Northern Telecom Limited

Adrian D Jones

Liam M Casey

David Ian Allan

H Charles Sabry

John A Oldfield

In a hybrid fiber-coax distribution network, communications between a central station and particular end stations are encrypted using a working key (WK) of a symmetric encryption scheme. The central station has a public and private key (PPK) of a PPK encryption scheme, and some of the end stations can also each have a respective PPK. To provide secure communications for each end station, if the end station has a PPK, then the respective WK is generated in the central station and communicated, encrypted using the end station's public key (PK), to the end station. Otherwise, the WK is generated in the end station and communicated, encrypted using the central station's PK, to the central station. An individual identifier for each end station, and a cryptographic signature at least for end stations not having a PPK, can be communicated to the central station for authentication of the end stations.

Facilitating secure communications in a distribution network

An intrusion detection electronic circuit package, includes a containment wall in combination with first and second transmission lines being organized in patterns spaced adjacent one another. Electronic circuitry, residing within the containment wall, includes a transmitter for transmitting signals in anti-phase relationship via the first and second transmission lines respectively. A receiver receives signals from the transmission lines and a detector connected to the receiver uses EXCLUSIVE OR logic to detect any significant in-phase components or interruptions in the signals received at the first and second inputs of the receiver. Disturbance of either transmission line in any attempt to breach the containment wall is likely to be detected.

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Ottawa, Canada

Adrian D Jones