Virtual LAN Secure Tunnel via HTTP Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network security measures, such as firewalls and VPNs, are inflexible and require significant maintenance, and existing communication techniques often necessitate the use of gateways, leading to increased organizational costs and limitations in managing secure data transfer across distributed networks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for establishing a virtual local area network (LAN) using HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to create a secure tunnel between devices, allowing communication without the need for a distinct gateway by assigning virtual Media Access Control (MAC) and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, enabling seamless data transfer across public networks and through firewalls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gateway is used to establish VPN for remote access, then secure network access is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gateway function from the network architecture and replaces it with direct peer-to-peer communication between endpoints. Each endpoint independently performs functions previously requiring a centralized gateway, including authentication, encryption, and connection management, thereby eliminating the need for complex gateway infrastructure while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
Endpoints are designed to be self-configuring and self-managing. They automatically generate cryptographic key pairs, establish secure connections, and manage their own authentication credentials without requiring manual gateway configuration or centralized management, reducing both device complexity and maintenance requirements.
2Reliability
If firewalls are deployed to protect network information, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but accessibility for authorized remote users is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism that operates at the application layer rather than the network layer. This intermediary verifies authorized users and establishes direct encrypted tunnels through the firewall, allowing legitimate traffic to pass while maintaining the firewall's blocking of unauthorized access attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the security verification from the traditional network layer (where firewalls operate) to the application layer. By establishing encrypted tunnels at this higher dimension, the system bypasses firewall restrictions for authorized users while maintaining security, effectively adding a new operational dimension to the security architecture.
3Reliability
If VPN infrastructure is established for secure communication, then data security is improved, but organizational maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lightweight, ephemeral cryptographic credentials and temporary session keys that are automatically generated and discarded after use. This approach replaces expensive, long-term infrastructure maintenance with inexpensive, short-lived security tokens, significantly reducing organizational maintenance costs while preserving data security.
Solution Approach 2:
The endpoint design integrates multiple security functions into a single unified component. Each endpoint simultaneously performs authentication, encryption, key management, and connection establishment that previously required separate specialized systems, reducing infrastructure complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining comprehensive data security.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for establishing a virtual local area network (LAN) between a local device and a remote device are provided. The local device and the remote device may each have a physical and a virtual network interface card (NIC), and a virtual driver associated with each respective device virtual NIC may assign a Media Access Control (MAC) address to the virtual NIC and an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the physical NIC. The local device may communicate an IP to MAC address translation to the remote device that maps the assigned IP address to the assigned MAC address. Thereafter, the remote device may transmit secure data that can be received by the local device. For example, the remote device may encapsulate the data being communicated as well as the IP to MAC address translation for the local device into an HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request.