Low-Bandwidth Satellite Messaging with IWF Privacy Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless networks face limitations in speed and bandwidth when conveying data between user equipment devices, particularly when a device moves out of range of terrestrial networks and relies on non-terrestrial networks, leading to increased latency and security risks.
Innovation Solution
A communications system utilizing a non-terrestrial network (NTN) and a terrestrial network with an inter-working function (IWF) server to route messages between user equipment devices, ensuring secure and efficient data transmission by encrypting and compressing data, and using an IWF to obfuscate identifying information, maintaining privacy and bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a UE device moves off-grid and relies on non-terrestrial networks, then the device can maintain connectivity, but the bandwidth and transmission speed are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing encryption keys, device identifiers, and routing information while the UE device is still on-grid and connected to the terrestrial network. This pre-provisioning allows the device to quickly transition to off-grid NTN communication without experiencing setup delays, and the pre-configured efficient data formats enable faster transmission over the limited-bandwidth NTN channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes data transmission parameters by switching from standard terrestrial network data formats to optimized low-bandwidth formats when the device transitions to NTN. This includes compressing data payloads, using efficient encoding schemes, and adjusting transmission protocols to match the constrained bandwidth characteristics of non-terrestrial networks, thereby improving effective transmission speed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data is transmitted over non-terrestrial networks with limited bandwidth, then connectivity is maintained, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary provisioning of routing information, device identifiers, and communication parameters while the UE device is still on-grid. This advance preparation eliminates setup delays during off-grid operation and allows immediate transition to NTN communication with pre-optimized parameters, reducing the time loss associated with connection establishment and data formatting.
3Ease of operation
If identifying information is transmitted over the network, then routing is enabled, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism using pseudonymous device identifiers and encrypted routing information instead of transmitting actual user identifying data. The core network can still route messages effectively using these pseudonyms and encrypted identifiers, while the IWF server acts as an intermediary that can decrypt and identify users when necessary without exposing their real identities to the NTN infrastructure, thus preserving user privacy while maintaining routing capability.
4Quantity of substance
If data is transmitted without encryption, then bandwidth is maximized, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of data format and encryption level based on the transmission medium. When transmitting over secure terrestrial networks, standard formats are used. When transitioning to NTN with limited bandwidth, the system applies efficient compression algorithms and optimized encryption schemes that reduce overhead while maintaining security. This parameter adaptation allows the system to achieve acceptable throughput over NTN without sacrificing security, by using encryption methods better suited to the constrained bandwidth environment.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications system may include a satellite constellation and a terrestrial network that convey text messages between first and second user equipment (UE) devices. The terrestrial network may include a core network, an inter-working function (IWF) server, and carrier networks. The IWF server may distribute keys and the first UE device may transmit provisioning data to the core network while the first UE device is on-grid. When the first UE device goes off-grid, the first UE device may transmit an escrow key to the core network for use in decrypting a device public key from the provisioning data. The core network may transmit the device public key and other information to the IWF for use in routing messages via the NTN. The core network may use the handles to enforce an allow list that filters traffic to the first UE device over the NTN.