Communication devices, computer readable storage devices, and methods for secure multi-path communication

• US 9,143,512 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Forte, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEHNI, GHAZAL B
• Application Number:
  US14/046,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20150101018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 726 2- 10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215

Abstract

A message is divided into multiple message segments, and a network interface is selected from among a plurality of different types of network interfaces included within a communication device for transmitting each message segment. Each network interface is dedicated to a different type of communication protocol using a different encryption technique, and a network interface is selected for transmitting each message segment according to a pattern of the network interfaces. Secure transmission of the multiple message segments is initiated via the network interfaces according to the pattern.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

dividing a message into multiple message segments;

selecting a respective network interface, from among a plurality of different types of network interfaces included within the communication device, for transmitting each respective message segment of the multiple message segments according to a pattern of the plurality of different types of network interfaces, wherein each network interface of the plurality of different types of network interfaces is dedicated to a different type of communication protocol using a different encryption technique; and

initiating secure transmission of each respective message segment via the respective network interface selected for transmitting that respective message segment according to the pattern.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein an additional network interface is included in another communication device in communication with the communication device, and wherein selecting the respective network interface comprises selecting the respective network interface from among the plurality of different types of network interfaces included within the communication device and the additional network interface included within the other communication device according to the pattern.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the additional network interface included in the other communication device is dedicated to another type of communication protocol using a another encryption technique, wherein the other type of communication protocol and the other encryption technique are different than the type of communication protocol and the encryption technique to which each network interface included in the communication device is dedicated.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the pattern is random, such that the respective network interface selected for transmitting each respective message segment is randomly selected.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the pattern is a particular sequence, and the respective network interface selected for transmitting each respective message segment is selected in a particular order according to the particular sequence.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein there are multiple patterns of the plurality of different types of network interfaces, and the instructions further cause the processor to choose the pattern according to which the respective network interface for transmitting each respective message segment is selected from among the multiple patterns.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the pattern according to which the respective network interface for transmitting each respective message segment is selected is negotiated with a server that receives each respective message segment.

8. A computer readable storage device included within a communication device and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

dividing a message into multiple message segments;

selecting a respective network interface from among a plurality of different types of network interfaces included within the communication device for transmitting each respective message segment of the multiple message segments according to a pattern of the plurality of different types of network interfaces, wherein each network interface of the plurality of different types of network interfaces is dedicated to a different type of communication protocol using a different encryption technique; and

initiating secure transmission of each respective message segment via the respective network interface selected for transmitting that respective message segment according to the pattern.

9. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein an additional network interface is included in another communication device in communication with the communication device, and wherein selecting the respective network interface comprises selecting the respective network interface from among the plurality of different types of network interfaces included within the communication device and the additional network interface included within the other communication device according to the pattern.

10. The computer readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the additional network interface included in the other communication device is dedicated to another type of communication protocol using another encryption technique, wherein the other type of communication protocol and the other encryption technique are different than the type of communication protocol and the encryption technique to which each network interface included in the communication device is dedicated.

11. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the pattern is random, such that the respective network interface selected for transmitting each respective message segment is randomly selected.

12. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the pattern is a particular sequence, and the respective network interface selected for transmitting each respective message segment is selected in a particular order according to the particular sequence.

13. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein there are multiple patterns of the plurality of different types of network interfaces, and the instructions further cause the processor to choose the pattern according to which the respective network interface for transmitting each respective message segment is selected from among the multiple patterns.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the pattern according to which the respective network interface for transmitting each respective message segment is selected is renegotiated with a server that receives each respective message segment.

15. A method, comprising:

dividing a message into multiple message segments;

selecting a respective network interface from among a plurality of different types of network interfaces included within a communication device for transmitting each respective message segment of the multiple message segments according to a pattern of the plurality of different types of network interfaces, wherein each network interface of the plurality of different types of network interfaces is dedicated to a different type of communication protocol using a different encryption technique; and

initiating secure transmission of each respective message segment via the respective network interface selected for transmitting that respective message segment according to the pattern.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein an additional network interface is included in another communication device in communication with the communication device, the additional network interface included in the other communication device is dedicated to another type of communication protocol using another encryption technique, wherein the other type of communication protocol and the other encryption technique are different than the type of communication protocol and the encryption technique to which each network interface included in the communication device is dedicated, and selecting the respective network interface comprises selecting the respective network interface from among the plurality of different types of network interfaces included within the communication device and the additional network interface included within the other communication device according to the pattern.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the pattern is random, such that the respective network interface selected for transmitting each respective message segment is randomly selected.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the pattern is a particular sequence, and the respective network interface selected for transmitting each respective message segment is selected in a particular order according to the particular sequence.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein there are multiple patterns of the plurality of different types of network interfaces, and the method further comprises choosing the pattern according to which the respective network interface for transmitting each respective message segment is selected from among the multiple patterns.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the pattern according to which the respective network interface for transmitting each respective message segment is selected is negotiated with a server that receives each respective message segment.