Secure Mediator Circuitry for Peripheral Cybersecurity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mediators between host and peripheral devices lack robust security measures to effectively protect against cyber threats, particularly in scenarios where unauthorized peripheral devices can compromise system security.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a secure mediator with non-programable circuitries that includes a security setup stage, neutralization stage, and normal operation stage, utilizing triggering, timing/control, and switching circuitries to monitor and manage connections, register authorized devices, and disable unauthorized peripherals, ensuring enhanced cybersecurity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mediator includes security functions to protect against cyber threats, then system security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mediator is segmented into distinct functional blocks: triggering circuitry, timing/control circuitry, setup circuitry, and switching circuitry. Each block performs a specific security function, making the overall complex system manageable through modular design while maintaining enhanced security capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated security mediator device as an intermediary between hosts and peripheral devices. This mediator includes specialized security circuitry that acts as a buffer and control layer, providing security functions without requiring modification of the host or peripheral devices themselves
2Reliability
If the mediator performs security setup stage with non-programable circuitries, then protection against cyber threats is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mediator performs a security setup stage during initialization before normal operation begins. During this preliminary stage, the non-programable circuitries are configured with security parameters and device identifiers. This preliminary configuration ensures security is established before any data transmission occurs, protecting against cyber threats while keeping normal operation simple
Solution Approach 2:
The non-programable circuitries automatically execute security functions without requiring continuous user intervention. The triggering circuitry autonomously detects connection events, the timing/control circuitry manages state transitions, and the switching circuitry automatically routes signals based on security conditions, making the security mechanism self-service oriented
3Reliability
If the mediator includes multiple circuitries for security setup and neutralization stages, then cybersecurity is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mediator implements dynamic state transitions between security setup stage, neutralization stage, and normal operation stage. The timing/control circuitry manages these transitions based on triggering events, allowing the system to adapt its security posture dynamically rather than maintaining a static complex configuration at all times
Solution Approach 2:
Different circuitries are activated in different operational stages. During security setup stage, triggering and setup circuitries are active while switching circuitry is configured for configuration mode. During normal operation, only essential switching and data transmission circuitries remain active. This localized activation reduces effective complexity during each specific operational phase
Data Source
AI summary
A secure mediator for coupling between one or more hosts and one or more consoles comprising one or more peripheral devices. the secure mediator comprises host side ports, each host side port is configured to be connected to a corresponding host, and console side ports, each console side port is configured to be connected to a corresponding peripheral device. The secure mediator comprises: a triggering circuitry; a timing/control circuitry; a setup circuitry; a switching circuitry; and the rest of the mediator circuitries, wherein the triggering circuitry, timing/control circuitry, setup circuitry, and switching circuitry are non-programable circuitries. The mediator has at least two stages: a security setup stage and a normal operation stage. The triggering circuitry is configured to monitor events and to signal these events to the timing/control circuitry in order to trigger a transfer between the security setup stage and the normal operation stage. The timing/control circuitry controls the execution of the security setup stage and transfers the mediator between the security setup stage and the normal operation stage. The setup circuitry performs one or more security functions in the security setup stage to enhance the cyber security of mediator. The switching circuitry, conditioned upon control from the timing/control circuitry, switches between the coupling of: (1) at least one of the host side ports with at least two of any one of (a) the setup circuitry; (b) the rest of the mediator circuitries; (c) one of the console side ports; (d) a null port, and (2) at least one of the console side ports with at least two of any one of (a) the setup circuitry; (b) the rest of the mediator circuitries; (c) one of the host side ports; (d) a null port.