Single-Use Heterogeneous Hardware for Secure Mission Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer and network security systems are inherently vulnerable due to their homogenous design and lack of rigorous security measures, leading to a self-perpetuating cycle of failure, where a vulnerability in one component can affect many systems, giving adversaries an upper hand.
Innovation Solution
The development of provably secure system design instantiated in heterogeneous hardware that exists solely for the lifetime of a mission, utilizing functional mission analysis, formal specification, and mathematically rigorous machine-checkable representation to reduce vulnerabilities, incorporating binary randomization and ternary computing to create unique, one-time-use hardware instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If homogenous hardware systems are used, then system complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but security vulnerabilities increase and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from homogenous to heterogeneous hardware systems. Each hardware instance is uniquely configured with different security parameters, cryptographic keys, and system attributes, ensuring that no two systems are identical. This asymmetric design prevents a single vulnerability from compromising multiple systems while maintaining manufacturability through automated configuration processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by customizing security properties for each individual hardware instance. Specific security parameters, cryptographic materials, and system attributes are locally adapted to each hardware unit's intended mission and security requirements, rather than applying a uniform configuration across all systems. This allows each component to have optimized security characteristics appropriate to its specific role.
2Ease of manufacture
If proprietary and commercial off-the-shelf hardware are used, then ease of manufacture and cost are improved, but security vulnerabilities increase and assurance properties are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring each hardware instance with unique security parameters, cryptographic keys, and system attributes before deployment. Security assurance properties are established in advance through formal verification and validation processes, ensuring that vulnerabilities are prevented rather than detected after deployment. This preliminary security configuration maintains ease of manufacture while eliminating the security weaknesses of off-the-shelf systems.
3Reliability
If single-use heterogeneous hardware is implemented, then security reliability and vulnerability reduction are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying security-relevant parameters across hardware instances, including cryptographic keys, system attributes, and configuration parameters. These parameter variations are implemented through automated configuration processes that manage the apparent complexity while ensuring each instance has unique security characteristics. This approach maintains security reliability without requiring fundamentally different hardware architectures.
4Reliability
If formal specification and mathematical verification are applied, then security assurance and vulnerability reduction are improved, but development time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing formal specification and mathematical verification during the design and configuration phase, before deployment. Security properties are formally verified and validated in advance, ensuring that vulnerabilities are eliminated before systems become operational. This preliminary verification approach, combined with automated tools, reduces the time penalty by preventing rework and security incidents later in the system lifecycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing and executing single-use systems. Invention provides provably secure system design, instantiated in heterogeneous hardware that exists solely for the lifetime of a mission. More specifically, the present invention provides a functional mission analysis, formal specification and mathematically rigorous machine-checkable representation of a hardware mission instantiation to significantly reduce the vulnerabilities of a mission.