Virtualized Wireless Access Point for Secure Communication and Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless networks are inherently more vulnerable to attacks than wired networks, making them susceptible to attacks on connected wired networks, necessitating robust security mechanisms for secure operation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and electronic circuits configured to operate as a wireless access point with integrated virtual machines for wireless network authentication and VPN servers, fully contained in volatile memory, to authenticate and encrypt data transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless networks are used to provide network access, then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but vulnerability to attacks and security risks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments network functions into separate virtual machines (authentication server, VPN server, firewall) that run in isolated environments. This segmentation allows the wireless access point to maintain ease of operation while limiting the impact of potential attacks to specific virtual machine instances rather than the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple intermediary security layers including authentication servers that verify device legitimacy, VPN servers that encrypt data transmissions, and firewalls that filter malicious traffic. These intermediaries stand between the wireless network and internal systems, maintaining accessibility while blocking attacks.
2Reliability
If security mechanisms are added to protect against attacks, then network security is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless access point device performs multiple functions by running several virtual machines simultaneously - authentication, VPN encryption, and firewall services - all within a single device. This multi-functionality approach improves network security without requiring multiple separate devices, thus managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses virtual machine instances that are software copies of security service templates. These virtual machine images can be deployed and replicated across the device, providing robust security mechanisms through software rather than requiring complex hardware configurations for each security function.
3Reliability
If virtual machines are used to provide security services, then network security is improved, but memory resource consumption worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements virtual machines nested within the wireless access point device, with each virtual machine containing specific security services. This nesting allows multiple security functions to share the device's memory resources through virtualization, providing comprehensive security while managing memory consumption through resource pooling and allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided, comprising: a volatile memory; a non-volatile memory; a first electronic circuit that is configured to operate as a wireless access point, the first electronic circuit including a wireless controller for accessing a wireless network; and a second electronic circuit that is operatively coupled to the first electronic circuit, the second electronic circuit including at least one processor configured to execute: (i) a first virtual machine that includes a wireless network authentication server, and (ii) a second virtual machine that includes a virtual private network (VPN) server, wherein the wireless network authentication server is configured to authenticate devices that attempt to join the wireless network; wherein the VPN server is arranged to encrypt data that is received at the apparatus to produce encrypted data, and forward the encrypted data to the wireless controller for transmission over the wireless network.