Methods and apparatus for physical layer security of a network communications link
US7752672B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/40136
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communications port of a network communications device maintains capability information indicating that under normal operating conditions a communications link is capable of operating in a secure mode in which communications signals of the communications link are unintelligible to an intruder having an unauthorized physical connection (e.g. tap) to the communications link. During operation, the port detects occurrence of a link event of a type that can invoke an automatic communications-mode control mechanism to change the operating of the communications link to a non-secure mode in which communications signals of the communications link are intelligible to such an intruder. An example is Ethernet auto-negotiation which can change from relatively secure 1000BaseT signaling to relatively non-secure 10/100BaseT signaling. Based on the capability information, the port responds to the link event by preventing the automatic communications mode control mechanism from changing the operating of the communications link to the non-secure mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.