Bi-directional communication over a one-way link

• US 9,419,975 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waterfall Security Solutions Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Waterfall Security Solutions Ltd.
• Inventors: Frenkel, Lior
• Primary Examiner(s): Shiferaw, Eleni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elmore, Gregory M
• Application Number:
  US13/867,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20140317753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• 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: H04Q 11/0062 Network aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches

Abstract

Apparatus for communication includes a single one-way link, which is physically capable of carrying the communication signals in one direction and incapable of carrying the communication signals in the opposite direction. Ancillary circuitry is coupled so as to cause the single one-way link to convey both first communication signals from a first station to a second station and second communication signals from the second station to the first station.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus for secure monitoring and control, comprising:

first and second inputs, coupled respectively to receive communication signals from first and second stations;

first and second outputs, coupled respectively to convey the received communication signals to the first and second stations;

a single one-way link, which is physically capable of carrying the communication signals in one direction and incapable of carrying signals in the other, opposite direction; and

a pair of switches, which are coupled to the one-way link and are configured to be toggled between at least a first configuration, in which the communication signals are conveyed from the first input via the single one-way link to the second output, and a second configuration, in which the communication signals are conveyed from the second input via the single one-way link to the first output,

wherein the pair of switches comprises;

a first double-pole switch, which is coupled between the first and second inputs and a transmit side of the single one-way link and is configured to select the first input for connection to the transmit side of the single one-way link in the first configuration and to select the second input for connection to the transmit side of the single one-way link in the second configuration, and

a second double-pole switch, which is coupled between the first and second outputs and a receive side of the single one-way link and is configured to select the second output for connection to the receive side of the single one-way link in the first configuration and to select the first output for connection to the receive side of the single one-way link in the second configuration.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of switches comprises electrical relays.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of switches comprises optical switches.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first station is located in a protected network, and wherein the apparatus comprises control logic, which is configured to hold the at least one switch normally in the first configuration to enable transmission of data from the first station to the second station, and to toggle the at least one switch to the second configuration only at selected times to enable input of instructions from the second station to the first station.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the protected network is a part of an industrial control system in a protected facility.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising control logic, which is configured to hold the pair of switches normally in the first configuration and to toggle the pair of switches to the second configuration at fixed, predefined times.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising control logic, which is configured to hold the pair of switches normally in the first configuration and to toggle the pair of switches to the second configuration only in response to an authorized command.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control logic is configured to toggle the pair of switches to the second configuration for a sufficient time to convey, via the apparatus, no more than a present number of messages to the first station, before reverting to the first configuration.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control logic is configured to wait for a certain delay period before toggling the pair of switches to the second configuration.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of switches has a third configuration, in which no communication signals are conveyed either from the first input to the second output or from the second input to the first output.

11. A method for of communication for secure monitoring and control, comprising:

providing a first double-pole switch having first and second poles coupled, respectively, to receive transmissions from first and second stations and the first double-pole switch coupled to a transmit side of a single one-way link, such that in a first configuration transmissions from the first station are coupled to a transmit side of the single one-way link and in a second configuration transmissions from the second station are coupled to a transmit side of the single one-way link;

providing a second double-pole switch having first and second poles coupled, respectively, to convey transmissions to the first and second stations, and the second double-pole switch coupled to a receive side of the single one-way link, such that in the first configuration transmissions from the single one-way link are conveyed to the second station and in the second configuration transmissions from the single one-way link are conveyed to the first station;

setting the first and second double-pole switches to the first configuration;

transmitting first communication signals, from the first station to the second station, through the first and second double-pole switches and the single one-way link, while the first and second double-pole switches are in the first configuration;

setting the first and second double-pole switches to the second configuration; and

transmitting second communication signals, from the second station to the first station, via the single one-way link, which is physically capable of carrying the communication signals in one direction and incapable of carrying the communication signals in the opposite direction, while the first and second double-pole switches are in the second configuration.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising controlling the one-way link so that at any given time during which the first and second stations are in communication, the one-way link carries either the first communication signals or the second communication signals, but not both the first and second communication signals.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first station is located in a protected network, and comprising controlling the first and second double-pole switches so that the one-way link normally carries only the first communication signals to enable transmission of data from the first station to the second station, and toggling the single one-way link to convey the second communication signals only at selected times in order to enable input of instructions from the second station to the first station.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the protected network is a part of an industrial control system in a protected facility.

15. The method according to claim 11, comprising controlling the first and second double-pole switches so that the one-way link normally carries only the first communication signals and toggles to convey the second communication signals only at fixed, predefined times.

16. The method according to claim 11, comprising controlling the first and second double-pole switches so that the one-way link normally carries only the first communication signals and toggles to convey the second communication signals only in response to an authorized command.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein controlling the first and second double-pole switches comprises toggling the one-way link, in response to the authorized command, to convey the second communication signals only for a sufficient time to convey, via the one-way link, no more than a preset number of messages from the second station to the first station, before reverting to the first configuration.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein controlling the first and second double-pole switches comprises waiting for a certain delay period after the authorized command before toggling the one-way link to convey the second communication signals.

19. A communication apparatus for secure monitoring and control, comprising:

a single one-way link, which is physically capable of carrying the communication signals in one direction and incapable of carrying the communication signals in the opposite direction; and

ancillary circuitry, which is coupled so as to cause the single one-way link to convey both first communication signals from a first station to a second station and second communication signals from the second station to the first station,

wherein the ancillary circuitry comprises;

a first double-pole switch, which is coupled between the first and second stations and a transmit side of the single one-way link and is configured to select the first station for connection to the transmit side of the single one-way link in a first configuration and to select the second station for connection to the transmit side of the single one-way link in a second configuration, and

a second double-pole switch, which is coupled between the first and second stations and a receive side of the single one-way link and is configured to select the second station for connection to the receive side of the single one-way link in the first configuration and to select the first station for connection to the receive side of the single one-way link in the second configuration.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the ancillary circuitry is configured to control the one-way link so that at any given time during which the first and second stations are in communication, the one-way link carries either the first communication signals or the second communication signals, but not both the first and second communication signals.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first station is located in a protected network, and wherein the ancillary circuitry is configured to control the single one-way link so that the one-way link normally carries only the first communication signals to enable transmission of data from the first station to the second station, and toggles the single one-way link to convey the second communication signals only at selected times to enable input of instructions from the second station to the first station.