Stateless Address Translation for Host Privacy at AS Boundary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network technologies, such as Carrier Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT), while effective in scaling IP address ranges, often compromise host privacy by revealing identity and topology information, which can be valuable and profitable for data center providers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing stateless address translation at the Autonomous System (AS) boundary using a cypher value assigned to a cypher bit range in the network prefix, which is encoded and decoded using a rotating cypher algorithm, ensuring that only devices within the AS know the original address, thus maintaining host location privacy and preventing data center providers from tracking user behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If Carrier Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT) is used to scale IP address ranges, then the address space capacity is improved, but host privacy is compromised by revealing identity and topology information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the IP address structure by designating specific bit ranges (e.g., 4-7 bits of the network prefix) as cypher bit ranges that are encoded separately from the routing prefix. This segmentation allows the address space to be scaled for routing purposes while the cypher bit ranges provide privacy protection through encoding, resolving the contradiction between address space capacity and host privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding mechanism using cypher algorithms that acts as a mediator between the need for scalable IP address ranges and the need for privacy protection. The cypher value and encoding process serve as an intermediary layer that obscures identity and topology information while maintaining routability, thus resolving the privacy loss issue.
2Loss of information
If stateless address translation with cypher encoding is implemented at AS boundary, then host privacy is improved, but device complexity increases due to encoding/decoding operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning cypher values to cypher bit ranges in the network prefix and pre-selecting cypher algorithms from a set of algorithms. This preliminary configuration allows the encoding to be performed as a relatively simple lookup and application operation rather than a complex real-time computation, reducing the operational complexity at AS boundaries while maintaining privacy protection.
3Loss of information
If cypher value is assigned to cypher bit range in network prefix, then host location privacy is improved, but routing complexity outside AS may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the cypher encoding transparent to external routing systems. The encoded addresses maintain the original routing prefix structure that external systems can route on, while only the specific cypher bit ranges are modified. This allows host location privacy to be improved locally within the AS without requiring external routing systems to become more complex, as they continue to route based on the unmodified prefix portion.
Data Source
AI summary
Stateless address translation at an Autonomous System (AS) boundary for host privacy may be provided. An address associated with a host device in the AS may be received. The address may comprise a network prefix and an interface identifier (ID). Then a cypher value may be assigned to a cypher bit range in the network prefix. The cypher value may be associated with a first cypher algorithm of a plurality of cypher algorithms. Next, the address may be encoded wherein encoding the address comprises applying the first cypher algorithm to encode a coding bit range in the address that is less significant than the cypher bit range. The encoded address may then be used for flows from the host that egress the AS.