SA Tunnel Duplicate Detection for Reliable Encrypted Traffic

Solution Overview

Problem

The issue of duplicate secure association (SA) encryption tunnels results in network traffic loss and inefficient use of computing resources due to the inability to detect and manage duplicate SA encryption tunnels.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a duplicate SA manager to detect and manage duplicate SA encryption tunnels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If duplicate SA encryption tunnels are generated without detection, then network traffic encryption is established, but network traffic loss occurs and computing resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork traffic encryption reliabilityVSAvoidcomputing resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The duplicate SA manager performs preliminary detection and comparison of SA encryption tunnels before they are fully established. By receiving events about SA tunnel generation and proactively comparing them against existing tunnels, the system prevents duplicate tunnels from being created in the first place, thereby avoiding network traffic loss and computing resource waste before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the duplicate SA manager continuously monitors SA tunnel generation events, compares them with existing tunnels, and provides feedback to remove duplicates. This closed-loop approach ensures that duplicate tunnels are detected and eliminated, maintaining reliable encryption while optimizing computing resource usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If SA encryption tunnels are created without duplicate detection, then encryption tunnels are established quickly, but duplicate tunnels cause network traffic loss

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSA tunnel establishment speedVSAvoidnetwork traffic delivery reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The duplicate SA manager performs preliminary detection and comparison of SA encryption tunnels before they are fully established. By receiving events about SA tunnel generation and proactively comparing them against existing tunnels, the system prevents duplicate tunnels from being created in the first place, thereby avoiding network traffic loss and computing resource waste before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the duplicate SA manager continuously monitors SA tunnel generation events, compares them with existing tunnels, and provides feedback to remove duplicates. This closed-loop approach ensures that duplicate tunnels are detected and eliminated, maintaining reliable encryption while optimizing computing resource usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If duplicate SA encryption tunnels are not managed, then SA service operates simply, but computing resources are inefficiently used

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSA service structure simplicityVSAvoidcomputing resource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The duplicate SA manager is designed as a multi-functional component that handles multiple tasks: receiving SA tunnel generation events, comparing tunnels for duplicates, and coordinating removal actions. By consolidating these functions into a single manager component, the system maintains relative structural simplicity while significantly improving computing resource utilization efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The duplicate SA manager operates autonomously by monitoring SA tunnel events and automatically detecting and removing duplicate tunnels without external intervention. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain efficient computing resource usage while adding only minimal complexity to the SA service structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250373422A1Duplicate security association manager

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

One example method includes receiving, at a first computing system from a secure association (SA) service, a first event that indicates that a first SA encryption tunnel has been generated that includes the first computing system, the first SA encryption tunnel including encryption and decryption keys assigned to an IP address of the first computing system. In response to receiving the first event, requesting from the SA service a first SA encryption tunnel list that lists all SA encryption tunnels existing in a computing environment. Comparing the first SA encryption tunnel with the SA encryption tunnels included in the first SA encryption tunnel list. Based on the comparison, determining whether the first SA encryption tunnel is a duplicate of one or more of the SA encryption tunnels included in the first SA encryption tunnel list.