U.S. patent application number 14/704916 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for method and system for non-persistent communication.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas Borton, Gary M. Graceffo, Andrew M. Kowalevicz, Michael C. Reese. Invention is credited to Thomas Borton, Gary M. Graceffo, Andrew M. Kowalevicz, Michael C. Reese.
Application Number | 20150318982 14/704916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54356001 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150318982 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kowalevicz; Andrew M. ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NON-PERSISTENT COMMUNICATION
Abstract
A method for carrying data on a live host signal, comprising the
steps of: varying timing in a host signal in response to data to be
encoded, wherein variations in timing are smaller than a sampling
period for detection and capture of the digital signal receiving
the live host signal; sensing pulse timing variations in the
received live host signal by comparison to a reference signal; and
determining information in the sensed timing variations.
Inventors: |
Kowalevicz; Andrew M.;
(Arlington, VA) ; Borton; Thomas; (Rockville,
MD) ; Reese; Michael C.; (Fairfax, VA) ;
Graceffo; Gary M.; (Burke, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kowalevicz; Andrew M.
Borton; Thomas
Reese; Michael C.
Graceffo; Gary M. |
Arlington
Rockville
Fairfax
Burke |
VA
MD
VA
VA |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54356001 |
Appl. No.: |
14/704916 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61988409 |
May 5, 2014 |
|
|
|
61988416 |
May 5, 2014 |
|
|
|
61988423 |
May 5, 2014 |
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61988418 |
May 5, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
375/238 ;
375/359 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 25/4902 20130101;
H04L 43/0864 20130101; G06F 1/12 20130101; G09C 1/00 20130101; H04L
43/087 20130101; H04L 7/065 20130101; H04L 9/08 20130101; H04L
7/042 20130101; H04B 1/0475 20130101; H04L 9/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 7/06 20060101
H04L007/06; H04L 25/49 20060101 H04L025/49; H04L 7/04 20060101
H04L007/04 |
Claims
1. A method for carrying data on a live host signal, comprising the
steps of: varying timing in a host signal in response to data to be
encoded, wherein variations in timing are smaller than a sampling
period for detection and capture of the digital signal; receiving
the live host signal; sensing pulse timing variations in the
received live host signal by comparison to a reference signal; and
determining information in the sensed timing variations.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the variations in pulse timing
are less than 1 picosecond.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the host signal is a digital
signal and the timing variations are pulse timing variations.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein variations in pulse timing
include variation of a leading edge and a trailing edge of digital
pulses.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein variations in pulse timing
include variation in pulse width.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference signal is a clock
signal having a stability that is better than the level of timing
variations of the host signal; and wherein the timing variations of
the host signal are smaller than the a sampling period for
detection and capture of the digital signal.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reference signal has a known
variation to which the data to be encoded is added.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the host signal is an analog
signal.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/988,409, filed May 5, 2014, U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/988,416, filed May 5,
2014, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/988,423,
filed May 5, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/988,418, filed May 5, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to communication
devices, and in particular to such devices which communicate secure
information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Often times, when U.S. Diplomats are working outside the
continental United States (OCONUS), communications are closely
monitored by the visited country. The monitoring is done to
identify transmissions that are considered harmful to local
governments. When United States personal are operating in these
countries, they need to send their information back to the US using
encryption to protect their mission. There are, of course, other
instances where securely transmitted communications are very
useful. The sending of encrypted messages either over-the-air or
over a terrestrial link can bring undesired attention to the
sender, which could have damaging consequences. Therefore it is
useful to have a method for sending secure communications that do
not appear to be secure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One embodiment of the present invention provides a method
for carrying data on a live host signal, comprising the steps of:
varying timing in a host signal in response to data to be encoded,
wherein variations in timing are smaller than a sampling period for
detection and capture of the digital signal; receiving the live
host signal; sensing timing variations in the received live host
signal by comparison to a reference signal; and determining
information in the sensed timing variations.
[0005] The variations in timing may be less than 1 picosecond. The
host signal may be a digital signal and the timing variations may
be pulse timing variations. The variations in pulse timing include
variation of a leading edge and a trailing edge of digital pulses.
The variations in pulse timing may include variation in pulse
width.
