the monitoring burden on each controller while maintaining comprehensive error detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If controllers alternate data output in a synchronized manner, then transmission security is improved, but synchronization requirements increase system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission securityVSAvoidsynchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controllers alternate data output in periodic intervals according to a predetermined sequence. This periodic alternation ensures that both controllers have opportunities to transmit and monitor data regularly, maintaining transmission security through structured redundancy without requiring complex continuous synchronization protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3744033B1System for producing a data stream on the basis of redundant information
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 WAGO VERW GMBH
  • EP3744033B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3744033B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3744033B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for producing a data stream on the basis of redundant information. The system comprises a first controller, a second controller and a circuit. The first controller is designed to output a first part of first data via a first data output. The second controller is designed to output a second part of second data via a second data output. The circuit is designed to combine the data output via the first data output and/or the second data output to form a data stream. The first controller is designed to read in at least the second part of second data of the combined data stream. The second controller is designed to read in at least the first part of first data of the combined data stream. The first controller is designed to compare the second part of second data that has been read in with a second part of the first data and, if the comparison indicates a deviation, to stop an outputting of data via the first data output and/or to block the forwarding of the data stream. The second controller is designed to compare the first part of first data that has been read in with a first part of the second data and, if the comparison indicates a deviation, to stop an outputting of data via the second data output and/or to block the forwarding of the data stream.