Split Link 16 Terminal Timing for Separated Secure Enclaves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Link 16 terminals face communication delays and disruptions due to the physical separation of secure and unsecure enclaves, which are exacerbated by varying distances, channel characteristics, encryption, and mobile ad-hoc network hops, leading to commands being issued for impossible time slots.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic schedule ahead scheme that adjusts command timing based on latency measurements to ensure commands arrive at the correct time slot, allowing for separation of secure and unsecure components while maintaining communication integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Link 16 terminals use physically separated secure and unsecure enclaves, then NSA certification and security protection are improved, but communication delays and disruptions occur due to varying distances and channel characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is divided into two physically separated enclaves: a secure enclave containing NSA-certified cryptographic components and an unsecure enclave containing radio frequency components. This segmentation allows each enclave to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system security and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication channel with established latency characteristics is introduced as an intermediary between the secure and unsecure enclaves. The system measures and compensates for this intermediate channel's delay to maintain synchronized operation despite physical separation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If Link 16 terminals use fixed predetermined time slot assignments, then network synchronization is maintained, but commands may be issued for impossible time slots due to communication delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of communication latency between enclaves and uses this information to advance command issuance timing. By accounting for transmission delays in advance, commands are issued early enough to ensure they can be executed in the intended time slots despite the physical separation and communication delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors communication channel latency and adjusts command timing based on measured conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the terminal to adapt to varying channel characteristics and maintain reliable command execution while preserving network synchronization.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If Link 16 terminals use frequency hopping spread spectrum, then jam resistance and detection resistance are improved, but complexity of frequency management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines frequency division multiple access (FDMA) with frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) into a unified frequency management scheme. This merging allows the system to maintain the jam and detection resistance benefits of FHSS while incorporating the structured frequency allocation of FDMA, thereby managing complexity through integration rather than separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A Link 16 terminal. The Link 16 terminal includes a red enclave. The red enclave comprises a Link 16 radio. The Link 16 radio is configured to send commands to Link 16 modems. The commands specify time slots when operations in the commands should be performed by the Link 16 modems. The Link 16 terminal further includes a black enclave physically separated from the red enclave. The black enclave includes a Link 16 modem configured to receive commands from the Link 16 radio. The Link 16 terminal further includes a communication channel configured to facilitate communication between the red enclave and the black enclave. The Link 16 radio is configured to dynamically adjust when commands are sent to the Link 16 modem with respect to time slots specified in the commands based on latency between the Link 16 radio and the Link 16 modem.