METHOD OF COMMUNICATING A DIGITAL SIGNATURE TO CERTIFY A TRANSMISSION, ASSOCIATED SYSTEM AND AIRCRAFT

• US 20100100745A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Belmonte, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/108 Source integrity

Abstract

This invention relates to a communication method intended to ensure the receipt of digital data by at least one remote entity, and an associated system, in particular in the context of data transfer with an aircraft.

According to the invention, the communication method comprises

• • a step of receiving (4) of numerical data (2) by at least one remote entity (3_i),
  • a step of digital signing (6) of the said data received by the said remote entity so as to generate a digital signature (200) and
  • a step of transmitting (17) the said digital signature to a local entity, the said digital signature (200) being transmitted with at least one identification information item (210) for the said received and signed data (2), the said identification information item (210) being of smaller size than the said received data (2).

Claims

1. Communication method comprising a step of receiving (4) of digital data (2) by at least one remote entity (3_i), a step of digital signing (6) of the said data received by the said remote entity so as to generate a digital signature (200) and a step of transmitting (17) the said digital signature to a local entity, characterized in that the said digital signature (200) is transmitted with at least one identification information item (210) for the said received and signed data (2), the said identification information item (210) being of lesser size than the said received data (2).

2. Communication method according to claim 1, in which the step of signing (6) in order to calculate a digital signature (200) comprises:

determining of an imprint (202, 304) of the said data received (2) by the said remote entity (3i),

calculating of integrity data (218) of the said imprint (202, 304),

coding of the said imprint and of the integrity data, with the aid of a coding key (208).

3. Communication method according to the preceding claim, in which the said coding also is performed on the said at least one identification information item (210).

4. Communication method according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the said at least one identification information item (210) is juxtaposed with the digital signature (200) so as to form a data file to be transmitted to the said local entity (1).

5. Communication method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising, prior to the said receipt of the digital data by the remote entity:

a first step of signing of the digital data by the said local entity (1), and

a step of transmitting (4), by the local entity to the remote entity (3_i), of the data (2) and of the first signature (304) generated in this way,

the said step of signing (6) by the remote entity (3_i) being performed on the said first signature (304) so as to form a double signature.

6. Communication method according to one of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of remote entities (3_i) receives digital data (2), and each remote entity (3_i) transmits a said digital signature (200) of the received data accompanied by a said identification information item (210) for the received files, and

the said local entity (1) stores, in a database (11), the set of signatures (200) of the plurality of remote entities with the said identification information items (210), and stores a sole copy of each digital datum (2) so that the local entity can link a received signature with a copy held locally.

7. Communication method according to one of the preceding claims, in which, upon receipt of a digital signature (200) accompanied by an identification information item (210) the local entity (1) sends out (12) to the sending remote entity (3_i), a request for the digital data identified in the said identification information item and no copy of which is stored in the said local entity.

8. Communication system comprising means for receipt of digital data on a communication network, means for digital signature of the said received data set up to generate a digital signature and means for transmission of the said digital signature on the said communication network to a local entity, characterized in that it is set up to transmit the said digital signature with at least one identification information item for the said received and signed data, the said identification information item being of lesser size than the received data.

9. Aircraft comprising a communication system according to the preceding claim.

10. Airport system comprising a plurality of aircraft (3_i) according to the preceding claim and a ground station (1), the said ground station being capable of storing a copy of the digital data (2) transmitted to the said aircraft and comprising:

means for receipt of a digital signature and at least one identification information item sent out by one of the said aircraft,

means for local search, with the aid of the identification information item, for a copy of the digital data transmitted to the said aircraft,

means for verification, with the aid of the copy found, of the said digital signature received from the aircraft.