[0006] The reference signal is a frequency reference having a
stability that is better than the level of timing variations of the
host signal; and the timing variations of the host signal may be
smaller than the a sampling period for detection and capture of the
digital signal. The reference signal may have a known variation to
which the data to be encoded is added. The host signal may be an
analog signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention is illustratively shown and described
in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a nominal waveform demonstrating
timing jitter.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a waveform demonstrating the
difference between accuracy and precision.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a graph of jitter probability.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data transmission system
according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a representational graph of timing variations used
in a covert communications channel in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of waveforms associated with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a circuit constructed in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a graphic depiction of the application of one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The present application presents a method and system for
hiding information in a host data stream, using by way of example,
Gaussian Clock Dither Modulation(GCDM) with a high
stabilityoscillator (HSO). A host (overt) communications channel is
transmitted in the open using the oscillator as a frequency
reference. The covert communication is applied to the host signal
by modulating the timing on the reference signal of the transmitter
to represent the covert (hidden) communication, While the timing
variation representing the covert communication is deterministic,
it is implemented such that it appears Gaussian in nature and
remains within the normal operational levels of timing jitter for a
less stable frequency standard of approximately 1 s-10 s of ps. The
variation introduced on the clock is applied to the transmitted
signals. Depending on the implementation, the variation is seen
either on the carrier phase (modified zero crossings) or the data
symbol falling edge (modulation of to the pulse duration). A
receiver using an HSO will see the modulation and will then
demodulate it.
[0017] One modulation method used is Gaussian Clock Dither
Modulation (GCDM). GCDM uses a combination of statistical
variation, spread spectrum and direct clock quantization. GCDM does
not require making the jitter any worse than that of a typical,
high quality, oscillator, Typical jitter in these oscillators is
approximately 1 s-10 s of picoseconds (ps). GCDM transmits "Marks"
and "Spaces" using a Gaussian distributed random variable to
determine the amount of jitter to add to each symbol. Using a
Gaussian distributed random variable ensures that the jitter looks
Gaussian, as jitter is, and keeps the jitter to a deviation
commensurate with a well-designed communications system.
[0018] All communication systems have jitter. The greater the
stability of the system's reference oscillator, the less jitter in
the system. Timing jitter is illustrated in FIG. 1. Jitter is
defined as the undesired deviation from true periodicity of an
assumed periodic signal 10. As shown in FIG. 1, jitter causes the
falling edge 12 (or rising edge) of a pulse to jitter about a mean
value 13. The mean value is the desired periodicity.
[0019] For purposes of consistency of terminology, "accuracy" is
how close the pulse repetition rate is to a known standard, whereas
"precision" is describes the periodicity of the pulse train. The
concepts of accuracy and precision are illustrated in FIG. 2.
Synonyms used for precision are stability and uncertainty; these
two terms are used interchangeably throughout this paper. There is
however a subtle difference in the three terms. Precision is an
absolute measure such as plus or minus a deviation from the mean.
Uncertainty is more appropriate when discussing system performance
statistically. Stability is used when one wants to refer to the
affect that the precision has on the overall system
performance.
[0020] In any communication system, the zero crossings of the
electrical signals vary and are centered about a mean value, which
is the desired periodic interval. The jitter is a result of
oscillator instability and has both random and deterministic
components. The deterministic component is measureable and is
therefore not of concern for this discussion. The random jitter
component is Gaussian in nature; it is this property that is
exploited for the covert channel.
[0021] Some embodiments of the present invention use an HSO having
a sufficiently low jitter such that modulation may be added to that
inherent instability but still kept below the minimum levels of
detection and capture circuitry utilizing a standard reference
source.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a graph of jitter 16 from a suitable
oscillator. Any suitable highly stable oscillator may he used. An
HSO has very low phase noise, with an equivalent timing jitter on
the order of femtoseconds (fs), even for very high reference
frequencies (GHz). Typical root mean squared (rms) jitter 18 is on
the order of 1 s-10 s of picoseconds.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram 30 suitable for describing the
general operation of system and method constructed according to the
present invention using GCDM. A host communications system 32 uses
the HSO 34 as its primary reference providing the system 32 with an
rms timing jitter of .about.10 s fs. Host system 32 likely
introduces some further jitter. Surreptitious communications of
covert data 36 is then affected by modulating the reference clock
34 with the covert data 36 in modulator 38. This modulated clock
signal is then used for sending 40 nominal data from host data
source 42 over a communications channel 44. Communications channel
44 can be terrestrial, such as copper and fiber optic, or
over-the-air,
[0024] On the receive side 46, a Host Data Decoder 48 recovers the
host data without any additional processing beyond that required
for the transmission type. Signals from communications channel 44
are also coupled to Demodulator 50, which recovers the covert data
by reference to an HSO clock 54. Although FIG. 5 shows an HSO clock
34, 54 at both ends of the communications system, it is possible to
design a system such that only one HSO is required on the receive
side 46.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a representational graph of the timing
variations used in the covert communications channel. The trace 60
in the figure is the probability distribution of a typical
oscillator used in a communications system. A "Mark" or a "Space"
is transmitted by using a Gaussian random variable to modulate the
phase/frequency of the HSO. The location of the "Mark" and "Space"
is determined as follows: The full extent of the dither window is
divided into two regions. if one assumes for example that the full
extent is 20 ps, then the regions are, -10 to 0 and 0 to 10. A Mark
is then described by a Gaussian random variable with a mean 62 of
-5 ps and a standard deviation of 1 ps. Similarly, a "Space" is
described by a random variable with a mean 64 of +5 ps and a
standard deviation of 1 ps as shown in FIG. 5.
