Authenticating an aircraft data exchange using detected differences of onboard electronics
First Claim
1. A method comprisingdetecting a request for an exchange of data between an aircraft and an off-board system;
- selecting a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) of the aircraft based on at least one parameter of the request;
issuing a challenge to a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) connected with at least one electronic component of the LRU;
obtaining a hardware signature based on a response of the at least one electronic component of the LRU to the challenge, wherein the PUF derives the hardware signature from a unique physical property of the at least one electronic component; and
validating the hardware signature to authenticate the request and initiate the exchange of data between the aircraft and the off-board system.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for authenticating aircraft communications using detected difference of on board electronics. One embodiment is a method that includes detecting a request for an exchange of data between an aircraft and an off-board system, and selecting a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) of the aircraft based on at least one parameter of the request. The method also includes issuing a challenge to a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) connected with at least one electronic component of the LRU, and obtaining a hardware signature based on a response of the at least one electronic component of the LRU to the challenge. The PUF derives the hardware signature from a unique physical property of the at least one electronic component. The method further includes validating the hardware signature to authenticate the request and initiate the exchange of data between the aircraft and the off-board system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising
detecting a request for an exchange of data between an aircraft and an off-board system; -
selecting a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) of the aircraft based on at least one parameter of the request; issuing a challenge to a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) connected with at least one electronic component of the LRU; obtaining a hardware signature based on a response of the at least one electronic component of the LRU to the challenge, wherein the PUF derives the hardware signature from a unique physical property of the at least one electronic component; and validating the hardware signature to authenticate the request and initiate the exchange of data between the aircraft and the off-board system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method comprising:
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detecting a request for an exchange of data between an aircraft and an off-board system; selecting a line replaceable unit (LRU) of the aircraft based on at least one parameter of the request; issuing a challenge to a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) connected with one or more electronic components of the LRU; obtaining a hardware signature based on a response of the one or more electronic components of the LRU to the challenge, wherein the PUF derives the hardware signature from a unique physical property of the one or more electronic components; and validating the hardware signature to authenticate the request and initiate the exchange of data between the aircraft and the off-board system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
a ground system operable to upload aircraft data to Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) over a network, the ground system comprising; an airline device operable to request the upload of the aircraft data to an LRU of the aircraft; and a hardware authentication system operable to retrieve a challenge from the airline device that is associated with the LRU, to obtain a hardware signature from PUF circuitry coupled with the LRU, and to authenticate the aircraft for receiving the upload based on a match between the hardware signature and a challenge-response pair stored in the airline device that includes the challenge. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification