Portable multi-level security communications system

• US 8,155,036 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Brenner, Robert E., Sullivan, Timothy P., Houle, Jeffrey N.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHO, HONG SOL
• Application Number:
  US12/708,839
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 370274-279, 370/293, 370/307, 370/315, 370352-356
• US Class Current: 370/293
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A portable multi-level security communications system (system) provides a communications backbone for Internet Protocol (IP) based data at multiple levels of security and allows on-board users to communicate, with each other and an outside network, while maintaining separation from the on-board communication system. The system can connect to an outside network using a fast, reliable connection without impeding or conflicting with current on-board operating systems. The system is able to run multiple security enclaves while maintaining separation between the enclaves and their users.

Claims

1. A portable communications management system, comprising:

a housing;

an electrical connector connected to the portable communications management system;

a plurality of security enclave servers within the housing wherein each security enclave server contains one or more of an encryption device, a network management system, a data conversion device, or a voice over internet protocol device;

a control device within the housing;

a radio frequency communications transceiver within the housing connected to the control device;

a plurality of user interfaces on or within the housing connected to a plurality of security enclave servers;

a removable hard drive removably connected to the housing and connected to the control device, the removable hard drive includes all of the non-volatile memory of the portable communications management system; and

a connection to a terrestrial network connected to the radio frequency communications transceiver.

2. The portable communications management system of claim 1, wherein each of the security enclave servers includes the encryption device, the network management system, the data conversion device, and the voice over internet protocol device.

3. The portable communications management system of claim 2, wherein the network management system is exterior to its respective security enclave server.

4. The portable communications management system of claim 2, wherein the network management system is provided as a laptop computer.

5. The portable communications management system of claim 2, wherein the network management system contains all applications necessary to run the portable communications management system.

6. The portable communications management system of claim 1, wherein the security enclave servers comprise a plurality of security levels, wherein the security levels comprise sensitive but unclassified, secret, and top secret.

7. The portable communications management system of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a multiplexer and a demultiplexer, wherein the multiplexer and the demultiplexer use Time Division Multiplexing.

8. The portable communications management system of claim 1, wherein the removable hard drive contains user information.

9. The portable communications management system of claim 1, wherein the removable hard drive contains network information.

10. The portable communications management system of claim 1, wherein the removable hard drive contains sharepoint files.

11. The portable communications management system of claim 1, wherein the removable hard drive contains operational data and files.

12. The portable communications management system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless access point within the housing and connected to the control device.

13. The portable communications management system of claim 1, further comprising an internal communication unit within the housing and connected to the control device.

14. The portable communications management system of claim 1, further comprising a router within the housing and connected to the plurality of security enclave servers.