[0026] Statistically, there are times that the system's jitter will
obscure the signaling in the covert communications channel. To
mitigate this problem the covert signal is spread using a Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technique. The DSSS signal is a
Maximal Length Sequence (TBR) of length 1025 chips (TBR) Which
provides a process gain of 30 dB (TBR).
[0027] In the manner describe above, a method for carrying data on
a live host signal, comprises the steps of: varying timing in a
host signal in response to data to be encoded, wherein variations
in timing are smaller than a sampling period for detection and
capture of the digital signal; receiving the live host signal;
sensing timing variations in the received live host signal by
comparison to a reference signal; and determining information in
the sensed timing variations. The variations in timing may be less
than 1 picosecond. The host signal may be a digital signal and the
timing variations may be pulse timing variations. The variations in
pulse timing may include variation of a leading edge, a trailing
edge and pulse width of digital pulses and are smaller than the
sampling period for detecting and capturing the digital signal. The
reference signal may be a frequency reference having a stability
that is better than. the level of timing variations of the host
signal. Although the method is discussed in terms of a digital
signal, the principals are also applicable to analog signals.
[0028] Following is a discussion of a system and method for
measuring variations or deviation from ideal waveform transitions
in a received signal to thereby access covert data encoded
according to the above described method.
[0029] FIG. 6A shows a plot of three digital waveforms 70, 72, 74.
Waveform 70 is an example of a digital waveform which has been
modulated by the method of the above described invention. Gray or
blurred areas 71 represent timing variation or jitter which may
occur in individual pulse transitions due to the modulation thereof
with covert data. The term pulse transitions refer to leading and
trailing edges of the pulses. Waveform 72 shows the same host
waveform as waveform 70, except without the timing jitter 71.
Waveform 74 shows an example of a reference signal useful for
decoding the covert data in waveform 70. FIG. 6B is a variation of
FIG. 6A showing a modulated host waveform 76 along with
reconstructed waveform 72, and reference waveform 74. Host waveform
76 shows two pulses 75, 77 having leading and trailing edges which
are aligned with the pulses of reference waveform 74. Waveform 76
further shows a center pulse having a leading edge 78 which is
advanced and a trailing edge 79 which is delayed which misalignment
represents data as depicted in the graph of FIG. 5.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a circuit constructed according
to the present invention. A processing circuit 80 receives the
incoming encoded waveform 70 of FIG. 6 along with the reference
clock signal 74. Processing circuit 80 reconstructs a copy 72a of
the incoming waveform 70 which copy does not include the timing
variations or jitter of received waveform. 70. This reconstructed
waveform 72a is substantially identical to waveform 72 of FIG. 6 in
that it replicates the nominal digital data present in host
waveform 70. Waveform 72a is reconstructed using the reference
signal 74 and thus has the stability of the original host signal
prior to the addition of the non-persistent channel. Both the
original host signal 70 and the reconstructed host signal 72a are
simultaneously coupled to phase detectors 82, 83 along with
identical copies of reference signal 74. Processing circuit 80
necessarily includes a slight delay fur host signal 70 due to the
reconstruction process. This delay enables phase matching between
host signal 70 and reconstructed signal 72 a in their respective
phase detectors 82, 83. The outputs 84, 85 of phase detectors 82,
83 are coupled to a comparator 88 which subtracts one signal from
the other, resulting in a combined signal 90.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a graphic depiction 100 of the application of the
present invention to analog waveforms. A pair of phase detectors
102, 103 provide waveforms 104, 105 as a result of phase detecting
an analog host signal 98 against a reconstructed copy 99. Waveforms
104, 105 are shown as overlaid in the upper right portion of the
figure, and further shown as subtracted as they would represent the
output 106 of comparator 107 waveform. Waveform 105 is subtracted
by comparator 107 and is therefore inverted as waveform 105a in the
output signal 106. The resulting difference between waveforms 104
and 105 is shown as waveform 108. Portions of waveform 108
extending above zero line 109 could represent a logical "1" and
portions of waveform 108 extending below zero line 109 could
represent a logical "0".
[0032] The present application, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
NON-PERSISTENT COMMUNICATION is being filed on the same day as and
in conjunction with related applications: METHODS FOR ENCRYPTION
OBFUSCATION; SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT TIME-DELAYS IN
NON-PERIODIC SIGNALS and METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NON-PERSISTENT
REAL-TIME ENCRYPTION KEY DISTRIBUTION, which applications all share
some common inventors herewith, and the contents of which are all
hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.
[0033] The present invention is illustratively described above in
reference to the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and
changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments by persons skilled
in the art without departing from the scope of the present
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *