Device for authenticating communication via message format encoding and decoding

Abstract

The present teaching relates to a communication authentication device that includes a data storage system, a first communication interface, a display screen, and a processor. The processor is connected to the data storage system, first communication interface, and display screen. The processor may be configured to: acquire a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface; decode the first message in the binary format in accordance with a message formatting standard (e.g., the H standard, which requires particular sizes of messages), to obtain a first decoded message in a text format; and transmit the first decoded message in the text format to the display screen for comparison purposes.

Claims

1. A communication authentication device, comprising: a data storage system; a first communication interface; a second input interface different from the first communication interface; and a processor connected to the data storage system, the first communication interface, and the second input interface, the processor being configured to: receive a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface; decode the first message in the binary format in accordance with a message formatting standard, to obtain a first decoded message in a text format; receive a second message in the text format via the second input interface, the second message being transmitted to the second input interface in text format; compare textual content of the second message with textual content of the first decoded message, wherein the comparison indicates one or more of addition, deletion, and displacement of the textual content of the second message with respect to the textual content of the first decoded message; and authenticate a communication based on a result of the comparison, wherein the first message is transmitted to the first communication interface in binary format such that the first message and the second message are transmitted to, respectively, the first communication interface and the second input interface in different formats.

2. The communication authentication device according to claim 1, wherein a size of a shortest message of the message formatting standard is 48 bits.

3. The communication authentication device according to claim 1, further comprising a display screen, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the first decoded message in the text format to the display screen.

4. The communication authentication device according to claim 1, wherein the first message is based on a first file extension, and wherein the second message is based on a second file extension different from the first file extension.

5. The communication authentication device according to claim 1, wherein the second message is transmitted to the second input interface in text format such that the second message is directly readable with a text editor.

6. The communication authentication device according to claim 1, wherein the second message received via the second input interface is a non-coded message.

7. A communication authentication device, comprising: a data storage system; a first communication interface; a second input interface different from the first communication interface; a display screen; and a processor connected to the data storage system, the first communication interface, and the second input interface, the processor being configured to: receive a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface; receive a second message in a text format via the second input interface, the second message being transmitted to the second input interface in text format; encode the second message in the text format according to the binary format and to a message formatting standard to obtain a second encoded message in the binary format; compare binary content of the first message with binary content of the second encoded message; transmit, to the display screen, one or more of addition, deletion, and displacement of bits of the second encoded message with respect to the binary content of the first message; and authenticate a communication based on a result of the comparison, wherein the first message is transmitted to the first communication interface in binary format such that the first message and the second message are transmitted to, respectively, the first communication interface and the second input interface in different formats.

8. A communication authentication device, comprising: a data storage system; a first communication interface; a second input interface; and a processor connected to the data storage system, first communication interface, and second input interface, the processor being configured to: receive a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface; decode the first message in the binary format in accordance with a message formatting standard, to obtain a first decoded message in a text format; receive a second message in the text format via the second input interface, the second message being transmitted to the second input interface in text format; compare the second message in the text format with the first decoded message in the text format to generate a first result of the comparison; encode the second message in the text format according to the binary format to obtain a second message in the binary format; compare the first message in the binary format with the second message in the binary format to generate a second result of the comparison; and authenticate a communication based on one or more of the first result and the second result, wherein each of the comparisons indicates one or more of additions, deletions, and displacements of content in the respective messages, and wherein the first message is transmitted to the first communication interface in binary format such that the first message and the second message are transmitted to, respectively, the first communication interface and the second input interface in different formats.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The figures are presented for indicative purposes and in no way limit the invention.

(2) FIG. 1a schematically shows a communication authentication device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 1b shows a diagram of the steps of operating the communication authentication device of FIG. 1a.

(4) FIG. 2a schematically shows a communication authentication device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 2b shows a diagram of the steps of a first mode of operating the communication authentication device of FIG. 2a.

(6) FIG. 2c shows a diagram of the steps of a second mode of operating the communication authentication device of FIG. 2a.

(7) FIG. 2d shows a diagram of the steps of a third mode of operating the communication authentication device of FIG. 2a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(8) Unless stated otherwise, a same element appearing in the different figures has a single reference.

(9) In the present document, as well as explained previously: message in a binary format is taken to mean a message of which the interpretation by a human being requires beforehand processing carried out by a machine other than a text editor, and message in a text format is taken to mean a message of which the interpretation by a human being is directly possible by means of a simple text editor, of Bloc-notes or Notepad type.

(10) FIG. 1a schematically shows a communication authentication device 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1b shows a diagram of the steps of operating the communication authentication device 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 1a and 1b are described jointly.

(11) The communication authentication device 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises: a data storage system M; a first communication interface Int1; a display screen E; a processor P connected to the data storage system M, to the first communication interface Int1 and to the display screen E.

(12) The first communication interface Int1 is capable of receiving messages on the one hand, and of transmitting messages on the other hand. The first communication interface Int1 can, according to a first alternative, receive messages thanks to an input by a user. The first communication interface Int1 can, according to a second alternative, receive messages thanks to a network, such an Ethernet network. The first communication interface Int1 can, according to a third alternative, receive messages thanks to a reader in a file.

