Satellite Secured Channel Key Management With Rollback Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The SDLS standard for securing satellite communications lacks detailed management of keys and security parameters, leading to potential communication failures and loss of connectivity due to inconsistent key configurations, especially in simpler satellites without redundant channels.
Innovation Solution
A method involving concatenation and verification of Extended Procedures, with rollback safeguards, to manage secured channels, ensuring successful execution and synchronization across initiator and receiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If key management procedures are implemented according to SDLS-EP standard, then security parameter management capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to lack of detailed implementation guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The key management process is divided into distinct phases: preparation phase (generating and storing rollback data), execution phase (applying Extended Procedures), and verification phase (checking success and applying result data). This segmentation transforms the complex, undifferentiated key management process into manageable, sequential steps with clear boundaries and responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Rollback data representing the initial state of security parameters is generated and stored before the actual key management operations are executed. This preliminary action creates a safety net that allows the system to recover if operations fail, enabling more aggressive security parameter changes without permanent risk.
2Productivity
If Extended Procedures are executed to replace keys and reconfigure secured communication channel, then key rotation capability is improved, but risk of communication failure increases due to potential inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
Rollback data is prepared in advance as a protective measure against potential execution failures. This cushioning mechanism ensures that even if key replacement operations fail or create inconsistencies, the system can restore the previous secure state and maintain communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system verifies whether Extended Procedures executed successfully and based on this feedback, either applies result data to complete the key rotation or restores rollback data to prevent communication failure. This feedback loop ensures that key rotation only completes when verification confirms success.
3Reliability
If verification and validation of concatenated Extended Procedures is performed, then execution reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Verification and validation of the concatenated Extended Procedures are performed before actual execution. This preliminary checking ensures that only valid, consistent operation sequences are executed, preventing wasted time on failed operations and enabling faster overall key rotation by avoiding retry cycles.
Data Source
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AI summary
1. A method for managing a secured channel (16) in a satellite communication between an initiator (12) and a receiver (14) exchanging data according to the SDLS standards, the method comprising the steps of: - requiring (102), from the initiator (12) or the receiver (14), the application of Extended Procedures of said SDLS standards; - grouping (104) together such Extended Procedures by means of a concatenating operation; - executing (108) such concatenated Extended Procedures respectively at the initiator (12) or at the receiver (14), - verifying if the execution of the Extended Procedures succeeded and, in positive case, obtaining result data to be transmitted to the receiver (14) or to the initiator (12), respectively.