Selective downlink data encryption system for satellites
First Claim
1. A satellite system comprising:
- a communications system in a satellite, wherein the communications system is configured to receive first information from a particular operator of a plurality of operators; and
a number of computers associated with the satellite, wherein the number of computers is configured to avoid conflicts between information sent by the communications system to the satellite from different operators in the plurality of operators that cause an undesired operation of the satellite, identify a block of information for encryption from instructions in the first information received by the communications system in the satellite, generate a key for the particular operator from a portion of the block of information identified in the first information based on the instructions in the first information from the particular operator, and encrypt the block of information using the key for the particular operator to form a block of encrypted information, and transmit the block of encrypted information to a remote platform over a number of communications links.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a satellite system. A satellite system is comprised of a communications system in a satellite and a number of computers associated with the satellite. The communications system is configured to receive first information and transmit second information from the satellite to a remote platform over a number of communications links. The number of computers is configured to identify a block of information for encryption from instructions in the first information. The number of computers is further configured to generate a key from a portion of the block of information based on the instructions. The number of computers is further configured to perform an exclusive OR operation on the block of information using the key to form a block of encrypted information. The number of computers is further configured to transmit the block of encrypted information.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A satellite system comprising:
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a communications system in a satellite, wherein the communications system is configured to receive first information from a particular operator of a plurality of operators; and a number of computers associated with the satellite, wherein the number of computers is configured to avoid conflicts between information sent by the communications system to the satellite from different operators in the plurality of operators that cause an undesired operation of the satellite, identify a block of information for encryption from instructions in the first information received by the communications system in the satellite, generate a key for the particular operator from a portion of the block of information identified in the first information based on the instructions in the first information from the particular operator, and encrypt the block of information using the key for the particular operator to form a block of encrypted information, and transmit the block of encrypted information to a remote platform over a number of communications links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A satellite system comprising:
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a first module in a satellite, wherein the first module is configured to receive first information from a particular operator of a plurality of operators;
avoid conflicts between information sent from different operators in the plurality of operators that cause an undesired operation of the satellite; and
decrypt commands in the first information; anda second module in the satellite, wherein the second module is configured to process the commands decrypted by the first module, generate a key for the particular operator from a portion of a block of information including a number of commands processed, encrypt a block of telemetry using the key for the particular operator to form a block of encrypted information, and transmit the block of encrypted information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for transmitting information, the method comprising:
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receiving in an uplink at a satellite first information from a particular operator of a plurality of operators; processing commands received in the first information while avoiding conflicts between information sent from different operators in the plurality of operators that cause an undesired operation of the satellite; identifying a block of information resulting from processing the commands received in the first information in the uplink at the satellite; generating a key for the particular operator from a portion of the block of information resulting from processing the commands received in the first information in the uplink at the satellite based on instructions received in the first information in the uplink at the satellite; encrypting the block of information using the key for the particular operator to form a block of encrypted information; and transmitting the block of encrypted information from the satellite in a downlink. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification