UAV Services Platform Authentication for Wide Area Network Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) requires secure communication and control over wide area wireless networks, such as cellular networks, to extend beyond the limitations of short-range wireless communication, ensuring that control signals and telemetry information are not compromised during transmission.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a secure registration and authentication process for Ground Control Stations (GCS) and UAVs using private keys and digital certificates, facilitated by a UAV services platform, to establish encrypted data paths and authenticate users, devices, and operations before performing operational activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If short-range wireless communication is used for drone control, then security is maintained, but communication range is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcommunication range

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A services platform acts as an intermediary between the drone and ground control station, providing secure authentication and certificate management. This mediator enables long-range cellular communication while maintaining security through centralized credential verification, resolving the contradiction between extended range and maintained security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If digital certificates and private keys are implemented for authentication, then security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidauthentication process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex certificate management and authentication logic is extracted from the drone and ground control station devices and centralized in the services platform. This extraction simplifies the endpoint devices while maintaining strong security, as the platform handles all cryptographic operations and credential verification centrally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The services platform provides universal authentication services that work across multiple drones and ground control stations. By implementing a single multi-functional authentication system rather than individual solutions for each device pair, the overall system complexity is reduced while maintaining security across the entire drone ecosystem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11785462B2Registration and authentication of a drone, ground control station, and user for flights leveraging a wide area network

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A device may include a memory and a processor. The device may receive, from a ground control station (GCS) associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), credentials associated with a user. The device may determine whether the GCS has been registered and determine, in response to determining that the GCS has been registered, whether the UAV has been registered. The device may present, in response to determining that the UAV has been registered, a list of UAVs the user is authorized to operate and receive selection of a particular UAV from the list of UAVs. The device may facilitate operational activities of the particular UAV.