Secure Data Transmission with Packet Timing Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data transmission systems lack effective security measures against tampering, replay, and injection attacks, particularly in communication between data processing entities.

Innovation Solution

A method involving creating a sequence of data packets with predefined transmission delays, where each packet includes an indication of its delay, ensuring packets are received at the correct time, and only accepted if timing matches, thereby detecting tampering attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If data transmission is implemented unprotected, then ease of operation is improved, but security against tampering deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of data transmissionVSAvoidsecurity against tampering
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by embedding timing information and delay indications in packets before transmission. The sender pre-calculates and includes expected reception times and delay values in each packet, enabling the receiver to verify timing characteristics before accepting the data, thus preventing tampering without complicating the transmission process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements feedback by having the receiver verify packet timing against expected values and reject packets that do not match the indicated delays. This feedback mechanism ensures that only properly timed, untampered packets are accepted, maintaining security while keeping the transmission process simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If timing verification is implemented for each packet, then security against replay attacks is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against replay attacksVSAvoidcomplexity of timing verification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the security verification function into a separate, dedicated timing check mechanism. Instead of complicating the overall system, it isolates the timing verification logic to compare packet timestamps against expected values, making the complexity manageable and focused only on the essential security function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by using simple timestamp comparison and delay indication values rather than complex cryptographic protocols. By transforming the security verification into a parameter-based timing check, the system achieves replay attack protection with minimal added complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If individual transmission delays are determined and verified for each packet, then detection of tampering is improved, but loss of time worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of tamperingVSAvoidtime for timing verification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies partial action by performing only essential timing verification - comparing packet timestamps against expected values based on indicated delays. It does not perform exhaustive analysis but focuses on the critical timing parameter, achieving tampering detection with minimal time overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The sender performs preliminary calculation of expected reception times and embeds delay indications in packets before transmission. This preliminary action enables the receiver to quickly verify timing without complex real-time calculations, reducing the time loss during verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4593360A1Secure data transmission
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4593360A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4593360A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4593360A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Present invention concerns a method (400) for secure data transmission from a sender (105) to a receiver (110), the sender (105) and the receiver (110) being connected with a transmission line (115). The method (400) comprises steps of creating (405) a sequence (145) of data packets (140); determining (410) individual transmission delays for the packets (140); including (410) an indication of a transmission delay of one packet (140) into a preceding packet (140) in the sequence (145); transmitting (415) the packets (140) in sequence (145) from the sender (105) to the receiver (110) over the line (115), wherein a packet (140) is transmitted at a time that is determined on the basis of its associated transmission delay. After that, it may be determined (425) whether a packet (140) was received at a time that matches the indication received in the preceding packet (140). The packet (140) may only be accepted (430) if this is the case and rejected or ignored otherwise.