(13) The processor P of the communication authentication device 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention is configured to: according to step st10, acquire a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface Int1; according to step st11, decode the first message in the binary format in accordance with a so-called H standard, to obtain a first decoded message in a text format; according to step st12, transmit the first decoded message in the text format to the display screen.

(14) FIG. 2a schematically shows a communication authentication device 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The communication authentication device 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention comprises: the data storage system M; the first communication interface Int1; a second input interface Int2; the display screen E; the processor P.

(15) According to the second embodiment of the invention, the processor P is connected to the data storage system M, to the first communication interface Int1, to the display screen E and to the second input interface Int2.

(16) FIG. 2b shows a diagram of the steps of a first mode of operating the communication authentication device 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention. According to this first operating mode, the processor P is configured to: according to step st10, acquire a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface Int1; according to step st11, decode the first message in the binary format in accordance with a so-called H standard, to obtain a first decoded message in a text format; according to step st12, transmit the first decoded message in the text format to the display screen; according to step st20, acquire a second message in the text format via the second input interface Int2; according to step st21, compare the second message in the text format with the first interpreted message in the text format; according to step st22, transmit a result of the comparison to the display screen E.

(17) In the present document, result of a comparison between two messages is taken to mean an information revealing all of the differences between said messages. The comparison is typically made by choosing one of the two messages as reference, and by searching for all the differences with the other message, known as test message, relative to the reference message. A difference between the two messages may also be understood as a de-synchronisation between the two messages. A difference or de-synchronisation between two messages is notably: any addition in the test message compared to the reference message, and deletion in the test message compared to the reference message, any displacement in the test message compared to the reference message.

(18) The first mode of operating the communication authentication device 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention, which makes it possible to compare two messages in the text format, corresponds to a semantic approach.

(19) Semantic approach is taken to mean an approach according to which one is interested in the impact of a potential error or modification in the implementation of a message in a binary format, on the sense of said message once interpreted in a text format.

(20) As an example, the following will now be described: a first decoded message in the text format, a second message in the text format acquired via the second input interface Int2, and a result of the comparison of the second message in the text format with the first decoded message in the text format.

(21) According to this example, each message comprises a geographic coordinates information, with a latitude and a longitude.

(22) The first decoded message in the text format is for example the following:

(23) TABLE-US-00001 <m> <coos> <lat> 43.36 </lat> <long> 43.36 </long> </coos> </m>

(24) The second message in the text format acquired via the second input interface Int2 is for example the following:

(25) TABLE-US-00002 <m> <coos> <lat> 17.2 </lat> <long> 43.36 </long> </coos> </m>

(26) The result of the comparison of the second message in the text format with the first decoded message in the text format is then for example the following:

(27) TABLE-US-00003 <m> <coos> <lat> <s1> 43.6 </s1> <s2> 17.2 </s2> </lat> <long> 43.36 </long> </coos> </m>

(28) A comparison message has thus been produced that may be used to obtain an intelligent display enabling a rapid visualisation of the differences.

(29) FIG. 2c shows a diagram of the steps of a second mode of operating the communication authentication device 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention. According to this second operating mode, the processor P is configured to: according to step st10, acquire a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface Int1; according to step st11, decode the first message in the binary format in accordance with a so-called H standard, to obtain a first decoded message in a text format; according to step st12, transmit the first decoded message in the text format to the display screen; according to step st20, acquire a second message in the text format via the second input interface Int2; according to step st30, encode the second message in the text format according to the binary format to obtain a second message in the binary format; according to step st31, compare the first message in the binary format with the second message in the binary format; according to step st32, transmit a result of the comparison to the display screen E.

(30) In the same way as described previously, result of a comparison between a test message and reference message is taken to mean an information revealing all of the differences between said messages, and notably: any addition in the test message compared to the reference message, any deletion in the test message compared to the reference message, any displacement in the test message compared to the reference message.

(31) The second mode of operating the communication authentication device 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention, which makes it possible to compare two messages in the binary format, corresponds to a syntactic approach. Syntactic approach is taken to mean an approach according to which one is interested in any potential error or modification in the implementation of a message in a binary format, independently of the impact of such an error or modification on the sense of said message once interpreted in a text format.

(32) FIG. 2d shows a diagram of the steps of a third mode of operating the communication authentication device 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention. The third operating mode compiles the first and second operating modes described previously. Thus, according to this third operating mode, the processor P is configured to: according to step st10, acquire a first message in a binary format via the first communication interface Int1; according to step st11, decode the first message in the binary format in accordance with a so-called H standard, to obtain a first decoded message in a text format; according to step st12, transmit the first decoded message in the text format to the display screen; according to step st20, acquire a second message in the text format via the second input interface Int1; according to step st21, compare the second message in the text format with the first interpreted message in the text format; according to step st22, transmit a result of the comparison to the display screen E; according to step st30, encode the second message in the text format according to the binary format to obtain a second message in the binary format; according to step st31, compare the first message in the binary format with the second message in the binary format; according to step st32, transmit a result of the comparison to the display screen E.

(33) The third operating mode advantageously combines the semantic and syntactic approaches described previously.