TERMINAL DEVICE CAPABLE OF LINK LAYER ENCRYPTION AND DECRYPTION AND DATA PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130283045A1
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: China Iwncomm Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: China Iwncomm Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Li, Qin, Cao, Jun, Tie, Manxia
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/160
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/08 Key distribution or management, e.g. generation, sharing or updating, of cryptographic keys or passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting key management in a packet data network H04L63/06

Abstract

There are a terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption and a data process method thereof, and the terminal device includes a link layer processing module including a control module, a data frame encryption module, a data frame decryption module, a key management module, an algorithm module, a transmission port and a reception port; and the control module is connected with the transmission port through the data frame encryption module, the reception port is connected with the control module through the data frame decryption module, the control module is connected with the key management module, the data frame encryption module is connected with the data frame decryption module through the key management module, and the data frame encryption module is connected with the data frame decryption module through the algorithm module.

Claims

1. A terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption, wherein the terminal device comprises a link layer processing module comprising a control module, a data frame encryption module, a data frame decryption module, a key management module, an algorithm module, a transmission port and a reception port;

and the control module is connected with the transmission port through the data frame encryption module, the reception port is connected with the control module through the data frame decryption module, the control module is connected with the key management module, the data frame encryption module is connected with the data frame decryption module through the key management module, and the data frame encryption module is connected with the data frame decryption module through the algorithm module, and wherein;

the control module is capable of strategy management and control;

the key management module is capable of link layer key management and creates a shared key between the terminal device and another terminal device in a network and/or between the terminal device and a switch device in the network in response to a strategy demand of the control module and is responsible for performing management operations of storage, update or deletion on key; and

the created shared key is pre-shared or negotiated about upon successful identity authentication of the terminal device with another terminal device or the switch device;

upon reception of user data to be sent, the data frame encryption module interacts with the key management module to obtain a corresponding key and then invokes the algorithm module to thereby encrypt the user data to obtain a cipher-text of the user data, constructs a link layer encrypted data frame and sends the link layer encrypted data frame via the transmission port;

upon reception of a data frame via the reception port, the data frame decryption module interacts with the key management module to obtain a corresponding key and then invokes the algorithm module to thereby decrypt the data frame to obtain plaintext information of user data and submits the plaintext information to a higher layer through the control module; and

the algorithm module relates to an encryption algorithm and/or an integrity check algorithm.

2. A data processing method of a terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption, wherein the method comprises:

1) when the terminal device sends a link layer encryption protocol data frame,

1.1) a link layer control module of the terminal device receiving user data sent from a higher layer to be sent at the link layer

1.2) the control module selecting a type of link layer encryption protocol and a security processing strategy for use according to a local strategy and sending the selected type of link layer encryption protocol, security processing strategy and information of the user data to a data frame encryption module;

1.3) the data frame encryption module processing the user data according to the link layer encryption protocol and security processing strategy to determine whether to encrypt the user data and constructing a data frame, Frame A1;

1.4) the data frame encryption module sending the constructed Frame A1 via a transmission port to thereby complete sending the link layer encryption protocol data frame; and

2) when the terminal device receives a link layer encryption protocol data frame,

2.1) the terminal device receiving a data frame, Frame A2, sent to the terminal device through the physical layer and sending the received Frame A2 to a data frame decryption module via a reception port;

2.2) the data frame decryption module determining a corresponding link layer encryption protocol according to the received Frame A2;

2.3) the data frame decryption module determining whether user data is a plaintext and parsing the Frame A2 according to the corresponding link layer encryption protocol to obtain the user data; and

2.4) the data frame decryption module submitting the plaintext of the obtained user data to the higher layer through the control module to thereby complete receiving the link layer encryption protocol data frame; and

wherein the Frame A1 is a data frame sent from the terminal device via the transmission port, and the Frame A2 is a data frame received by the terminal device via the reception port.

3. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 2, wherein the method supports a standard ISO/IEC 8802-3 data frame or a link layer encryption protocol data frame, and the supported encryption protocol data frame includes a frame header field and a payload field;

and

the frame header field represents frame header information and comprises a DA field, an SA field, an Ethertype field, an isE field and a keyIndex field, wherein;

the DA field represents an identifier of a destination node, a value of which is MAC address of the destination node;

the SA field represents the identifier of a source node, the value of which is the MAC address of the source node;

the Ethertype field represents an Ethernet-type field, the value of which is an Ethernet-type field in the link layer encryption protocol to identify the corresponding link layer encryption protocol and frame structure;

the isE field represents an encryption flag bit to identify whether the payload of the data frame is plaintext information or cipher-text information of the user data, and this field is used by a recipient of the data packet as a criterion to judge whether decryption is required;

the keyIndex field represents the identifier of a key securing the user data, wherein the user data is secured by encryption and/or calculating an integrity check, and the key securing the user data is a key between the terminal device and a switch device or a key between the terminal device and a destination terminal device; and

the payload field represents a payload of the data frame, which is either a plaintext information of the user data or a ciphertext information of the user data, wherein when the isE field indicates encrypted, the payload is the ciphertext information of the user data; and

when the isE field indicates no encryption, the payload is the plaintext information of the user data.

4. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 3, wherein:

when the data frame encryption module determines that the user data is not required to be encrypted according to the corresponding link layer encryption protocol and security processing strategy, step 1.3) comprises;

the data frame encryption module constructing the Frame A1 with each field taking the following value;

the value of the Frame A1.DA field is the MAC address of a destination node;

the value of the Frame A1.SA field is the MAC address of the terminal device;

the value of the Frame A1.Ethertype field is an Ethernet type field value in the corresponding link layer encryption protocol;

the value of the Frame A1.isE field is No Encryption;

the value of the Frame A1.keyIndex field is not defined (this field is null when the user data is not encrypted); and

the value of the Frame A1.Payload field is the user data; and

when the data frame encryption module determines the user data is required to be encrypted according to the corresponding link layer encryption protocol and security processing strategy, the step 1.3) comprises;

1.3.1.1) the data frame encryption module invoking a key management module to obtain a key, KEY 1, to encrypt the user data and the identifier keyIndex1 of the key, KEY 1;

1.3.1.2) the data frame encryption module invoking an algorithm module to encrypt the user data by the obtained KEY1 to obtain a cipher-text of the user data; and

1.3.1.3) the data frame encryption module constructing the Frame A1 with each field taking the following value;

the value of the Frame A1.DA field is the MAC address of the destination node;

the value of the Frame A1.SA field is the MAC address of the terminal device;

the value of the Frame A1.Ethertype field is the Ethernet type field value in the corresponding link layer encryption protocol;

the value of the Frame A1.isE field is Encrypted;

the value of the Frame A1.keyIndex field is the identifier keyIndex1 of the KEY1; and

the value of the Frame A1.Payload field is the cipher-text of the user data; and

the KEY1 presents a key used to construct the Frame A1 sent from the terminal device when the payload field in the Frame A1 is cipher-text information of the user data.

5. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 3, wherein:

when the data frame decryption module determines that the Frame A2.Payload field is a plaintext of the user data according to the Frame A2.isE field, step 2.3) comprises;

extracting the Frame A2.Payload field to thereby complete parsing the Frame A2; and

when the data frame decryption module determines that the Frame A2.Payload field is a cipher-text of the user data according to the Frame A2.isE field, the step 2.3) comprises;

2.3.1.1) the data frame decryption module sending information of the Frame A2.keyIndex field to a key management module and retrieving a key, KEY2, to decrypt Frame A2.Payload; and

2.3.1.2) the data frame decryption module invoking an algorithm module to decrypt Frame A2.Payload by the retrieved KEY2 to obtain the plaintext of the user data to thereby complete parsing Frame A2 and obtain the user data; and

KEY2 presents a key used to parse the Frame A2 received by the terminal device when the payload field in the Frame A2 is cipher-text information of the user data.

6. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 3, wherein the link layer encryption protocol data frame supported by the method further comprises an integrity check MIC field, and the MIC field is an integrity check value calculated on all or a part of other fields in the link layer encryption protocol data frame than the MIC field, and the key securing the data frame comprises two parts which are an integrity check key and an encryption key, wherein the integrity check key is used to calculate or verify the MIC field, and the encryption key part is used to encrypt the user data or decrypt a cipher-text of the user data.

7. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 6, wherein

when the data frame encryption module determines that the user data is not required to be encrypted according to the corresponding link layer encryption protocol and security processing strategy, step 1.3) comprises:

1.3.2.1) the data frame encryption module invoking a key management module to obtain a key, KEY1, to secure the data frame and the identifier keyIndex1 of the key, KEY 1;

1.3.2.2) the data frame encryption module constructing all the other fields of the Frame A1 than the Frame A1.MIC field, wherein each of the other fields of the Frame A1 than Frame A1.MIC take the following value;

the value of the Frame A1.DA field is the MAC address of a destination node;

the value of the Frame A1.SA field is the MAC address of the terminal device;

the value of the Frame A1.Ethertype field is an Ethernet type field value in the corresponding link layer encryption protocol;

the value of the Frame A1.isE field is No Encryption;

the value of the Frame A1.keyIndex field is the identifier keyIndex1 of the KEY 1; and

the value of the Frame A1.Payload field is the user data; and

1.3.2.3) the data frame encryption module invoking a corresponding algorithm module to calculate the value of the Frame A1.MIC field on constructed Frame A1 other than the integrity check Frame A1.MIC field using the integrity check key of KEY1 to thereby complete constructing Frame A1; and

when the data frame encryption module determines that the user data is required to be encrypted according to the corresponding link layer encryption protocol and security processing strategy, the step 1.3) comprises;

1.3.3.1) the data frame encryption module invoking the key management module to obtain the KEY 1 to secure the user data and the identifier keyIndex1 of the KEY 1;

1.3.3.2) the data frame encryption module invoking the algorithm module to encrypt the user data by the obtained KEY1 to obtain a cipher-text of the user data; and

1.3.3.3) the data frame encryption module constructing each filed of the Frame A1 other than the Frame A1.MIC field, wherein each field of the Frame A1 other than Frame A1.MIC take the following value;

the value of the Frame A1.DA field is the MAC address of the destination node;

the value of the Frame A1.SA field is the MAC address of the terminal device;

the value of the Frame A1.Ethertype field is the Ethernet type field value in the corresponding link layer encryption protocol;

the value of the Frame A1.isE field is Encrypted;

the value of the Frame A1.keyIndex field is the identifier keyIndex1 of the Key1; and

the value of the Frame A1.Payload field is the cipher-text of the user data; and

1.3.3.4) the data frame encryption module invoking the corresponding algorithm module to calculate the value of the integrity check Frame A1.MIC field on the constructed Frame A1 other than the Frame A1.MIC field using the integrity check key of KEY1 to thereby complete constructing Frame A1.

8. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 6, wherein:

when the data frame decryption module determines that the Frame A2.Payload field is a plaintext of the user data according to the Frame A2.isE field, the step 2.3) comprises;

2.3.2.1) the data frame decryption module submitting information of the Frame A2.keyIndex field to a key management module and retrieving a key, KEY2, to de-secure the Frame A2; and

2.3.2.2) the data frame decryption module invoking an algorithm module to verify the Frame A2.MIC field in the Frame A2 for correctness by the integrity check key of the retrieved KEY2; and

if Frame A2.MIC is correct, then proceeding to the step 2.3.2.3);

otherwise, discarding the packet; and

2.3.2.3) the data frame decryption module extracting the Frame A2.Payload field as a plaintext of the user data to thereby complete parsing the data frame, Frame A2; and

when the data frame decryption module determines that the Frame A2.Payload field is a cipher-text of the user data according to the Frame A2.isE field, the step 2.3) comprises;

2.3.3.1) the data frame decryption module submitting the information of the Frame A2.keyIndex field to the key management module and retrieving the KEY2 to de-secure the Frame A2; and

2.3.3.2) the data frame decryption module invoking the algorithm module to verify the Frame A2.MIC field in the Frame A2 for correctness by the integrity check key of the retrieved KEY2; and

if Frame A2.MIC is correct, then proceeding to the step 2.3.3.3);

otherwise, discarding the packet; and

2.3.3.3) the data frame decryption module invoking the algorithm module to decrypt Frame A2.Payload by the encryption key of the obtained KEY2 to obtain the plaintext of the user data to thereby complete parsing Frame A2.

9. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 6, wherein when the terminal device secures the user data through encryption and integrity checking, if in step 1.3), the data frame encryption module firstly encrypts the user data to construct the payload field of the data frame and then performs integrity checking on the data frame to construct the MIC field, then in step 2.3), upon reception of the data frame, the data frame decryption module firstly verifies the MIC field for correctness and then decrypts the payload field of the data frame to obtain and submit to the higher layer plaintext information of the user data only upon determining that the MIC field is correct;

and

when the terminal device secures the user data through encryption and integrity checking, if in the step 1.3), the data frame encryption module firstly calculates an integrity check on the data frame with a plaintext of the user data being the payload field to construct the MIC field and then encrypts the plaintext of the user data and updates the payload field of the data frame with an obtained cipher-text of the user data, then in the step 2.3), the data frame decryption module firstly decrypts the payload field of the data frame to obtain plaintext information of the user data; and

then verifies the MIC field for correctness and submits to the higher layer the plaintext information of the user data previously obtained by decryption which is validated only upon determining that the MIC field is correct.

10. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 2, wherein when both Frame A1.KeyIndex and Frame A2.KeyIndex in steps 1.3 and 2.3) indicate inter-station key between a terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption and an opposite terminal device, the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption sends a data frame to the opposite terminal device by securing the data frame to be sent through encryption and/or calculating an integrity check by the inter-station key between the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption and the opposite terminal device;

and the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption receives a data frame from the opposite terminal device by de-securing the received data frame through decryption and/or verifying an integrity check by the inter-station key between the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption and the opposite terminal device.

11. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 2, wherein the frame header in the link layer encryption protocol data frame supported by the method further comprises a MAClist field to represent information of a list of specific MAC addresses, and switch devices in the list of specific MAC addresses given in the MAClist field are required to decrypt, encrypt and forward a cipher-text of a received data frame, and all of switch devices absent in the list of specific MAC addresses other than a destination node are required to simply forward the cipher-text of the data frame directly.

12. The data processing method of the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption according to claim 11, wherein the MAClist field defines a list of MAC addresses of the first switch device capable of link layer encryption and decryption and the last switch device capable of link layer encryption and decryption over a link from a source terminal device to a destination terminal device;

and

in step 1.3), the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption is the sending terminal device, and the opposite terminal device is the destination terminal device; and

after obtaining information of the MAC addresses of the first switch device SW₁ capable of link layer encryption and decryption and the last switch device SW₂ capable of link layer encryption and decryption over the link from the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption to the opposite terminal device, the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption constructs the data frame to include the MAC addresses of SW₁ and SW₂ in the MAClist field, to secure the data frame by a key between the sending terminal device and the first switch device capable of link layer encryption and decryption over the link from the sending terminal device to the destination terminal device, that is, to secure the data frame by a key, KEY₁, between the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption and SW₁, and to send the keyIndex field of the data frame assigned with keyIndex₁ of KEY₁, wherein the data frame is secured through encryption and/or calculating an integrity check; and

in step 2.3), the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption is the destination terminal device, and the opposite terminal device is the sending terminal device; and

upon reception of a data frame sent from the opposite terminal device, the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption extracts the MAClist field to obtain information of the MAC address of the last switch device capable of link layer encryption and decryption over the link from the sending terminal device to the destination terminal device and de-secures the data frame by a key between the terminal device and the this switch device, that is, the terminal device capable of link layer encryption and decryption extracts the MAClist field to obtain the information of the MAC address of SW₁ and de-secures the data frame by a key, KEY₁, between the terminal device and SW₁ to obtain plaintext information of user data, wherein the data frame is de-secured through decryption and/or verifying an integrity check.